Technology Improves Quality of Life of Seniors

Emerging technologies have the potential to radically change the experience of aging in the 21st century. Technology can help seniors stay in their homes longer by improving safety, monitoring medical details and enhancing communication and social contact.

Communication Technology

Over one-half million people in the U.S. subscribe to alarm services that send a wireless message that help is needed. The user wears a pendant or bracelet and simply presses a button for help. Unlike a telephone or alarm pull chain, the pendant or bracelet is always accessible and is directly connected to help that is always available.

Adaptive telephone designs are extremely beneficial to seniors. A number of states, Florida among them, offer deaf and hearing-impaired residents captioned and volume-control telephones at no cost. Cell phones designed for seniors have larger buttons and better amplification and sound quality. Innovative cell phones have zoom options that make the display text larger as well as built-in SOS buttons; menus are simple and easy to navigate. Phones for people with memory problems use the caller identification feature to display a photo of the caller as well as the caller's name and relationship to the senior, in order to jog a failing memory.

Signalers produce a visual signal for sounds like the doorbell, oven timer, or alarm clock. A similar device sends an audio and visual signal when the mail is delivered. Amplified alarm clocks help people with moderate hearing loss wake up on time, a particularly useful feature for seniors who have to take medications during the night. For people with more profound hearing loss, bed shakers do the waking.

Health Technology

Telehealth is the term coined for health services that are delivered though the Internet and other telecommunications technologies. Telehealth can be as simple as e-mail communication between doctors and patients or as complex as patient monitoring. Devices already exist that allow doctors to monitor seniors remotely. Smart beds, for example, monitor vital signs and send them to the medical care providers over the Internet. For general safety, electronic systems monitor the movements of seniors in their homes. Robotic nurses may soon spare the backs of caregivers by doing the lifting and transferring. Pill boxes that remind people when to take their pills and other electronic medication monitoring and dispensing systems are now available and continually improving.

Social Technology

Recent studies confirm that Internet use reduces depression among senior citizens. A number of programs use Internet technology to reduce the social isolation of home bound seniors. A public-private partnership in New York City, for example, introduces seniors to computers and Internet technology in their own homes. The Virtual Senior Center uses technology to improve social connections and give home bound seniors access to community services. In another project, a technology hot line helps seniors learn how to use the Internet. Keyboards with large keys and magnified monitors make it easier for older people to use computers.

Mobility Technology

Remote controlled walkers come when they are called, eliminating the need for seniors to reach for their walkers, a major cause of falls. Walkers with sensors are able to steer away from obstacles. Smart canes can detect changes in gait and pressure and sound an alarm if the user is in danger of falling.

Technologies for Independence

A number of universities and companies have taken up the challenge of developing technologies to enhance the quality of life for senior citizens. Their innovations can help seniors remain independent longer and age gracefully.

The emerging technologies detailed in this article can enhance the lives of seniors and other home bound individuals in need of assistance. By improving home safety and monitoring important medial information and enhancing communication and social interaction, aging seniors will be able to stay in their homes longer.

Claudette Paäge is a confidential financial and senior care consultant for busy professionals, individuals and families and retirees. She has made a career out of helping people wrest control over the challenges of everyday living. If you or a loved one need Senior Care in NY City, Claudette can help. She has an experienced Care Manager on staff. Please call 914-725-0343 with senior care or home health care related questions, or if you need assistance for a loved one in the greater New York metropolitan area. Please visit her highly-informative website for more tips and 

A Comparative Analysis of Smart Home Automation Technologies in the UAE

The Smart Home Automation industry in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been growing at a rapid pace since its dawn over the last several years. The market is becoming more and more aware of the capabilities of having a complete automation system whether at the scale of individual residences, palaces, real estate developments, and hotels. Many developments in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have already been completed with a pre-installed automation system. Many developments in areas like Victory Heights, Arabian Ranches, Sports City, and Reem Island have also been built with infrastructure to support such technologies in the future.

In basic form, automation includes systems that control Lighting, Appliances, HVAC, Curtains and Multimedia. The market in the UAE has not only begun to realize the benefits in terms of comfort, security, and luxury. But also in terms of energy saving and increasing property value, thus all these realizations will continue to lead to a booming market in the UAE.

