Digital Analysis: Technology Architecture
Vera is a holistic, proactive smart home solution that helps families, caregivers, and individuals with dementia or cognitive impairments through remote, real-time monitoring that eases concerns and worries, reduces health risks, boosts safe independence and provides peace of mind. Real-time data from our monitoring solution is easily accessible for viewing from any device. Integrated devices create frictionless experiences for Vera’s users.
IoT devices and sensors are strategically placed through the home to monitor movement and assist with tasks such as turning off lights and the oven/stove when the user forgets to do so.
Virtual Assistant Speakers are placed throughout the home to aid the user in remembering important tasks such as taking medicine and going to appointments. The Virtual Assistant can also serve as a companion to have a conversation with, and can connect users with their loved ones via call.
Cameras are placed in the home to help monitor the user’s movement and actions. If they appear to be spending too much time in a given position or spot, a loved one can view the live-stream camera to see what is going on and communicate with the user.
Wearables help further monitor the user’s movement, including when they leave the home. GPS tracking helps to determine where the user is when not at home and can aid the user find their way home if they become lost. The wearable also serves as a way to track important health metrics such as heart rate.
All activity and data is sent to a central hub that can be accessed via the Vera App on mobile, tablet or desktop. The app will provide live updates about activity such as when the user enters a new room or when they leave/arrive home. The app will also provide health data and will alert the loved one of any emergency or cause for concern, i.e. if the user has not gotten out of bed at their usual time.
System Architecture and Technology Specifications
As described previously, the IoT dynamic of Vera spans many important layers that work holistically to provide an overall solution suitable for our senior community and their network of care. The four major components considered include:
- Hardware – Sensors, speakers, motion detectors, cameras, wearable technology, and other IoT compatible devices.
- Software – The Vera platform itself installed as a mobile or desktop application
- Cloud – Safe and secure storage for data aggregation, processing, analytics, and CRM capabilities
- Network – Personal Area Networks and security protocols in place allow for the safe subscription by entities that include health maintenance organizations to third party partners and service providers.
The Platform: Google Cloud IoT – Supports data aggregation, analytics, machine learning, improve efficiency, and security. Choosing this ‘off the shelf platform’ gives us several things such as speed to market, efficiency, reduced cost, and tried and true compatibility with the availability of devices in a vast market of options.
The Vera Hub, Actuators and Sensors – Is built by a team of top of the line developers with a combined experience of over 20 years. The cameras record in full 720p HD and provide real-time viewing to users of the app with minimal lag. Our smart home gateway is Z-wave compatible which allows connection to devices in further ranges than standard WiFi, up to 30m, however, WiFi is our preferred protocol to support the transmission of data. The Vera hub will connect to the home’s modem or router by way of an Ethernet port and run on a standard AC Power Adapter while the devices throughout the home will run on a chargeable lithium battery. The Vera Hub is smart enough to proactively monitor battery health and alert the users and their approved secondary users to charge the battery when it’s running low.
Wireless – Choosing wireless gives the Vera home network several options. The Vera system can run smoothly on either a 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequency and supports Wi-Fi 801.11 b/g/n. Unlike Bluetooth, the devices can move about the home and not be restricted by distance to the main hub. Additionally, each device acts as an access point creating a “mesh network” in the home to reduce the instance of dead spots. In future iterations, we will incorporate a mobile data option for a small additional monthly fee so that users can venture out of the home and leverage the built-in GPS on our line of wearables for additional security.
Warranty – All of our equipment holds a 2-year limited warranty to protect the user’s device from covered issues with the hardware and are replaced free of charge. As a part of our monthly subscription, software and firmware updates will occur automatically so the users and their family members have peace of mind the overall system is current and running the latest security updates.
Process Model
Caregiving in person’s home
- In GREY: family member as a prime caregiver
- In RED: an alternative provided by Vera with identified points of disruption to a current process
Caregiving outside of the home
- In GREY: family member as a prime caregiver
- In RED: an alternative provided by Vera with identified points of disruption to a current process
Sources
- Bureau, US Census. “Aging Population in the U.S. ACS 2011-2015.” The United States Census Bureau. 26 Sept. 2018. Web. 09 Oct. 2020.
- “Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research.” About CNDR | Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research | Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Web. 09 Oct. 2020.
- “Fact Sheet Risk Factors for Dementia.” Alzheimers Organization. Web.
- “Mission Statement and Vision of the National PACE Association: National PACE Association.” Web. 09 Oct. 2020.
- “PACE.” Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS). Web. 09 Oct. 2020.
- “Why Is Dementia Different for Women?” Alzheimer’s Society. 08 Mar. 2017. Web. 09 Oct. 2020.
- Singh, K. (2020, March 05). Internet of Things (IoT) in Healthcare – An Introduction. Retrieved from https://smartsupplychains.ai/2020/03/04/iot-in-healthcare-an-introduction/
- Bukhaustsava, A., & Fisher, T. (2020, October 5). A Day in the Life of a Caregiver for a Senior with early onset Dementia [On-line interview].
