The Human Touch Keeps the Elderly and Disabled Technology-Connected
From: EDN Magazine - 12/17/2004 - Vol. 49, No. 20, P. 47
By; Brian Dipert

There are various technological solutions designed to keep housebound people
connected to friends, family, physicians, and caregivers, although each comes
with its own set of pluses and minuses. A person's needs should be of
paramount consideration when choosing such solutions, which ideally combine
minimal-to-zero-maintenance with intuitive usability. Broadband Internet
access is one possibility, although consideration of upstream-bandwidth
capability must be at least equal to that of downstream bandwidth in a
purchase decision. Networking peripheral devices to high-speed Internet and
each other can be done several ways, although each has drawbacks: Wireless
networks, for instance, are easy to install but their reliability can be
affected by the presence of interfering materials or broadcast sources.
Computers are becoming more and more user friendly, but purchasers must
choose a level of sophistication that is not excessive, given the user's
needs; one recommended system boasts a small number of functions that are
more dedicated. Voice recognition may seem well-suited for physically
impaired individuals, but the technology leaves a lot to be desired in terms
of accuracy. Videoconferencing can facilitate virtual face-to-face
interaction, although the technology's high upstream-bandwidth requirements
can be a hindrance, and some solutions have bewildering authorization
processes. Telephony options for the housebound include cordless phones,
headsets for people whose arms get tired from holding a handset, and
frequently-called number preprogramming for those with limited dialing
ability. IP telephony is attractive from a fiscal point of view, but is
problematic as far as reliability and emergency-response needs are concerned. 

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