As automation is somewhat of a new technology in the mainstream market, one must be aware of the countless number of underlying technologies that connect and allow for the communication between a user and the Light Dimming Systems or Air Conditioning Systems. On the surface, these technologies may seem to lead to the same functionality, but in the back-end, they are different in potentially catastrophic ways. This leads us to the reason why we started composing this article, that is, to shed light onto the pros and cons of the different technologies (regardless of product or vendor) which are available in the UAE market today.

Any automation system is composed of 2 high-level components, the controller, and the modules. The modules include light dimmers, relay switches, thermostats, motorized curtain control systems, distributed speakers..etc. which are to be controlled by the home owner. The controller, is the heart of the system from which signals are sent to "Dim the lights" or "turn on the air conditioning". The method of communication between the controller and the modules are the Automation Communication Technology which we wish to address in this article. The method of communication can either be through wires or wireless and are usually in line with certain protocols or standards of communication. This article will explore and compare KNX, X10, Zigbee, En-Ocean, and Z-wave.

The criteria for comparison which we will explore are the following:

1. Reliability of Communication: How reliable is the communication between the Controller and the Modules? When a message is sent to a module, the system must ensure the message's arrival and confirmation of receipt. Scoring well in this criteria is very important to ensure that even under circumstances of wired or wireless interference messages are resent until confirmed by the receiving module. Not all protocols comply with this requirement.
2. Security of Communication: The protocol must guarantee that a 3^rd party cannot infiltrate an existing system and operate it with unauthorized access. The results of a hacker entering a parking lot of a hotel and turning all its lights off is disastrous.
3. Price
4. Features and Capabilities: It is important that automation technologies go beyond just controlling individual modules and have the capability to integrate with other systems most typically entertainment since that is an area of high usage of any home owner. Example: Easy Integration with Multi-room Music Systems, Multi-room multimedia distribution systems (Movies, Videos, Pictures, Music)...etc.
5. Investment Protection: It is important to make sure that installed Controller or Modules can be easily replaced in the future. Consider having installed a system that has some components fail after 5 years, and at the same time, the company which installed it became bankrupt. The home owner would be left with no choice but to completely revamp the entire electrical system in the residence which would cost more in time, labor, and equipment that what was originally paid for the automation system. Having a system that is standardized means that any other company can support it or replace certain parts with different products, maybe from different vendors, in order to ensure continued operation.
6. Interoperability: This criteria refers to the capability of the Controller to speak to multiple Modules from different manufacturers. This will ensure that a system is made up with Lighting, HVAC, Curtains, Appliances, and Multimedia Control Modules are purchased from different manufacturers which are the best or most specialized in those fields. This ensures that a system has the best-in class Modules for each particular purpose. It is not logical that the best manufacturer of light dimmers is also the best manufacturer of curtain control systems, or audio systems. Some communication protocols are closed or proprietary, thus forcing the customer to purchase everything from a single manufacturer. This criteria also overlaps with the Investment Protection Criteria since having an interoperable system will give future flexibility to easily replace Modules even if the company which installed them has closed down.

The remainder of this document will address each communication technology based on the above criteria.

KNX

KNX is an international standard of communication typically installed in wired twisted pair environments. KNX was designed in 1990 and was made as a very robust protocol to be used in industrial automation applications. The protocols reliability cannot be questioned since it implements many OSI communication layers and is quite complex. KNX is also controlled by the KNX association and any company usually spends thousands of dirhams on their employees to go through training in order to understand the inner workings of the system. KNX is a complex protocol by nature, and was designed long before the "smart home" concept was born, thus the hardware that has the capability to support the complexity of KNX is expensive not only to engineer, but also to manufacture and thus the hopes for this technology to become cheaper than its current alternatives is futile.

KNX has and is a popular choice for hotels since 2006 and has been deployed in many developments such as the Shangri-la in Dubai, Rotana Hotels in the Marina, Fairmont, Movenpick to name a few. KNX is also being specified by many real estate consultants for major developments in the Abu Dhabi Reem Island and Yas Island.

