29/12/2009 by David Slade.

***Extended integration functionality, new Sonos and TwonkyMedia modules, iPhone-style interfaces plus faster and easier programming will provide dealers across Europe with a step-change in total two-way home control; Pronto exhibits at EHX@CES and ISE 2010***

With its latest generation PEP 2.4 (ProntoEdit Professional) software, Philips Pronto, the value leader in two-way control solutions for the home, is extending home integration and control possibilities, cutting programming time and cost for dealers and dramatically improving the look and functionality of the Pronto control panel family.

The new PEP 2.4 software now features enhanced UPnP (Universal Plug and Play)/ DLNA (Digital Network Living Alliance) compatibility.

The UPnP / DLNA engine now incorporated into the Pronto platform will accelerate the development of two-way integration modules between A/V servers, players and control devices, so providing a straightforward, single solution for controlling any product of manufacturers adhering to the UPnP standard. The UPnP discovery mechanism embedded within the software’s ProntoScript library will help the Pronto control panel automatically find IP devices on the network.

Significantly, these developments will allow Pronto to integrate Sonos multi-room audio systems quickly and directly into a system without the need for special hardware, additional PC’s or the use of a Sonos controller. The upgraded software will also enable Pronto to control and access content from TwonkyMedia-based equipment, being one of the most popular UPnP servers on the market. New Sonos and TwonkyMedia pre-configured modules are available in ProntoScript. Further ground-breaking partnership agreements for new Pronto modules are in development and will be announced imminently.

“PEP2.4 is state of the art software for the Pronto family” says Rudy Musschebroeck, Marketing Manager of Philips Pronto. “The new UPnP / DLNA engine together with the advance in automatic IP device recognition are giant steps forward for the integration potential of Pronto, as you can see with the launch of new Sonos and TwonkyMedia modules. And, with more modules scheduled for release, total two-way control in the home using one easy to programme, affordable and great to operate Pronto device is becoming a reality for dealers across Europe”.

Philips Pronto has also improved the user interface experience. A new Gestures feature in PEP 2.4 will allow dealers to create iPod style interfaces for a range of common functions, including super-fast scrolling of song lists and sliding volume control.

Other improvements in PEP 2.4 will make programming much easier and quicker for dealers. These include:

• Re-sizeable and dockable windows to assist in more complex programming tasks, such as, creating user interface graphics.
• Display and editing of multiple pages on a single screen to help with smoother, faster programming workflow.
• Re-usable macros. Once set up and used, programming macros can be simply stored and re-used when configuring repeated actions in multiple locations in a project.
• Rotary wheel enhancements. Actions can be ascribed to the rotation / counter-rotation of the controller’s rotary wheel eg controlling volume or light levels.
• Improved font selection. Any Windows PC font can now be easily selected and used in PEP2.4.
• Dynamic user interface. PEP2.4 brings improved dynamic graphic and text property control, adjustment and object manipulation through improvements to ProntoScript.

PEP2.4 can be used to configure the complete Pronto family of two-way, programmable touch-screen panels: the Pronto TSU9300, TSU9400, TSU9600 and TSU9800. Many leading CI equipment manufacturers have now joined Philips as a partner, taking advantage of the programming capabilities to deliver easy-to-use 2-way control modules for their components. The result is integrated control using richer, more responsive user interfaces for a growing variety of AV, lighting, HVAC and security systems. All application modules are very easy to use, and can simply be dragged into a Pronto project using the PEP software.

Posted in DLNA (Digital Network Living Alliance), UPnP (Universal Plug and Play) | Print | No Comments »

10/12/2009 by David Slade.

How many times do you see large format LCD screens positioned high up or away from products being promoted? Clearly the aim is to broadcast to as wide an audience as possible. However, how effective are they are at influencing purchase decisions, when screens are difficult to see, have no relevance to products in the immediate locality or are simply perceived as TV advertising.
Close Proximity Signage is designed to be placed directly at the point of purchase using high impact screens that are easy to see, grab the audiences attention, increase awareness and influence purchase decisions.

Close Proximity Specialist digital screens placed near consumers in high footfall areas that are truly effective at raising awareness of advertised products located close by.

LED ticker
The LED ticker “stands out from the crowd” and is designed to attract the consumers attention. Messages can be seen from long distances, such as breaking news, special offers and waiting times.

LCD display
Inform. Promote. Advertise. Dynamic and visually engaging content that captivates audiences and influences decisions directly at the point of purchase.

“Purchase decisions are made within the first 3 to 5 seconds”

- Locate at the point of purchase
- Grab attention
- Engage consumers
- Influence buying decisions
- Increase sales

Posted in Signage, Close Proximity Signage (CPS) | Print | No Comments »

10/12/2009 by David Slade.

Everyone likes their freedom. Remote patient monitoring helps patients keep more independence while still getting the care they need. Sensors and other connected devices can monitor vital signs and daily activity and transmit the information to caregivers, allowing patients more freedom to stay in their own homes. The systems can also provide benefits when used in care centers, letting patients move about instead of being tethered to bulky monitoring machines.

It seems that more companies enter this market every day, announcing systems for remote patient monitoring and claiming to revolutionize the market. One thing is certain: These systems are gaining in popularity and large companies are moving further into the market to provide them.

A recent announcement from GE, www.ge.com, Fairfield, Conn., shed some more light on the industry giant’s plans in the healthcare field. Through its GE Healthcare Unit, GE acquired Living Independently Group (LIG), www.quietcaresystems.com, New York, N.Y., a company focused on remote patient monitoring solutions.

LIG produces a system called QuiteCare, which uses sensors installed in a patient’s home to constantly monitor daily activity and transmit the details to a central location. If abnormalities in the patient’s daily routine are detected, automatic alerts can go out to caregivers.

GE says LIG’s offerings fit in well with GE’s vision for providing better healthcare at lower costs. In the past year, GE has made other investments in its Home Health business, such as an April alliance with Intel Corp., www.intel.com, Santa Clara, Calif., to invest $250 million in developing new technologies to assist with independent living for seniors and people with chronic health conditions.

As mammoth corporations like GE pour more resources into producing these types of monitoring technologies, it is likely the systems’ popularity will only increase. With people living longer and healthcare costs increasing, the need for systems that keep patients healthy with fewer restrictions on daily life shows no signs of letting up.

Posted in Remote Patient Monitoring, health monitor systems, Healthcare | Print | No Comments »

03/12/2009 by David Slade.

