Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[taskman]

Hi all,

        My grandfather recently started to show signs of alchzimers and my grandmother is having to stay up most of the night to watch him as he gets up quite often. What I'm trying to do is set up an active infared motion detector that will detect when my grandfather walks past the bed and play a loud sound to alert my grandmother. I'm PC technical but new to home automation, I was looking at the active eye detector and x10 software. My thought was to angle the detector down so it doesn't detect any motion on the bed and setup a macro to play a loud sound though speakers on a laptop. Does this sound like a good plan, do you think there is a better alternative? Thanks

Warren

[Knightrider]

Warren,
   
   First, let me welcome you to the forums. Here you will find a wealth of knowledge on Home Automation, and some of the most exceptionally helpful people in the world that will be glad to help you in your quest.

   Second, you have my sympathies with your grandfather.  I, too, have dealt with the troubles of dementia and know how frustrating it can be.

Now on to your question.

     I assume that by enabling a macro, that you will be using Active Home Pro on a PC running at the house. 
I don't know that I would trust a motion detector for you application, as sometimes they can give false alarms thus becoming an annoyance.  I'd hate for this system to turn into a "Little Boy Who Cried Wolf" scenario.
   Do your grandparents keep the door closed at night?  If so, why not try a door sensor (DS10A)?  To use this, you will also need the OnAlert add-on to AHP.  From there, you can set a macro to use the security sensor to active a "phantom module"  (advance search will yield more on this).  Then you can set the phantom module to trigger a macro to do whatever you want.

   You might want to consider X10Wavplayer or PC Companion to play the audible alert or you can try BVC (the free version plays a nag to buy from time to time) to enact a "Listener", which can play an audio file or speach to text.
Links to all the above mentioned softwares can be found here at the forums under Third Party Add-Ons and Software.

   You're on the right track, it just depends on how much Time, Love and Money you are willing to spend.

P.S.  There are ways to do this without the PC.  If the PC isn't an option, let us know and we'll all be glad to help!

[taskman]

Knightrider,


                   Thanks for your reply, I'm glad you understand how difficult this is to deal with. The only problem is the door, It is a sliding door and also I can't 100% know it will be closed all the time. I actually remember that when I was a kid my grandparents ranch house had a small sensor on the porch and when you crossed it, it rang a bell inside the house. Is there anyway to get a better sensor that doesn't have too many false positives? Thanks

Taskman

[skywalker1689]

How about a driveway or garage door sensor?
You need the one that will only be activated, if someone is passing through and block the light beam.
Your "rang a bell" idea used by lots of retail store.
If you put a clapper near the bell, it could be a cheap solution.

I, personally, do not like loud audio idea in the middle of the night.
How about "light on" or "telespy" dial a phone?


You can google those keywords I mentioned for more info.

Knightrider,


                   Thanks for your reply, I'm glad you understand how difficult this is to deal with. The only problem is the door, It is a sliding door and also I can't 100% know it will be closed all the time. I actually remember that when I was a kid my grandparents ranch house had a small sensor on the porch and when you crossed it, it rang a bell inside the house. Is there anyway to get a better sensor that doesn't have too many false positives? Thanks

Taskman

[Knightrider]

One of these:
http://www.ramseyelectronics.com/cgi-bin/commerce.exe?preadd=action&key=LTS1
Hooked to a powerflash module is in use at my house.