1. Reliability of Communication: Yes
2. Security of Communication: Yes
3. Price: No
4. Features and Capabilities: No. KNX has been more focused at the simple facility of automation and typically fits in hotel environments where customization and multimedia integration is not required.
5. Investment Protection: Yes
6. Interoperability: Yes

X10

X10 is an international open standard developed in 1975 by Pico Electronics of Scotland, in order to allow remote control of home devices and appliances. It primarily uses the 220Vpower line wiring for sending messages between the Controller and the Modules (Lighting, HVAC...etc).

X10 has only receyved some popularity many years ago when automation technology started being introduced in the UAE. And was typically installed in small villa project then was slowly discontinued due to its reliability issues.

1. Reliability of Communication: No. Since it is prone to interference from multiple sources like transformers, motors typically found in TVs, washing machines, fans...etc. Also, messages from Controller to Modules are never acknowledged so there is no 2-way communication.
2. Security of Communication: No. If a 3^rd party can tap into the powerline of a house, messages can easily be sent to control whatever the 3^rd party wishes.
3. Price: Yes
4. Features and Capabilities: Yes. This technology can easily be integrated into PC based systems and many options are available to provide feature rich capabilities for residential applications.
5. Investment Protection: Yes
6. Interoperability: Yes

Zigbee

ZigBee is an open wireless network communication protocol based on the IEEE specification IEEE 802.15.4, which enables the Controller to communicate with its Modules via Radio Frequency. The standard is a development of the ZigBee Alliance, which was founded in the end of 2002. It is an industry alliance of more than 230 enterprises who take up the worldwide development of this technology. The first ZigBee products came on the market in the beginning of 2005. Because Zigbee standardises only the lower protocol layers (radio layer), the different manufacturers have defined their own higher software layers. As a result ZigBee devices of different manufacturers are not compatible with each other.

1. Reliability of Communication: Yes. A wireless mesh network is created and ensures multiple path routing to every module which translates to long reach, and high reliability in case of interference or even in case of in-path device failure.
2. Security of Communication: No. Zigbee uses weak hashing algorithms and has been researched to be penetrable. Penetration is not easy but software tools such as "Killerbee" exist and can allow any person with little Linux and scripting experience to hack into an existing Zigbee network.
3. Price: No
4. Features and Capabilities: Yes
5. Investment Protection: Yes
6. Interoperability: No

En-Ocean

EnOcean is a wireless radio frequency based, energy harvesting technology used primarily in building automation systems. It is not set out for international, European or national standardization; however, EnOcean GmbH is offering its technology and licenses for the patented features under license within the EnOcean Alliance framework. The concept was developed to enable batteryless sensors and switches for building automation. Which is questionable in terms of energy saving because existing alternatives can consume as little as 500W per 60 storey tower in automation devices.

EnOcean based technologies have been installed in some big projects such as the Abu Dhabi Central Market, the Dubai Financial Center...etc.

1. Reliability of Communication: No, En-Ocean does not offer 2-way communication between the Controller and its Modules. Also the Controller is at a star network with the Modules and there is no wireless meshing, this one-to-one signal mapping can drastically fail in times of high interference.
2. Security of Communication: Yes
3. Price: No, En-Ocean prices are more aligned with KNX.
4. Features and Capabilities: No. Supported but not yet seen in the market.
5. Investment Protection: Yes
6. Interoperability: Yes

Z-wave

Among all the above protocols, Z-wave ranks the best so far. The strength of Z-wave lies in the big number of different products from different manufacturers as well as the very robust, 2-way, meshed, and secured wireless communication. Z-wave chips also consume a 10mW at peak and are low cost compared to all other alternatives. Why? because Z-wave has been originally designed for residential applications.

Z-wave is viewed as the next generation of Smart Home Technology and product lines have started to emerge from big players such as Honeywell and Schneider Electric. This technology is not only feature full, reliable and secure, but will be offered at competitive prices and investment protection for projects of any size starting with individual villas all the way to large real estate towers. As of today, Z-wave has been deployed in many villas in the UAE at an individual scale. Z-wave is also starting to make its way through many of the large tenders for developments throughout the Emirates.