Department of Energy and Climate Change

Smart electricity and gas meters

In October 2008 the Government announced its intention to mandate a roll out of electricity and gas smart meters to all homes in Great Britain. The aim is to complete the roll out by the end of 2020. The roll out of smart meters will be a major national project. It will involve a visit to every home and the replacement of some 47 million gas and electricity meters.

Smart meters pave the way for a transformation in the way energy is supplied and used. They will provide consumers with real-time information about energy use enabling them to monitor and manage their use. Consumers will receive accurate bills. Switching between suppliers will be smoother and faster and improvements in the delivery of energy efficiency advice will be supported.

Energy suppliers will be able to offer a wider range of services and tariffs and to manage their customer relationships better. Smart meters will also be an important step towards the development of a smart grid. Delivering improved network efficiency and responsiveness.

Smart meters will play an important role in our transition to a low-carbon economy. They will help us meet some of the long-term challenges we face in ensuring that Great Britain has an affordable, secure and sustainable energy supply.

Consultation

In May 2009 the Government consulted on proposals relating to the roll-out of smart meters to households and small and medium non-domestic sites. The consultation addressed some of the fundamental issues for the roll out. The Government’s response to the consultation was published on 2 December 2009. The response sets out the Government’s conclusions and decisions following the consultation, in particular its conclusions on:

• delivery model for domestic smart meters (Section 2)
• high-level smart functionality requirements for domestic electricity and gas meters (Section 3)
• provision of a real-time display and information with a smart meter (Section 3)
• approach on smart functionality requirements for non-domestic meters (Section 4)
• implementation programme (Section 6)

In addition revised Impact Assessments for the domestic and non-domestic roll outs, and supporting analytical consultancy work have been published.

All documents relating to the consultation are available on the Consultation on Smart Metering for electricity and gas web page.

Implementation programme

The decisions set out in the Government’s response provide the platform for the detailed work to prepare the way for the start of the mandated roll out of smart meters (section 6). The implementation of smart metering will be the largest and most complex change-over programme in the energy industry since the switch to North Sea gas in the sixties and seventies. It will have a profound impact on the services that consumers receive from energy companies, as well as on vital activities such as settlement and network management.

A major central programme is required to design and implement new cross-industry arrangements, in co-ordination with the change programmes which industry participants will need to implement themselves. This Implementation Programme will touch all parts of the energy industry and careful design and planning are needed to maximise the benefits to consumers and industry, while driving down on the costs of installing and operating the new smart meters.

The first phase of the Smart Metering Programme will be a joint DECC / Ofgem initiative. DECC will chair an over-arching DECC / Ofgem Strategic Programme Board. This Board will provide the necessary strategic oversight and direction to the Programme during Phase 1. It will provide a high-level forum for ensuring the Programme is aligned with Government policy objectives for smart metering and Ofgem’s statutory duties, and consider interfaces with the Government’s wider policies.

Ofgem E-Serve[external Link] will manage and ensure effective delivery of the first phase of the Programme for DECC. Ofgem’s detailed knowledge of the workings of the energy market, its strong relationships with industry players and consumer bodies and its regulatory role, mean it is ideally placed to help design the arrangements for introducing smart metering effectively into the complex structure of the energy industry.

Briefing event

Ofgem will be hosting a stakeholder event on 16 December which will provide a briefing on initial plans for the Smart Metering Implementation Programme. Invitations for this event will be sent out separately by Ofgem.

Related documents

• Licence condition for the provision of advanced metering for larger business sites, April 2008
• Government response to consultation on a draft licence modification for provision of advanced metering for business sites, November 2008
• Impact assessment of smart and advanced metering for small and medium-sized businesses and other non-domestic customers – costs and benefits – detailed results, September 2008
• Consultation on a draft licence modification for provision of advanced metering for business sites, July 2008
• Consultation on smart and advanced metering for small and medium sized businesses and other non-domestic customers, July 2008
• Link to existing document: appraisal of costs and benefits of smart meter roll-out options – a report by Mott MacDonald, May 2008
• Government response to consultation on energy billing and metering, April 2008
• Consultation impact assessment of smart metering for domestic customers and small businesses, April 2008
• Consultation on energy billing and metering, August 2007
• Report by Enviros on potential for behavioural and demand-side management measures to save electricity, gas and carbon in the domestic sector

Posted in Department of Energy and Climate Change, Smart gas meters, smart meters | Print | No Comments »

03/12/2009 by David Slade.

Department of Energy and Climate Change

02 December 2009 - Press Release - UK energy system gets smart

• All homes will have smart meters from their supplier by end of 2020
• Smart energy use will save consumers money, make electricity use more efficient and cut carbon emissions

• The case for developing smart grids in the UK is also being published
• £6 million to develop smart technology

Smart meters will be rolled out through energy suppliers to every home by the end of 2020 under final plans published today by Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt. A paper setting out the case for developing smart grids in the UK is also being published.

Lord Hunt said:

“A global climate deal in Copenhagen needs all countries to make the most ambitious commitments possible, but it will also require all of us to change how we lead our lives and how we generate our energy.

“Smart meters will put the power in people’s hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills.

“Smart grids will help manage the massive shift to low carbon electricity such as wind, nuclear and clean fossil fuels.

“Globally the business of developing smart grids has been estimated at £27 billion over the next 5 years and the UK has the know-how to be part of that.”

The Government’s response to the smart meter consultation sets out how smart meters will be rolled out across Britain by the end of 2020. This includes:

• Making energy suppliers responsible for installing smart meters in their customers’ homes
• Supplying a standalone display device with meters to make it easy for consumers to see and understand their energy use and carbon emissions in real time
• Centrally coordinating the communications between smart meters and the utility companies to ensure easy switching between suppliers, and to provide a platform for the development of smarter grids in the future.

“Smarter Grids: The Opportunity”, also published today, makes the case for developing smart grids in the UK. Smart grids will give operators and consumers much more information about supply and demand of electricity – enabling more effective interaction between consumer needs and fluctuating supplies.

Specifically smart grids will:

• Deliver electricity more efficiently and reliably - reducing the costs and emissions from electricity generation and transmission
• Facilitate increased generation of low carbon electricity sources such as wind
• With smart meters, give consumers more control and choice of when they use electricity allowing them to save money.

DECC is also providing £6 million to companies to continue developing smart technology such as electricity storage.

