POSCO E&C has developed a ‘Smart Home Service Specialized for the Elderly and People with Disabilities’ that utilizes visual and audio functions.
Conventional smart homes have been more than adequate for use by the general public, but their use has been limited for residents who have difficulty moving around or who experience some degree of visual or hearing impairment. While each individual item in this new ‘Smart Home Service Specialized for the Elderly and People with Disabilities’ uses technology that is readily available in everyday life, it offers the advantage of being managed collectively and operated in an integrated manner through the in-home network.
In particular, the remote-control-shaped ‘One-Click Smart Switch’ is designed to consolidate frequently used home network functions into a single device that can be worn around the neck, allowing residents to control home appliances such as gas shut-off, heating, and lighting even while moving between the bed and a wheelchair. ‘AiQ Smart Care’ enables an immediate response to emergencies by automatically relaying emergency information—such as the resident’s current condition—to family members and acquaintances when a person alone at home suddenly experiences a health problem. In addition, the wall pad’s wide, flat screen enhances usability for residents with visual impairments by providing not only voice support but also a dedicated braille screen and pad tailored to their needs. Even for residents with hearing impairments, the ‘Smart Switch’ installed in each room can instantly convey situations—such as a visitor call or an emergency—to the resident through text messages together with a flashing color function.
POSCO E&C formed an in-house learning community (COP) to develop smart home products for people with disabilities and generated ideas through it, carrying out product development over the course of about a year through numerous research seminars and technology surveys. The company also visited a number of welfare facilities for people with disabilities, including the Seum Welfare Center in Gangnam, Seoul, and reflected on-site case studies of smart home installations for people with disabilities as well as interviews with social workers in developing the prototype. Furthermore, through a collaborative seminar with the National Rehabilitation Center, it shared the development details, received advice, and supplemented areas for improvement.
A POSCO E&C official said, “Going forward, we will continue to make active efforts to sincerely listen to the voices of diverse customers so that the development and supply of smart home products can continue.”
Meanwhile, POSCO E&C plans to apply the technology sequentially, in accordance with business conditions, starting with housing complexes to be sold this year, including ‘The Sharp Tangjeong Infinity City Phase 2.’ 054-223-6114