1. Reliability of Communication: Yes
2. Security of Communication: Yes
3. Price: Yes
4. Features and Capabilities: Yes
5. Investment Protection: Yes
6. Interoperability: Yes

Shifra Smart Homes is a Smart Home solutions provider based out of the Dubai Internet City in the UAE. With a focus on user experience, Shifra Smart Homes is creating a revolution in the home automation industry by bridging the world of distributed media (music, pictures, videos and movies) with sophisticated control systems for lighting, appliances, curtains, security, air conditioning, IR systems, and multi-room audio.

Help! It's Science Project Time!

If you are anything like how I used to be, you literally start panicking when your darling little ones come home from school and tell you they need a science project. With a bit of luck, they have given you some time to think of one. Or worse case scenario you have 24 hours!

A couple of years ago I was in this situation. My two darling twin boys both had science projects. Luckily, they gave me a few days notice.

It sure did put me into a panic. What with working fulltime, running a household and having to come up with two science projects and undertake them, really did put the pressure on. And it really didn’t help that at school I was quite crap at science. I didn’t even know the difference between a Bunsen burner and a beaker.

Well, the good news for all of you stressed out parents out there. I have a solution for you. One that has worked well for me for the last two years.

As I see it, there are three time-consuming areas when attempting a science project. They are searching for the right science project, searching for the ingredients and then doing the actual science project.

I’ve worked out a foolproof way to save time when it comes to finding the right project and assorted ingredients. But when it comes to actually doing the project, I’m afraid there’s not much you can do to reduce the process.

In order to find a project, you can spend some time on the web searching for a free one (quite time-consuming) or you can buy a book that gives you a whole lot of science projects that you can use for years to come. The best books mainly use household ingredients and have step-by-step instructions. I believe getting a book is the best option as you can use it for many years, thus saving lots of time, angst and money in the future.

Of course, there are books and there are books. It can be time consuming finding the right one, let alone having to spend the time picking it up from the shop.

So another time saver? Get a science project e-book. Download a book straight to your computer. Instantly. The good news is they are generally cheaper than a hard copy book.

From my research, there are four available. They vary in the amount of science projects available from 5 to 101.

My recommendation is buy the science fair projects book with the most experiments so that you can use them for more than one child over a long period of time. Also, try and get an e-book that sees them through all their school years.

If you are wondering, how do I find the right science projects e-book? The answer is there is a website that clearly compares each one available.

The website is [http://www.science-projects-review.com] . With my knowledge, I have put all of the e-books into an easy to understand table with links to each e-book. The best thing is you can download these e-books immediately and start your experiment today. There is even a category to check which books mainly use household ingredients.

So if you want to save time and money, both today and in the future, check out these e-books now.

Caroline Burnside is a mother of two delightful boys and is a business analyst at a financial institution. Her hobbies include bike-riding, gardening and watching "Desperate Housewives".

Homework Help for 8th Grade Science Class

Are you getting hung up on your science homework? Do you need homework help for 8th grade science? If so, you need to read this article. So, take 5 minutes now, to get yourself back on track for a good grade in science!

Most junior high school science classes broadly cover the natural science, from basic physics, chemistry, earth sciences, and biology. Grasping so many concepts can be tricky, though, so if you need homework help for 8th grade science, you should consider these following points.

Junior high (especially 8th grade) is the time when schools change from general ideas to specific concepts in terms of teaching science. Teachers are preparing you for high school the more rigorous science classes you will take in high school. Therefore, it is vitally important that you start building good study habits ASAP. Up until this point in school, you could probably get by without studying or readying the book too closely. Well, not anymore. It is really important to read the assigned chapters in the book and understand what the book is saying. Also very important is to do the homework and understand what you're doing! You will eventually be tested on the material covered in homework--that is a guarantee.

If you believe you're spending enough time reading the book but aren't getting the grade you want, you should consider getting homework help for 8th grade science from another source, be it your parents or a tutor. If you're already spending 4-6 minimum per week studying (that should probably be enough studying to get an A in most junior high science classes), then you need to seek outside help. A tutor can quickly help you get back on track with the concepts from class. Ask your teacher if you are looking for and can't find additional homework help.