Notes to editors

1. The response to the consultation: Towards a Smarter Future: government response to the consultation on electricity and gas Smart Metering can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/consultations/smart_metering/smart_metering.aspx
2. The publication: Smarter grids: the opportunity can be found here: http://www.decc.gov.uk/en/content/cms/what_we_do/uk_supply/network/smart_grid/smart_grid.aspx
3. The Department of Energy and Climate Change is central to the UK Government’s leadership on climate change. We are pushing hard for an ambitious global deal in Copenhagen in December to avert the most dangerous impacts. Through our UK Low Carbon Transition Plan we are giving householders and businesses the incentives and advice they need to cut their emissions, we are enabling the energy sector’s shift to the trinity of renewables, new nuclear and clean coal, and we are stepping up the fight against fuel poverty.

Posted in Department of Energy and Climate Change, smart meters | Print | No Comments »

03/12/2009 by David Slade.

Plans for smart meters for millions of homes have been unveiled with trials suggesting the £8bn scheme may help people save £28 a year.

The Department for Energy and Climate Change wants to see 47 million meters in 26 million properties by 2020.

It is hoped the technology will help people cut their energy bills by paying more attention to usage.

Smart meters have a visual display allowing customers to see exactly how much electricity and gas they are using and relay the data to energy firms automatically.

Energy use

Trials of smart meters have resulted in some people moderating their energy use.

ANALYSIS John Moylan, BBC business reporter The government had already announced that it wanted all UK homes to have smart meters by 2020. What is new today is that, following a consultation period, it has now decided how that will happen. The main energy suppliers will be responsible for the roll-out. This was the government’s preferred option, although there was a debate in the industry over whether it could be done another way, for example by the regional electricity distribution companies. The government has also outlined its early thinking on the buzzwords in the industry at the moment - smart grids.

Potential savings outlined already by ministers are only a fraction of the current average annual bill of more than £800 for gas and £445 for electricity.

The £28 a year figure for savings has been cited as a conservative estimate for a typical household.

But the DECC says case studies had shown people could reduce their bills by about £100 a year as the meters can encourage changes in behaviour.

“Smart meters will put the power in people’s hands, enabling us all to control how much energy we use, cut emissions and cut bills,” said Energy and Climate Change Minister Lord Hunt.

Savings

Energy suppliers, rather than distribution networks, will be responsible for the roll-out of the meters at a cost of about £340 per household.

They will be able to recoup the cost from customers through higher bills or upfront fees, but competition between suppliers is expected to ensure only some of the expense is passed on.

The companies stand to make big cost savings themselves, with the need for teams of meter readers becoming a thing of the past.

Martyn Hocking, from the consumers’ association Which?, said: “We are concerned that consumers could be saddled with the entire multi-billion pound bill for a project that is going to save the industry hundreds of millions of pounds a year.”

ENERGY SAVINGS UK homes add £33 a year to bills by leaving appliances on standby Every minute taken off a daily shower can shave between £5 and £10 off an annual energy bill Lowering the room thermostat by 1% could save a householder around £65 a year Source: Energy Saving Trust

The plans, which also confirm that each meter will include a standalone display device, were welcomed by the big energy companies.

“We are delighted the government is moving forward with its plans for the roll-out of this technology throughout Britain,” said British Gas managing director Phil Bentley.

“This will be the single biggest revolution in energy use since British Gas converted all the nation’s homes to natural gas in the 1970s.”

Mark Daeche, of energy company First Utility, said the mass roll-out of smart meters would not begin until 2013. But from next summer, all First Utility customers who elected to have a smart meter would be supplied with one.

He welcomed the format of giving suppliers the responsibility for the supply of meters instead of a system of regional franchises.

Smart grid

Plans have also been announced for a smart grid to manage the flows of electricity and to increase the use of renewable energy.

In the past the National Grid has delivered electricity from large power plants to our homes. In the future the grid will need to be much smarter, according to BBC business reporter John Moylan.

“Computers will have to handle more volatile sources of electricity, such as windfarms,” he said.

“They will also have to cope with micro-generation - consumers using solar panels or heat pumps to generate their own electricity and sell it back to the grid.”

From BBC web site

Posted in micro-generation, smart meters, Smart Grid Technology | Print | No Comments »

01/12/2009 by David Slade.

The changes come after an Ofgem investigatio

A timetable has been set by the energy regulator for new rules to come into force that ensure the fairer treatment of consumers.

All energy customers will be sent their first annual statement by their supplier by December 2010, Ofgem said.

Changes that allow pre-payment meter customers to switch suppliers even if they have a debt on bills of up to £200 will be in place by January.

The changes come after an investigation by the regulator into household bills.

Bills clarity

Ofgem started the investigation into the state of the energy market in the UK in February 2008.

The [new standards] call on suppliers to be clear, fair and courteous and to take the confusion out of comparing products Andrew Wright, Ofgem

In its initial findings a year ago, Ofgem said that there was no evidence of collusion between the “big six” suppliers in setting prices and the market was “working well” for most consumers.

But it raised concerns over the difference in prices for those paying in different ways.

At the start of September, the first of the new rules - which ensured different payment methods reflected the cost to the supplier of offering those methods - was brought into force.

The new annual statement, which customers will start to receive from July, will provide customers with details such as their energy tariff, consumption and a reminder of the customer’s right to switch.

Other new rules include the provision of written quotes for doorstep sales, which must be supplied from 18 January 2010.

The same date has been set for the requirement that small businesses be given clear contracts, and more notice of when a new contract can be negotiated.

“The new standards define the spirit of the new rules to go with the letter of the laws,” said Ofgem’s Andrew Wright.

“They call on suppliers to be clear, fair and courteous and to take the confusion out of comparing products.”

From BBC Web site

Posted in Ofgem, metering | Print | No Comments »

01/12/2009 by David Slade.

The government is unveiling plans for every home in Britain to be equipped with smart meters by the end of 2020.

The move has been met by a chorus of approval from the energy industry and by a consumer watchdog.

But how will this affect householders, and will it cost or save them money?

What is expected to happen?

The government wants every home in Britain to be installed with smart meters - a device that shows exactly how much gas and electricity is being used.

This should bring an end to estimated bills, because the technology could send back an accurate meter reading to your energy company every day.

According to the Energy Retail Association, which represents the energy companies, the technological advance would be the equivalent of using wireless broadband instead of sending a telegram.

No more estimates. Will that mean they get my bill correct?

There have been thousands of complaints from householders who claim they have been overcharged on direct debit bills.

Consumer groups said this meant energy suppliers were getting free loans from customers. In March, regulator Ofgem told the companies to make charges clearer but said there was no “systematic” abuse of the direct debit system.

