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The Home of Stephen Winthrop & Jane Williamson
Technology Category
- Functional Applications - Remote Monitoring & Control Systems
Applicable Industries
- Healthcare & Hospitals
Applicable Functions
- Facility Management
Use Cases
- Building Automation & Control
- Remote Asset Management
Services
- System Integration
The Challenge
Stephen Winthrop, diagnosed with ALS in November 2013, and his wife, Jane Williamson, had a new home built with technology that would maximize their home’s utility for someone with his specific form of ALS. The ALS has been advancing slowly, initially affecting his arms. It will likely spread to his legs and other parts of his body. Their house has been equipped to enable Winthrop to control certain features and appliances (e.g., thermostats, doors, lights, TV, etc.) through a computer interface. It’s also built to readily undergo modifications as Winthrop’s ALS progresses. In the future, he will be able to use his voice or eye movement alone to control features through a server that electronically connects a tablet computer with myriad electrical features throughout the home.
About The Customer
Stephen Winthrop, MBA, consultant, entrepreneur, and direct descendant of John Winthrop, the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony, has become a strong voice in ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) research, awareness, and patient advocacy. Winthrop was diagnosed with ALS in November 2013 and has made it his mission to use the time he has been given not only to fight the debilitating disease personally, but also to crusade against it for others through volunteering his time and talents as a National Trustee for the national non-profit ALS Association. A $2.3 million spend-down fund, the Stephen Van R. Winthrop ALS Fund at Harvard University, was established in his name to further ALS research efforts at the institution. Winthrop donated $1.3 million toward this fund after auctioning off the valuable coin collection he began assembling at the age of 8.
The Solution
DORMA’s MAGNEO Sliding Door Operator, with its electro-magnetic drive, provided a technically sound solution. Traditional pocket doors, that when fully open and completely retracted into the wall require grabbing onto a retractable hook to close them, would be difficult for Winthrop to use. But with DORMA’s configuration, the doors remain approximately three inches from the fully open position and have a recessed notch to give Winthrop the ability to close them with a nudge from his elbow or foot. The project called for an automated swing door operator that would not exceed 27 inches wide. While most other door operators require a wider and thicker box, DORMA’s ED100 compact design fit the space constraints and met the functional requirements. The ED100 Automatic Swing Door Operator was also used on the three doors at each elevator landing (lower level, first floor, and second floor) in the home. As the elevator reaches a landing, the ED100 sends a signal to electric strike in the frame so it opens and releases the door to 90 degrees for a predetermined time delay until the person passes through it.
Operational Impact
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