KWTm - Slashdot User

Medical "Lifeline" auto-alert device: what 0

Submitted by

KWTm

on Tuesday September 23 2008, @04:40AM

KWTm writes "We had a recent death in the family where an elderly person living alone had fallen and could not get up; by the time she was found days later, it was already too late. This and a number of other similar near misses in our friends and family have prompted us to look into the "Lifeline" type medical alert devices. So far we've set up one arrangement where a signaling device is constantly worn as a pendant around the neck; if the wearer falls and cannot get up, s/he presses the button which signals the staff of the monitoring service to phone and make sure everything is okay. If no one answers the phone in a set amount of tries, they then alert a pre-arranged family member or friend.

This has a number of disadvantages which I figure shouldn't be that hard to overcome.

I'd like a device that can automatically alert even if the wearer becomes unconscious and cannot push the button. It might detect horizontal body position to detect falls, or have motion sensors, etc. (Beeping for 10 minutes first to rule out false alarms, time delay of 8 hours for sleeping, etc.)
It would be nice if it were not tied to any one subscription service. In addition to avoiding vendor lock-in, it would be nice not to worry about the elderly wearer forgetting to pay the subscription fees. Also, one wary family medmber said, "I'm not going to sign up because that would be like telling someone, 'I'm a vulnerable elderly person --come rob me!'"

I figure someone must sell or have put together a system that does not need subscription. Perhaps some device hooked up to the phone, which if activated (and not disarmed within 10 minutes) would phone a pre-set number playing a recording that says, "Emergency services required at (insert address here). This is an automated recording. This is not a joke. This is not a test." Anyone know about this? Anyone tried making one? Anyone hack a Wiimote to trigger a Cheap Old Computer server with a voicemodem running Linux to dial these preset numbers with recordings? Any other ideas are welcome. (Keep in mind that these are generally for elderly people already resistant to the idea that they actually need this sort of device in the first place --makes them feel old and dependent-- so it must be utterly easy to use once set up.)"

Mainstream newspaper promotes Linux over Windows 0

Submitted by KWTm on Thursday August 30 2007, @02:57PM

KWTm writes "The Independent (UK) newsletter has put out an article comparing Linux to Windows, with a surprisingly positive view for a non-tech-focused publication reviewing desktop Linux. It says about Linux: "It's faster than Windows, it fights viruses — and it's free." In case you were wondering about Whether Linux Is Ready For The Desktop, the author, Jimmy Lee Shreeve, notes "Linux Ubuntu comes with everything you need. There's a powerful office program with desktop publishing, an e-mail/organiser, a web browser and instant messager. You can use your iPod with it, too." Another example of the changing public perception of Linux on the desktop."