Smart meters should put this debate to bed, and would mean that householders no longer need to let the gasman in to read the meter.

People might even by able to check their usage on the internet, or share tips for cutting bills on social networking websites.

But installing these meters will be a big job. Some 26 million electricity and 22 million gas meters will need to be fitted.

That sounds expensive. Who pays?

You will not receive a bill from your energy company for installing a new meter, but you will pick up some of the cost.

Industry estimates suggest that the total installation bill will be £7bn.

That amounts to about £15 per household per year between 2010 and 2020, but £10 of this will be covered from savings made by companies who no longer need to pay people to read meters, and the cost of dealing with complaints should fall.

That leaves £5 a year that would be put onto bills, but the industry thinks that - by keeping an eye on the meter - householders will cut their energy use and so reduce their annual bill by between £25 and £35.

These savings might come by changing habits such as switching off the television, rather than leaving it on standby.

Consumer groups are keen to see all the savings made by energy companies are passed on to the consumer, rather than just boosting their profits.

How do I get one of these meters?

There are trials of smart meters going on at the moment, so some householders have already got them.

There will be three months of consultation and, if the scheme is given the final go-ahead, it will be a huge job to replace the UK’s meters.

“Government should show leadership and make sure that this roll-out is joined up and the opportunity is not wasted,” said a spokesman for Consumer Focus, the consumer watchdog.

Under the plans, each home would get a new smart gas meter and a new electricity meter. One is the “host” meter, that will communicate with you and the supplier.

Will this make it more difficult to switch supplier to save on bills?

Your new smart meter might have your current supplier’s branding on it, but don’t be fooled.

They might look different, but all the meters should have the same specifications so if you want to switch suppliers you will not need to get a new meter installed.

Switching suppliers to get a better deal should be as easy as it is now.

You will not get a different meter if you pay in different ways - such as pre-payment or quarterly by cheque.

What about bills at business properties?

Large businesses should have smart meters within five years, according to the government.

Small businesses should get smart meters in the same timeframe as consumers.

From BBC Website

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01/12/2009 by David Slade.

The cost of installing and owning solar panels will fall even faster than expected according to new research.

Tests show that 90% of existing solar panels last for 30 years, instead of the predicted 20 years.

According to the independent EU Energy Institute, this brings down the lifetime cost.

The institute says the panels are such a good long-term investment that banks should offer mortgages on them like they do on homes.

At a conference, the institute forecast that solar panels would be cost-competitive with energy from the grid for half the homes in Europe by 2020 - without a subsidy.

Basically everything (in the industry) is bound to grow still further. Growing further means less cost Heinz Ossenbrink, EU Energy Institute

Incentive programmes for solar panels in Germany, Italy and Spain have created manufacturing volume that’s bringing down costs. Solar panel prices dropped 30% last year alone due to an increase in output and a drop in orders because of the recession.

But Heinz Ossenbrink, who works at the institute, said China had underpinned its solar industry with a big solar domestic programme which would keep prices falling. There are large-scale solar plans in the US and India too.

Panels had been expected to last for 20 years and price calculations were based on this (with a free energy source, purchase and installation represent almost the entire price of solar power).

But Dr Ossenbrink says the institute’s laboratory has been subjecting the cells to the sort of accelerated ageing through extremes of heat, cold and humidity that has long been a benchmark for the car industry.

Long lifetime

It has shown that more than 90% of the panels on the market 10 years ago are capable of still performing well after 30 years of life, albeit with a slight drop in performance.

Dr Ossenbrink says 40-year panels will be on the market soon.

A key goal for solar is what is known as grid parity. That is the point when it is as cheap for someone to generate power on their homes as it is to buy it from the grid.

It varies from country to country depending on electricity prices, but the institute estimates that Italy - which has a combination of sunny weather and relatively high electricity prices - should reach grid parity next year. Half of Europe should be enjoying grid parity by 2020, it estimates.

Cloudy northern countries like the UK could wait further, possibly up to 2030. But the day would come when solar panels on homes would be cost-competitive without a subsidy, even in Britain.

Dr Ossenbrink says: “Basically everything (in the industry) is bound to grow still further. Growing further means less cost. Less cost means grid parity.”

“We have been surprised in the past five years at the drop in prices. It’s due to good incentive programmes first in Germany then Spain and Italy. That created a kind of a boom that was helping industry to reduce costs and get into profitability. And when an industry is in profit it drives on its own.”

Owning solar

Professor Wim Sinke, from Utrecht University in the Netherlands, who leads the solar umbrella group the European Photovoltaic Technology Platform, says the industry has even greater ambitions.

“The target of the sector as a whole is to reach grid parity in almost all of Europe over the next 10 years. So by 2020 we should have grid parity in most of Europe,” he told BBC News.

Key sticking points for domestic solar, he said, would be the lack of flexibility in electricity grids to take in surplus generated energy and difficulties with finance.

Dr Ossenbrink said: “What I would like to see is the finance sector saying solar power is a product like financing a house - except they can predict the value of the solar panel much more safely than they can predict the value of the house in a volatile market.

“Electricity will never be given away free. Banks should offer mortgages on people’s solar panels like they do on homes - the bank should own the panel, then it would transfer to the householder when the loan has been paid off. It would be perfect for life assurances.”

It will take much longer for solar to match fossil fuel power at the point of generation, the institute says, as wholesale electricity prices are much lower than retail prices.

From BBC web site

Posted in Photovoltaic (PV), Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO), Renewable energy | Print | No Comments »

01/12/2009 by David Slade.

Partnerships for Schools 26 November 2009

The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, the Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, today announced a £12m investment in new energy display meters providing schools with real-time digital information about their electricity use from January next year.

From January 2010, primary and secondary schools across England will be able to apply for a meter which will give a second-by-second reading on how much electricity a building is using. Pupils and staff will be able to see immediately the impact of switching on and off individual pieces of electrical equipment, computers and lights on easy to read display monitors.

Partnerships for Schools will be responsible for overseeing the delivery of the new display meters project, working in partnership with British Gas, as the selected private sector partner.

Notes to Editors:

• PfS is the government’s delivery agent for the full suite of capital investment programmes into schools, helping ensure that taxpayers get the best value from every education pound spent.
• PfS is responsible for the delivery of around £8bn investment into education until 2011– through Building Schools for the Future; the Academies programme; the Primary Capital Programme; and the Devolved and Targeted Capital Programmes.

Posted in smart meters, metering | Print | No Comments »

28/11/2009 by David Slade.