This next point should be self explanatory, but I'm not at all surprised at how many students don't already do this--and this is that you need to pay attention in class. If you're sleeping or talking during class, not only are you going to miss what the teacher is telling you, but you're not even going to know WHAT topics have been covered in class. It is extremely difficult to study for a test if you don't know what topics to study for! Things you need to do to pay attention in class include getting enough rest (8 hours is recommended), eating enough for breakfast and lunch, and being prepared with paper and pencil. And a trick that will help you far into the future is to read the material ahead of time. When you hear the teacher talking about material you've already heard, it'll make SO much more sense. Following these tips will make science class easier to learn and reduce the amount of homework help for 8th grade science class that you'll need.

Get your kids excited about learing science! Read this and other articles at 

Athletes in Education

In 1962, the Ministry of Education created the Pakistan Sports Board. This fact is ironic in the face that few Pakistani stars are educated. Their lack of education is part of the reason children are failing at school. These 'heroes' do not promote education by their own lack of it.

Sport's heroes are role models. Young aspiring athletes look to these 'heroes' and idolize everything about them, including their lack of education. Young boys; especially, look at the stars' wealth and prestige and believe that they accomplished all of this without a good education. For example, the cricketers today, between the whole lot of them, only hold 2 degrees; Mishbhaul Haq has an MBA and Faward Aalam has a Bachelor's of Commerce. All other players have no more than Intermediate. A Category A player will make 312,000 Rupees per month. Now that is a nice wage for a non-degree holder!

Many a young boy in Pakistan aspires for the big leagues; they dream of someday joining the ranks of their favourite cricket hero. They spend hours at the game while neglecting their studies. They look to the wealth and prestige of these players, knowing that most have only an elementary level of education, and believe that they don't need get good grades. They think they don't have to work hard and get good marks at school. After all, these sports athletes have made it big; they have money, they have girls, they have prestige. And they did it all without an education. So who needs an education? What does it matter if young boys fail their classes? These young men think they can have the same future as their favourite hero without an education.

This kind of thinking is very short-sighted and flawed. There are several good reasons why everyone, even the most talented young person should earn a college or university degree.

1) Only 1% makes it to the Top of the Sports World

That means that if there are 1000 athletes striving for the pros, only 10 might make it; that means that you will most likely be in the 990 who will not become a sports star and must look elsewhere for a career. If you are one of the 990, then you need a college or university education to make a good future for yourself.

2) Injuries

Injuries happen. Even if you make it to the professional leagues, you can easily fall and injure yourself early or late in your sports career. An injury can be a life changing event that prevents you from going back on the field. You may never play again so what will you do? Having a good education means you have something you can use instead of your sports ability. It is your safety net for an illustrious career outside of sports. An injury can end your cricket career but it cannot stop your career as a (e.g.:) business administrator.

How Education Can Help Your Game

1) Improving your technique and skill comes from practice. That means you need a disciplined life and habits. If you can discipline your mind to study; then you have what it takes to have discipline in the sport you love and practice it to your fullest and beyond.

2) A good athlete must be a student of the strategies of the game. A well-disciplined graduate has acquired the necessary thinking skills necessary to transfer these same skills to the game and come out a winner for himself and his team.

3) Ability to cope with the tactical complexities of the sport. Poor performance on the playing field has been equated with a lack of education that prevents the athlete from being able to cope and understand the complexities of the modern game. Jan Molby, a footballer and quad-linguist believes that British footballers do not spend enough time in the classroom and that is one good reason why England is not doing well on the playing field.

So if you really are into sports, continue on playing the game; give the very best you have towards your sport, but don't forget your education. Become disciplined; start a good study program, get plenty of rest, get those good grades, decide now to enter university.

If you are among that 1% that does make it to the big leagues and you also have a degree; then so much the better. The horizons are open to you, the sky is the limit even after retirement, and you are prepared to start a second career.

