Solutions in the Community

There are phones that 'see'

The Seeingeyephone has been designed to help visually impaired supermarket shoppers.

A Near Field Communication (NFC) tag containing information about store products, such as price and nutritional information, is attached to the store shelf next to the product, allowing customers to hold an NFC-enabled mobile phone to the tag. The phone can then read the information aloud using a voice synthesizer.

Intellidoor

This is a door with a microprocessor encapsulated within the door and frame which can provide a number of additional functions to the end user/operator and the contractor. The microprocessor has a read write memory which can be accessed via a ruggedised hand held PDA like scanner.

From the contractors perspective it allows them to initially identify and track where any specific door and frame are in the manufacturing, delivery and installation process in real time. This will allow them greater control and flexibility to manage areas within a project as the programme needs to alter to cater for site circumstances.

Once on site it can be used to ensure that the correct door and frame are paired up together to ensure that a specific fire or acoustic rating is maintained and that the correct ironmongery is applied. This will reduce defects and snagging and streamline the installation process on site.

For the end user/operator, it has the ability for three primary functions:

• all the ironmongery and door codes, suppliers and contact details to be recorded and stored to allow easy access should something go wrong;
• it will also allow for maintenance schedules to be identified and recorded on the door;
• it can be used for asset management within a given room.