Premises which combine multiple occupants with sleeping risk are widely acknowledged as requiring particular attention when designing and specifying a fire detection system. The legal definition of a House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) is a complex one, but HMOs include:

-  A building or part of a building occupied by more than one household which shares certain amenities such as a bathroom or kitchen
-  A converted building occupied by more than one household which is partly converted into self-contained flats
-  A building which is made up entirely of self-contained flats that do not meet the 1991 Building Regulation, and where more than one third of the flats are occupied under short-term tenancies.

Such buildings might include residential accommodation for essential workers like nurses, sheltered housing complexes, lodging houses, student accommodation, holiday self-catering apartments, hotels and bed & breakfast premises.

Calls to action
A grim reminder of the consequences of fire has recently been delivered during the inquest into the three deaths in the 2007 fire at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay. The coroner warned of the risk of further deaths unless there is Government support for hotels and guest houses to invest in fire safety or to ensure compliance with the law.

The first review of the effectiveness in England of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 also widely acknowledged this issue. Broadly speaking, it concludes that fire and rescue services have welcomed the legislation while businesses understand and support the risk assessment principle – where they are aware of the Fire Safety Order’s (FSO) provisions.

This caveat is a crucial one. Only around 60 per cent of businesses are aware of the FSO, and that awareness is particularly low among businesses with fewer than 50 employees. Among this category are many small hotels, guest houses or bed & breakfast premises.

The fire industry and Government have acknowledged that smaller hospitality businesses need to be specifically targeted to get the fire safety message across. The Government, in association with the Chief Fire Officers Association, has produced a booklet called Do You Have Paying Guests? It offers advice to these businesses about the risk assessment procedure and provides a guide to their responsibilities under the FSO.

The hospitality sector itself has raised concerns that many smaller guest houses could go out of business because they cannot afford to upgrade their fire protection. It is therefore clear that, while the political will and public pressure exists to improve fire protection in guest house-type HMOs, there is a need for the fire industry to demonstrate that it can provide a reliable and economical solution.

Understanding HMOs

Unlike larger, more complex buildings, smaller hotels and hospitality premises are relatively simple to navigate and to exit. For example, there may be only one landing, a main staircase and an alternative emergency exit. Fire detection and alarm products for this type of premises, therefore, do not need high levels of sophistication, but they do need to be fit for purpose. It is also advantageous if they offer certain other benefits, such as quick installation and cost competitiveness.

Despite the fact that many HMOs are physically quite simple in layout, the nature of their business means that regulation can be complex. Licensing of HMOs of three storeys or more by the relevant local authority became mandatory as early as April 2006. The idea was to make the general standards of HMOs consistent across the country.

Specific to the fire detection requirements is BS5839, the British Standard for fire detection and fire alarm systems for buildings. The applicable part of the code will depend on the size of the building and the different areas within it. While BS5839 Part 6 is the main code of practice for the installation of fire detection systems within the individual accommodation units of an HMO, Part 1 may also be applicable, particularly in communal areas and larger premises.

BS5839 also divides fire alarm systems into a number of different categories for life protection. They are designated and defined slightly differently within Part 6 (LD systems) and Part 1 (L) systems. At the very least, BS5839 Part 6 recommends that all dwellings be protected to LD3, which means spaces forming part of the escape route within the dwelling, such as the hall, are covered. In newer dwellings or where the risk is high, due to the occupants being elderly or disabled for example, a higher category of LD2 or LD1 may be required. These categories demand more comprehensive cover of communal, living and sleeping areas.

False Alarms
False alarms are another major consideration when developing fire detection products for HMOs. Persistent false alarms can lead to costs for the building owner for inappropriate call-out of emergency services and serious inconvenience for occupants. In extreme cases, it could even lead to occupants ignoring a genuine fire alarm, with potentially fatal consequences.
The most common causes of unwanted alarms are usually a result of tenants’ activities, such as:

-  burnt toast or cooking fumes
-  steam from bathrooms and kitchens
-  aerosols, e.g. hairspray
-  candles
-   tobacco smoke
-   build-up of dust

Other sources of unwanted alarms cannot be attributed to tenant activities and include insects, high humidity, water ingress and other sources of smoke external to the property. Any fire system therefore needs to be able to minimise false alarm incidents while still retaining its ability to raise a genuine alarm.

Another consideration with HMOs is the sequence of events that follow an alarm being raised. In individual dwellings, it may be acceptable for an alarm to be raised immediately so that the family can evacuate straight away, but in an HMO this could cause chaos. It is therefore important to allow the occupants of individual dwellings in an HMO the means of silencing an alarm signal if the source can be dealt with locally (e.g. burning toast) before the entire building is alerted and evacuated.

Posted in BS5839, Fire alarm system - False Alarms, Chief Fire Officers Association, Fire detection, Fire Safety Order 2005, House in Multiple Occupation (HMO), Fire safety | Print | No Comments »

28/11/2009 by David Slade.

In the light of this summer’s tragedy at Lakanal House in London, the fire safety duties of social housing landlords have come under the spotlight. Susan Horridge and Gary Ekpenyoung examine the main legal requirements.

Since the tragic events on the 3 July 2009, in which six people died in a fire at Lakanal House, a block of flats in London, there has been increased focus on social landlords’ duties regarding fire safety.

It is thought that the fire was caused by a faulty television, believed to be at least ten years old, which had been left plugged in on the 9th floor. The fire subsequently spread to the 11th floor, killing three adults and three children. Questions were raised and investigations are ongoing as to how the fire was able to spread so quickly.

Following the fire, the head of housing delivery and homelessness at Communities and Local Government, Terrie Alafat, wrote to all local authorities warning them of the safety issues which would create a hazard in similar blocks. She noted that the hazard at Lakanal House related to the positioning of a timber staircase inside each two-level flat, which cut across the top of a communal corridor and as a result, created a potential breach of the fire resisting construction of the ceiling. This type of hazard could allow a fire in one flat to burn through the timber stair and spread into the ceiling void of the corridor. However, such a hazard may not be readily apparent from visual inspections. She also added that the need to take action was a “matter for [the Local Authority’s] judgment”. The Tenant Services Authority has sent a similar letter to all registered social landlords in England.

The main duties upon social landlords in relation to fire safety are covered by the Housing Act 2004 and the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005. In addition, where a social landlord provides electrical equipment or fixtures and furnishings to its tenants, they should also consider the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 and the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998.

