SmartHomeUSA.com Home Automation

[Jeannie]

Hello - I'm new to this board. My husband, as can be seen in my 'signature' has many disabilities, including complete blindness and being a paraplegic (spinal cord injury-cannot walk), and needing hemo-dialysis. I would like to help him to be as independent as possible. We are in the process of adding a new, huge, master bedroom & bath (with a basement that we don't expect to use) on to our current home, and I want to explore options that may be available.

1) As he is completely blind, I want some type of control that will work with the TV/Dish Nework/Charter Digital Cable/DVD/VCR that is voice controlled and is easy to set up, possibly with no remote controls. What are those "infrared" things I saw on the home page and how do they work?

2) I want to explore "automatic" door opening for him. Do they work on brick houses which typically have a storm door as well as a front door? The new addition will be "frame" and will probably not have a storm door, and so I'm wondering if that would be the only room available for automation.

3) how about some type of phone system that works with "infrared" or automatically?

4) I'll take any suggestions anyone has to offer, with regard to how to make his life more independent. We do have some things already, like a computer with 'screeen reading' capabilities.

Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

[Ralph]

Jeannie, I am working on finding some solutions for you. I will post them to you as soon as possible.

[Ralph]

Jeannie,

Does he use a motorized wheelchair?

Does he use a laptop in the wheelchair?