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‘Smart home’

Take a look at the following video from a Social Role Valorization perspective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQt_Rq1mStE

What lessons can we learn from this brief video? And what implications might these lessons have in terms of how we support vulnerable societally devalued people to acquire and maintain valued social roles, with an eye toward greater access to the ‘good things of life’?

* The gentleman who is interviewed, Mr. Sergio Ivanier, says that the ‘smart home’ technology also benefits the people he lives with. Consider this idea in light of the SRV concept of interpersonal identification, helping us to see others as like ourselves and thus wanting (and being willing to provide) the ‘good things of life’ for other people. Think about both the possible advantages as well as disadvantages to this technology and the attitudes or values behind it. (This is one of the strengths of SRV and PASSING, in that they can help us to look at both concrete details as well as the big picture, and to analyze advantages and disadvantages.)

* Consider the points which Mr. Ivanier makes about isolation, dependence and asking others for help; particularly in light of heightened vulnerability. What can his concerns teach us about the primary values of our society? How might these values create greater vulnerability for impaired people? Though apparently more independent in certain ways at home, in what ways is Mr. Ivanier still vulnerable, perhaps even more so? Do not just think about physical vulnerability but also emotional, relational and social degrees of vulnerability. Again, consider the details as well as the big picture, and potential advantages as well as disadvantages.

* What valued roles is Mr. Ivanier described as having? Might the ‘smart home’ technology play any direct or indirect part in supporting those valued roles?

* It is hard to tell just from a brief video, but several PASSING competency ratings may have a bearing on the technology described and demonstrated in the above video:

• R232 Intensity of Activities and Efficiency of Time Use (p. 403 in the PASSING manual), specifically around any competency-enhancing equipment that is owned by a human service (I am not sure from the video who owns the equipment)

• R213 Physical Comfort of Setting (p. 311 in the PASSING manual)

• R233 Competency-Related Personal Possessions (though again, it is hard to tell who owns the equipment)

Specifically in terms of the technology, we can also consider any possible imagery impacts, such as in R1153 Image Projection of Setting-Other Internal Physical Features (p. 127) and/or R1132 Internal Setting Appearance Congruity with Culturally Valued Analogue (p. 93).

 

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