Housing Act 2004
The Housing Act 2004 brought in the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) which considers 29 categories of potential hazards, one of which is fire. Under the HHSRS, any residential premises should provide a safe and healthy environment for any potential occupier or visitor. A dwelling should therefore be designed, constructed and maintained with non-hazardous materials and should be free from unnecessary and avoidable hazards.

The HHSRS provides a means of assessing dwellings which reflects the risk from any hazard and allows a decision to be made, in those particular circumstances, as to whether that risk is acceptable. For the purposes of the HHSRS, the assessment is solely about the risks to health and safety. Any issues regarding feasibility, cost or the extent of any remedial action are irrelevant to this assessment.

The HHSRS Operating Guidance sets out how to make an assessment of the fire hazard presented by a particular dwelling and covers potential for harm from fire, causes, preventative measures and relevant matters affecting the likelihood and harm outcome.

Hazard bands have been devised which group ranges of scores, ranging from bands A to J, with band A being the most dangerous and J the safest. The band into which a dwelling falls in respect of the fire hazard can then be used by a landlord to decide whether action should be taken to reduce the hazard, and also to prioritise actions across a landlord’s property portfolio. The enforcing authority also considers this when making a decision as to whether any enforcement action should be taken in respect of the property.

Fire Safety Order 2005
The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 introduced duties in relation to fire safety in the common areas of houses in multiple occupation, flats, maisonettes and sheltered accommodation, in which personal care is not provided. The duty is placed on the ‘responsible person’, i.e. the landlord or in certain cases, the managing agent, who is required to carry out a fire risk assessment and take specific action to minimise the risk of fire in the common parts. The responsible person should take general fire precautions to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the safety of the people on the premises and in the immediate vicinity. Once the general fire precautions that are necessary have been identified and implemented, the responsible person must put in place a suitable system of maintenance and ensure that any procedures that have been adopted are implemented by competent persons.

Whilst the Order does not apply to individual flats, in practice the responsible person may need to take into account the entire premises, including to some extent, the individual units of accommodation themselves.

General fire precautions include: measures to reduce the risk of fire occurring; measures to reduce the spread of any fire through the premises; means of escape and their safe use at all times; firefighting; means of fire detection and warning; action to be taken in the event of fire; and mitigating the effects of fire.

Enforcement action which may be taken includes the service of either an alterations notice, enforcement notice or a prohibition notice. Failure to comply with any duty imposed by the Order, or the requirements of any enforcement action, is a criminal offence and carries a fine and possible imprisonment on conviction.

Under the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, landlords must ensure that the gas fittings and flues are maintained in a safe condition. Gas appliances should be serviced in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. If the instructions are not available, it is recommended that these are serviced annually. Landlords must also ensure that a gas safety check is carried out annually on each appliance/flue.

The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 require that all electrical equipment supplied by a landlord is safe. There is no mandatory requirement for the equipment to undergo any safety testing, but the regulations require that any equipment supplied after 9 January 1995 shall be marked with the appropriate CE symbol. Suitable information or instruction booklets should also be provided.

If the landlord supplies furniture and furnishings in a property, they must meet the levels of fire resistance set out within the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1998. It is worth noting, however, that these regulations do not apply to carpets, curtains or duvets.

Conclusion
Social landlords are responsible for communal areas and as such, have to ensure that inspections and risk assessments comply with the HHSRS and Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, in addition to considering each of the regulations laid out in this article.

Whilst the duty only applies to the common parts, the entire premises, including the individual units, should also be considered. The risk assessments must be kept up to date and works carried out accordingly. In light of the fire at Lakanal House, social landlords may also need to look more closely at the construction of their properties, particularly in older dwellings, and consider any potential fire risks that may need to be addressed.

It is too early to say whether the local authority responsible for Lakanal House had complied with their duties. No doubt a thorough investigation will be undertaken and if they have breached their duties, liability and potential claims may follow.

Posted in Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, Fire Safety Order 2005, Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations, Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), Housing Act 2004, Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations, Fire safety | Print | No Comments »

28/11/2009 by David Slade.

High street retailer New Look has been fined £400,000 and ordered to pay £136,052 in costs after pleading guilty to two breaches of fire safety legislation, following a serious fire at its Oxford Street store in London.

Thirty five fire engines and around 150 firefighters attended the fire on 26 April 2007, when around 450 people form the store and surrounding premises were evacuated. The first call to the fire service did not come until an office worker in an adjacent building took action, and the delay meant that the fire had already broken through the second floor windows when firefighters arrived. Despite the building’s fire alarm sounding, the alarm was reset on at least one occasion, said London Fire Brigade.

Crews remained on the scene for the next three days and a section of Oxford Street was closed to traffic and the public for two days. The cause of the fire was never established and the store was subsequently demolished.

One charge to which New Look pleaded guilty was for an inadequate fire risk assessment which was found to have a number of flaws, including no record of the appropriate procedures to be taken during a fire alarm. Another breach was insufficient staff training, which led to a delayed evacuation of the premises. This lack of training, said LFB, also led to staff evacuating around 150 people through the main entrance which was directly underneath the fire on the second floor.

Other alleged breaches taken into account included the absence of an interface between the swipe card system and the fire alarm panel which would have deactivated the doors. In addition, green emergency door release units were fitted on the wrong side of the basement doors.

Chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, Councillor Brian Coleman, said: “Good business management includes taking responsibility for fire safety, knowing the law and acting on it. This conviction shows that large companies are not exempt from prosecution and that London Fire Brigade will take action when businesses do not take their fire safety responsibilities seriously. Failure to comply with the law can, as this case has shown, result in a substantial fine.”

Sentencing of New Look took place at Southwark Crown Court on 25 November 2009.

Posted in Fire safety | Print | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by David Slade.

TiVo, the US equivalent of Sky Plus is coming to the UK following a deal with Virgin Media announced on Tuesday.

The news, broken during the American company’s earnings results will see a “long-term, strategic partnership with Virgin Media”, says Tom Rogers, president and CEO of TiVo.

According to the two companies the deal will involve TiVo developing a converged television and interactive interface to power Virgin Media’s next generation, high definition set top boxes.

“TiVo will offer Virgin Media’s nearly four million UK customers TiVo’s advanced television and user interface on both its traditional and DVR set-top boxes”, confirmed Rogers.

Virgin Media currently anticipates its first TiVo co-branded product in 2010.

Posted in Virgin Media, TiVo | Print | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by David Slade.

Need another televisual tech phrase to add to the mix?

