Andrew, a 55-year technology officer from Leeds, lives with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) and used to be an avid runner and cyclist, but as his condition progressed he became more interested in building gadgets to help his daily life.
A new hobby
Andrew’s journey into smart home technology began when he found himself stuck inside and needed a way to keep his brain occupied. Rather than letting his world shrink, he used his technical expertise to engineer bespoke solutions for daily challenges.
"If I can fight against the disease and make things better, it feels like a little win,” Andrew explains. “It gives me superpowers in the sense that things I couldn’t do, I can do now.”
A home that thinks
Andrew uses open-source software and computers in his garage to run the technology. His front door recognises regular carers and greets them personally. “It plays them a little tune and says hello to them,” he says. "I like to have a bit of fun with it."
He’s also developed a device that allows him to roll back his own bed covers, providing a vital bit of autonomy.
His health monitoring is equally impressive, as he uses cameras and AI to read stats directly from his ventilator screen and monitor his heart rate without the need for a wearable watch.
Daily assistance is built into the house, with sensors that tell him if the washing machine is full or if the garage door has been left open, saving him or his family unnecessary trips.
Connecting to nature
Technology also connects Andrew to the outside world. AI cameras on his bird feeders identify species, helping him develop a new interest in nature. “When you’re within four walls and you can’t really move, it’s really good to be able to see beyond them.”
For those looking to gain more autonomy, Andrew’s advice is to start small. “Get yourself a smart speaker... get some smart plugs and bulbs and just play around with it.”
Andrew’s mission is about sharing these solutions with others facing similar hurdles. As he puts it: “I am just me, doing something I enjoy that I hope can help other people.”
Photo: courtesy of Andrew Herbert
