How the ‘internet of things’ will change family care

Even though the internet has only been around in the UK for less than 20 years, it has touched and affected everyone’s daily lives. Yet the impact on society and individuals of the internet so far is small in comparison to the new wave of technology which is coming our way: the so called “Internet of Things’ is about to change everything.

 What is the internet of things?

A thing will be anything and everything that can be connected to the Internet. Doorbells, Lights, switches, smoke detectors, thermostats, watches, pills, clothes are just a small sample of ‘things’ being connected. People will also be connected things. Instead of asking Google and other search engines for information, we will now be able to ask them to help us practically, by enquiring, ‘Where are my keys?’ “Where is the closest free parking meter’ and ‘what day next week is the best day to have a BBQ at my house’

 The future use of data

The even bigger change will be the fact that ever ‘thing’ will generate masses of data and that data will be capable of being analysed to find patterns that can then be used to change society and individuals lives beyond recognition.

Just by looking at you and your home, the data will reveal how to make the house more efficient, how to make it more secure and more importantly, how to improve your health and demeanor.  The patterns generated for individuals and society as a whole will bring prevention and proactive health and care choices to be made like never before.

It is already happening: elite sportsmen are wearing sensors enabling doctors to understand their performance remotely and can even to anticipate if they are going to get a fever or illness in advance.

The future of home care

• Heating systems will know when and how you want to use heating and hot water,. (Nest and Hive systems already learn by your movements).
• Dangerous temperature conditions, either too hot or too cold will be alerted to families to prevent illnesses and deaths in older people
• In the next 5 years, most electric meters will be changed to smart meters, warning families of no movement or unusual activity.

The 3rings plug is a ‘thing’ which lets the family know that older relatives OK each day just by them turning on the kettle or the TV. In the coming years, more generic things, such as light switches or light bulbs, will all be indicators of activity.

Other future innovations in healthcare

Things are already capturing and analysing data regarding health and welfare related, via fitbits and activity monitors. The next wave will collect vital signs, such as heart beat, blood pressure and many other things just from clothes you wear, or from ‘things’ that we use in our daily lives. There are already cameras which can detect blood pressure and heartbeat just by looking at you, so imagine your TV of the future analysing your health and wellness 24/7………it’s not science fiction.

There is now asthma software, which when installed in a phone, ‘listens’ to breathing patterns and can predict a potential asthma attack ahead of it happening.

As always there will be upsides and downsides. Here is one possible scenario which might happen within the next 5 years. I am working and then unexpectedly I start to have a heart attack. Within seconds my ‘things’ detect the event, automatically contact the emergency services and tells the ambulance driver what my vital are before they arrive, as well as telling them where I am and the most efficient way to get to me. They will arrive and save me in plenty of time. The downside is that within minutes I get an email saying my insurance premiums will be going up as I had a heart incident!

So to conclude, ‘things’ will soon be connected and they will provide data which will be analysed to produced patterns that will help us as individuals and society. All this data from all these ‘things’ will reveal patterns never understood before. These patterns will help families and society care for our ageing population in a proactive way, rather than a reactive one. The Internet of Things should make life better for all of us.

Steve Purdham, Chairman 3rings Care Ltd the inventors of the 3rings Plug

3rings.co.uk, the plug that lets families know their ageing mum and dad are OK each day.