Sure you do, and today’s word comes from Philips with its new 9704 TV range that offers “LED Pro” technology.

Clearly better than just TVs marketed as LED sets, the “Pro” 9704 range offers “sensational black levels, brilliant whites and an incredible contrast level of 5,000,000:1 – while consuming up to 50% less power than conventional.

The LED Pro bits come in with the 224 LED segments, each of which can be independently dimmed or brightened - or even turned off completely - greatly improving contrast.

A few more proprietary phrases to throw at you now, and there’s also “Perfect Pixel HD engine”, “200Hz Clear technology”, “Perfect Natural Motion system”, “Perfect Colour” and “Colour Booster technology”, all of which are said to add up to a fab viewing experience.

The TV also offers “Ambilight Spectra 3″, another Philips tech, that projects lights from both sides and the top edge of the TV on to the rear wall for what’s claimed to be a more immersive viewing experience.

Other features include a 1ms response time, 2×15W output into four speakers and DNLA-certified Wi-Fi for Philips’ “NetTV” that means you can access the internet through telly and five HDMI 1.3a EasyLink sockets.

All of the above will cost you £1799 for the 40-inch 40PFL9704 and £2499 for the 46-inch 46PFL9704, both due on sale in December.

Posted in Uncategorized | Print | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by David Slade.

Proposed HOME STAR program under consideration by the Obama Administration to offer $23 billion in incentives for home performance projects, create 500,000 jobs

The Building Performance Institute, Inc. (BPI), a nationally recognized standards development and contractor credentialing organization for residential energy efficiency retrofit work, applauds a proposed nationwide residential energy efficiency retrofit program called HOME STAR that was unveiled last week in a New York Times article and accompanying blog post by David Leonhardt.

Also dubbed ‘Cash for Caulkers,’ HOME STAR is designed to encourage homeowners to weatherize their homes in order to create more than 500,000 new jobs. Venture capitalist John Doerr presented the program at a meeting of President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board (PERAB) on Nov. 2, 2009. The plan is now under keen consideration by the White House, according to statements made by Rahm Emanuel, President Obama’s chief of staff, to the New York Times.

“The nationwide unemployment rate is at 10 percent, but the construction industry is one of the hardest hit at 17 percent. The need to install energy efficiency improvement tactics on 5.9 million homes will bring people back to work,” says David Hepinstall, BPI’s Chairman of the Board. “Struggling contracting companies can transition their business model or a portion of their business completely into weatherization services, including whole-home energy audits and the development of work scopes for energy retrofit improvements, or with appropriate training and certification, begin to incorporate some weatherization improvement measures into their existing areas of expertise.”

The proposed program would provide $23 billion in funding: $18 billion for homeowner incentives, $2 billion for quality assurance audits on efficiency projects and $3 billion for retailer incentives and awareness-building activities.

The HOME STAR program also represents a massive opportunity for existing home performance professionals. The increased demand for energy efficiency retrofits that HOME STAR is expected to generate across the country will help existing home performance contractors build their businesses and accelerate their return on investment from their training and certification.

“They’ll be leading this initiative because they already have the skills, knowledge and experience they need to do the work and do it right,” says Hepinstall.

The proposed HOME STAR program also supports the Obama Administration’s environmental goals, complementing the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program and legislation in the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009. Homes contribute 21% of America’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency retrofits can reduce a home’s energy consumption by as much as 40%, saving considerable greenhouse gas emissions. These deep energy savings will also help to protect American families from volatile energy prices and supply issues.

“BPI is very pleased with the recommendations in the HOME STAR proposal, in particular the call for formal training, professional credentials and a robust quality assurance program to protect both tax dollar and homeowner investments in the improvements,” says BPI CEO Larry Zarker. “We support this initiative 100 percent and offer our assistance in helping to bring the program to fruition as quickly as possible.

Posted in Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP, Building Performance Institute, Home Star | Print | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by David Slade.

Energy harvesting is not a new idea. We have had the motion-powered wristwatch for many years. But as electronic circuits move from consuming milliwatts to consuming microwatts an interesting thing happens. It becomes possible to contemplate drawing power for those circuits, not from the electricity grid or from a battery but from a variety of ambient phenomena. And this is expected to have far-reaching impact. One of the early applications is to have vibration-powered, wireless sensors in place on machinery, in vehicles. The battery-less aspect of such sensors removes the need for maintenance. EnOcean GmbH (oberhaching, Germany) has pioneered the use of wireless, batteryless switches for use in building automation and is now helping to drive the EnOcean Alliance to form standards.

Nokia is looking at energy harvesting in the context of the mobile phone but has stressed it has no prototype as yet. But in 2010 all makers of mobile equipment have to be looking at energy harvesting to, at least, augment the battery life of their equipment.

Posted in batteryless switches, Energy harvesting, EnOcean Alliance | Print | No Comments »

27/11/2009 by David Slade.

Birmingham City Council is planning to sign the Green Digital Charter, which aims to promote the use of green technologies in European cities.

The charter aims to bring European cities together in environmental initiatives. Among the policies Birmingham has agreed to undertake as part of the charter is an effort to make IT more energy efficient by encouraging the wider use of low-emission computer equipment.

The council plans to use renewable energy sources to power IT and to make use of energy emissions from equipment. One such example would be to heat buildings.

It will also use low-carbon digital infrastructure to transform services and information provision to improve service delivery. It plans to change the ways it runs to support distance working and to institute virtual meetings to eliminate travel.

Posted in Green Digital Charter, Green buildings | Print | No Comments »

26/11/2009 by David Slade.

New licence conditions for the supply of electricity and gas will be introduced on April 6 2009. These new conditions are an essential building block in the Government’s carbon reduction programme for the UK. Under these changes, all Profile Class 5-8 electricity meters, and all metered gas consuming over 732,000 kWh a year, must be replaced by smart meters.

The new metering standards for all Profile Class 5-8 meters will be CoP10 for whole current and CoP5 for CT meters. Customers have until 2014 to change their meters, but any smart meter installed as from the New Year must comply with this new metering code of practice.

Does this affect you?
To find out if your meters need to be changed, take a look at your electricity bill. This will contain an ‘S’ number that tells you which electricity Profile Class you are in.

According to BERR/DECC, the new meters must ‘store measured electricity consumption data for multiple time periods; and at least half hourly’ and they must ‘provide remote access to such data by the licensee’. BERR/DECC also state that ‘timely’ access to the data from the meter must be given to the customer. Government guidance is that ‘timely’ should be day + 1.

