Breaking down the barriers of Telecare

Details

25 November 2011

Although telecare has been around for many years now, there are still fundamental barriers associated with the acceptance of telecare and until now, manufacturers have continued to develop new products with enhanced features without really listening to the views of those who use the service. For the majority of service users, the telecare service is provided when their needs are such that they require additional support but they don't have any say in what the products look like or how they're installed. For many who benefit from a multitude of Assistive Technologies, their homes can often become cluttered with various objects which make the place look untidy. That's why thorough Customer Research & Service User Insight is paramount when it comes to developing the products of the future. Not only must the product meet the needs of the service provider but most of all, there must be an acceptance by the service user to interact or simply appreciate the equipment once installed in their personal living space.

If we take an example of an At Home Alarm complete with a Personal Pendant, we can usually identify it from 50m away. That's because the main unit generally consists of a big plastic box with a big Red button on the top. Although the unit may deliver total reassurance and peace of mind when the service user requires assistance, there's a huge stigma associated with the product that screams out like a "badge of need". Similarly the personal pendant, also with a big red button draws more attention and labels the service user as vulnerable or at risk. With thousands of pendants installed each year, the question must still be asked as to how many of the pendants are actually worn by the service user and how many are actually hidden away in a drawer due to the stigma attached to them?

As a manufacturer, Tynetec decided to take responsibility for what was being supplied to the service user and try to break down the barriers by designing At Home Alarms and Personal Pendants that were more acceptable. Tynetec carried out over two years of research working with service providers from both the public and private sectors to compile a comprehensive design brief for the next generation of product. This included evidence based on both the ergonomics and aesthetics but from a service user's perspective. The results culminated in this year's launch of the new Tynetec Reach alarm unit and Touch personal pendant which have clearly changed the face of telecare in the eyes of the service user.

The Reach alarm unit delivers clean lines, contrasting textures and metallic highlights that enable the product to blend into its' surroundings and with a choice of white or black, the service user can be assured of total satisfaction. Many have observed the new product and likened it to a broadband router, mp3 docking station or a DAB digital radio. Just another piece of equipment that is acceptable in today's modern home regardless of whether the service user is young or old.

Similarly the Touch Pendant has been designed to eliminate the badge of need and provide total flexibility when it comes to wearability. The sleek black oval design with its elegant silver button is designed to be discreet when worn around the neck, on the wrist or on a belt. A wearing option that's become popular with many male service users is to simply put the unit in their pocket so again the Touch has been designed to accommodate this by removing it from the wearing sleeve and having no sharp corners. The unit is also waterproof and has been designed to be used in the shower. It comes complete with a small suction cup that can be stuck to the tiles in bathroom for even greater flexibility.

Both the Reach and Touch products are available to order now.