It’s our mission – together with our global partners Schneider electric – to make smarter energy use more accessible to everyone. We’re pleased to announce that Punjabi Gurmukhi has been added as another language option in the Wiser Home smart heating app, which can be used with both our Wiser smart home system and, crucially for the social housing industry, our accessibility-focused Digistat via Bluetooth connection.
A Custom Drayton Package for London-based Housing Association
This development was in response to a need by London Borough of Camden (LBC), with many of their social housing tenants relying on multiple non-English language options in order to maximise their heating comfort and energy efficiency.
We worked closely with LBC’s housing division to decide on the best outcome for them as part of their tailored Drayton retrofit package and made this a key component of our most recent app development process and release.
This app update will ensure better accessibility to smart home features and their energy-saving potential for Punjabi Gurmukhi speakers across the UK, of which there were 273,000 in the UK at the time of the last census in 2011.
The new language option will be available to users utilising Punjabi Gurmukhi on their smartphone device.
Why Thermostat Accessibility is Vital for Housing Associations
Tenants who rely on social housing in the UK often have accessibility requirements that can present a challenge to them making best use of their domestic technology, leading to confusion, frustration, compromised comfort, more frequent maintenance callouts, and costly inefficient energy use.
Challenges that tenants face in accessing technology can include:
- Reduced mobility
- Reduced dexterity
- Visual impairment
- Hearing impairment
- Language barriers
- Lack of technical knowledge
Drayton Digistat – The Go-To Thermostat for Social Housing
Digistat is our flagship programmable thermostat for social housing applications, boasting a host of great features that make compliance breeze, are familiar and easy for installers to fit, and ensure easy operation for end user with fewer callbacks to housing associations.
- Large and easy-to-read backlit display
- Simple and minimal button interface
- Buttons require minimal pressure to operate and provide tactile feedback
- Audible interface feedback
- Now 11 language options
- Drayton Controls YouTube channel with easy-to-follow video guides for all basic user functions
- Optional local smartphone control via Bluetooth and the Wiser Home app (Wi-Fi not required)
“This product would be great for those who want a simple-to-use programmable thermostat. Its temperature adjustment buttons that require minimal pressure make it ideal for those with dexterity impairments.”
- Research Institute for Disabled Consumers (RIDC) on the Drayton Digistat range of products
Maximise Thermostat Performance with Drayton’s Tailored Retrofit Packages
Housing association looking for an efficient thermostat retrofit package? Let Drayton’s team of regional Specification Managers are here to guide you through compliance and technical specs to build a budget-friendly, easy-to-install solution where you’ll benefit from our ongoing support, both onsite and remotely.
Contact the team today to get started
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