But, just because suppliers will now have to give you access to your meter data, it doesn’t mean they should let you have it for free.

Access to data
The Office of Government Commerce (OGC) is advising the public sector not to sign up to a supplier contract where metering is conditional on the agreement. They believe this ‘limits competition and the ability to negotiate energy contracts in the future’.

Continuity of data is fundamental to achieving carbon savings. So, the best route is to go appoint an independent provider of metering and data services. This will allow you to change supplier without being bound by any metering and data service, and without losing any of your meter data during the supplier change over.

Interoperability
The Government believes proprietary metering systems are not good for market choice. Therefore, BERR/DECC are calling for open systems, so that any data collector can collect from any metering system – just like in the half hourly market. The benefit of having open systems is that it will greatly improve consumer choice.

Switch sooner rather than later
Mandatory smart metering by 2014 will affect around 170,000 electricity meters and 40,000 gas meters in the UK. If this includes your organisation, then it’s in your interest to switch to smart metering sooner rather than later, because the half hourly meter data you will have access to will enable you to see exactly where and when energy waste is occurring. It’s only when you have this detailed information that you can start to introduce effective measures to eliminate waste and reduce carbon emissions.

Will you be caught in the Carbon Reduction Commitment?
Currently, there are 110,000 meters in the half hourly market. The requirement for mandatory smart metering in electricity Profile Classes 5-8 and annual gas usage of 732,000 kWh or over means a tripling in the number of half hourly meters by 2014. Any organisation which has introduced half hourly metering and which uses more than 6,000 megawatt hours a year (or around £1/2m at today’s prices) will now be caught in the net of the Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC). So, if you thought your organisation was going to slip under the radar of the CRC, you may need to revisit this assumption.

As a reminder, the CRC is a mandatory carbon trading scheme that will be introduced in 2010. Its aim is to cut carbon emission by 1.2 million tonnes in the UK by 2020. You can find out more on DECC’s website: www.decc.gov.uk

The CRC will be a bonus and penalty scheme, with organisations in the top half of the ‘league table’ being paid a bonus. So, it’s not all bad news: with your smart metering system in place, you will be able to eliminate energy waste – which puts you in a much stronger position to win regular CRC bonuses.

Save up to 12% on your energy bills
If you think smart metering will increase your costs, reconsider. Smart metering has reduced in price significantly over the last twelve months and the difference between the cost of monthly manual reads and the cost of obtaining remote reads and online half hourly data has narrowed dramatically.

According to the Carbon Trust, introducing smart metering can actually save you money. Last year, they undertook smart metering trials and the results showed that smart metering, when combined with consumption data and energy-saving advice, gave potential average savings of 12% a year.

It’s in your interest to go ‘smart’

To sum up, if you are in electricity Profile Class 5-8 or you consume over 732,000 kWh of gas a year, your current meters must be replaced by smart meters by 2014. This is mandatory, so you will be obliged to invest in this. However, it is in your interest to do so, as there are significant energy savings to be made with smart metering. And the savings you make will all go towards meeting the UK’s carbon emission targets. All in all, smart metering gives you an outstanding return on your investment.

Posted in DECC, Office of Government Commerce (OGC), CoP10, CoP5, BERR, smart meters | Print | No Comments »

25/11/2009 by David Slade.

Graham Hicks tests a system that integrates a Braille computer and mobile phone

A new portable device for deaf-blind people allows them to have face-to-face conversations, make phone calls using a text relay service and communicate by SMS.

The DeafBlind Communicator (DBC) consists of a Braille note-taker linked by Bluetooth to a mobile phone.

The DBC is made by assistive technology firm HumanWare and was developed in partnership with the Washington State Office of Deaf and Hard of Hearing (ODHH) as well as several deaf-blind individuals.

QWERTY keyboard

Using the device, a deaf-blind person can have real time conversations in pubs and shops, with sighted friends or when conducting confidential meetings - for example with a doctor or solicitor.
Alan Davis from DBC maker HumanWare says the device opens new doors

With the Braille note-taker - a device also made by HumanWare called the BrailleNote - the deaf-blind person types a message into the device which comes with either a standard Braille or QWERTY keyboard.

This is then delivered to the screen of the mobile handset - which has special software installed on it - and the person responding then types a message back using the handset’s QWERTY keyboard.

When the mobile phone is first handed to a new speaker, it uses a voice message to inform them that the person using the equipment is blind and unable to hear.

It then asks them to communicate by typing a message on the mobile’s keyboard.

Phone service

The DBC system sends messages to a mobile phone

Once the sighted person has pressed the return key, a message is sent to the BrailleNote, the deaf-blind person replies and so the exchange can continue.

The deaf-blind version of the BrailleNote has a landline connector built in which enables the user to dial up a text relay service - for example the BT-funded Typetalk service - to enable deaf-blind people to use the device to make and receive phone calls.

The DBC also gives deaf-blind people access to SMS text messaging - which has become one of the most commonly used forms of communication.

The deaf-blind person simply needs to purchase a SIM card from a mobile network operator in order to activate the service.

Web browser

The device also contains some more advanced applications which are ordinarily hidden from new users in order to reduce complication.

These include a word processor, a planner, an e-mail client, an internet browser and a digital book reader.

As and when the deaf-blind person feels ready to use them, they can be activated easily and quickly.

The DBC can also use instant messaging services like Google Talk.

“Imagine the freedom that comes from being able to communicate with nearly anyone, anywhere,” said HumanWare’s Jim Halliday.

A Braille computer relays messages to and from a phone

“The DBC finally gives this capability to people who are both deaf and blind.”

To see the DBC in action, the BBC met Graham Hicks at a city centre pub in Peterborough.

Mr Hicks is deaf-blind and has written an evaluation report on the device for HumanWare.

‘Liberating device’

He was able to go to the bar and order drinks from a member of staff who had never seen the DBC before as well as answering some questions from us.

The conversation took much longer than it would have between fully hearing and seeing people. However it proved to be an effective system by providing a link between two people that would otherwise be impossible.

“This gives us a great advantage that we have waited many years for”, said Mr Hicks.

Mr Hicks described the device as liberating, by giving a deaf-blind person the ability to act independently.

The DBC costs between £4,400 and £5,400 depending on the size of Braille display required.

Money to purchase the device could be obtained from the government’s Access to Work fund if the deafblind person is in work, and those in education could also get help with the cost.

From BBC web site

Posted in DeafBlind Communicator (DBC), SMS, Braille | Print | No Comments »