Helen Khan is the administer and a teacher at Alberta Rose Education Centre in DHA, Lahore, Pakistan. She is dedicated to seeing students do well at school and become well rounded citizens with a good future. You can learn more about Alberta Rose Education by visiting them at http://www.facebook.com/AlbertaRoseTuitions

Everything You Need to Know About Experiential Education

If you have any experience in the educational system, you probably already have heard the term "experiential education" by now. If this is not the case, then the phrase might seem a bit abstract at a first glance and you might not realize what it exactly means. If you want to find out more about this topic, read below for everything you need to know about experiential education.

What It Is

This education is a phrase used to describe an interaction between the teacher or instructor and the student, through which the latter gains direct experience in relation to the environment and the content of the training program. Basically, it involves taking a theoretical principle and putting into a real life setting. While the presentation of information represents the theoretical part of a training course, this education represents the practical part.

Through this education, students have the opportunity to take the information learnt during training courses and use it to practice their skills in various settings related to their field of activity.

Why It Is Important

This education offers a large number of advantages to students involved in this type of activities. It ensures that students engage in an active participation and it gives them a chance to develop their skills. It also helps with building self-confidence and it teaches students how to conduct themselves in a variety of situations.

In general, experiential education modules compliment theoretical classes. Students will first learn a specific topic pertaining to their field of activity, after which they will be confronted with real life situations in which they can practice the information they have acquired. Additionally, it has been proven that new knowledge is easier to retain when it is used actively as opposed to simply studying it by reading books or sitting through lectures.

How It's Done

There are more than one ways in which experiential education can be achieved. Some of the most common techniques are briefly described below:

• Outdoor or environmental education. This type of learning is conducted in the outdoors and it uses environmental practices as the main teaching tool.

• Cooperative learning. This type consists of bringing together varied groups of individuals so as to gain more insight into different learning styles.

• Social learning. This type of experiential education is similar to community service with learning goals incorporated in the training course.

Examples of Experiential Education

It can be implemented in a large variety of disciplines and fields. In some industries, such as the health care system or the pharmaceutical field, this type of learning is an absolute requirement, but most fields use some sort of experiential education.

Experiential education principles can be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, science students can undergo training sessions in laboratories, which will help them get accustomed to various practices and procedures. Other examples include internships, fellowships, expeditions, and educative trips.

These are the most important things anyone needs to know about experiential education. This teaching method is an essential component of any efficient training program because it helps students strengthen their knowledge and skills in a particular field.

Insurance Continuing Education

There are many requirements for certification in the insurance industry. One of those requirements is continuing insurance education, which varies in need within each different state. Some states have two-year continuing education requirements, while others might require agents and professionals to take courses annually to keep their certifications up to date. You can find out about your state's specific laws by contacting the state Department of Insurance that you work in. Most companies will pay for these courses for their employees, as it can be written off as a business expense for many. Before enrolling, its essntial for you to know about the different requirements related to insurance CE so its easy to choose the right traing for you

There are courses in insurance continuing education for agents, adjusters, brokers, and underwriters, as well as programs for risk management and other specialties. The classes for agents, brokers, underwriters, and adjusters cover commercial and personal lines, property, casualty, life and health, and even ethics courses, legal education, and flood insurance CE. Each state has different requirements for continuing i education, and each program that exists is required to be certified by the state Department of Insurance in order to be an approved method of continuing education.

Specialty programs for continuing education include courses for risk management, financial services, insurance company managers, business owners, and other specialties within the indemnity industry. The position of each employee will dictate which continuing education courses need to be taken. In general, most states require an annual or bi-annual refresher course for all agents and professionals, but this can vary depending on the specific certification that the employee has, as well as the state that they reside and work in. Most agents or professionals will learn of their specific requirements to maintain their licensure in their initial training.

Insurance continuing education is different for every person and in every state. However, getting the education that is needed isn't hard. There are online courses for just about every type of CE that is needed within the insurance industry, including more complex programs for states like Texas that have strict requirements for their agents. The curriculum is not only designed to keep education current, but also to help professionals to increase their business and their own productivity as a result of taking the CE courses. Keeping current licensure in the insurance industry is mandatory, because the job cannot be performed legally without proper state licensing.