This follows two years of collaborative development by geo, a leading provider of smart energy products, and a thorough assessment by RNIB. The certification recognises the huge benefits that the display will provide to consumers with sight loss, loss of dexterity and colour blindness, while still providing a full range of functions.
As part of the rollout of smart meters currently being offered to all households in Great Britain, energy consumers are offered an in-home display screen that allows them to easily see how much energy is being used and how much it is costing, ending estimated bills. geo worked with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) Energy UK and a number of energy suppliers, and used its own internal research, to design an in-home display with accessibility features to ensure that blind and partially sighted people would also be able to take full advantage of the rollout.
The Trio II Accessible Display combines several innovative features including verbalising the information displayed both on the screens and navigation, six large tactile buttons and three separate LEDs which clearly indicate current electricity consumption. Added to this are high-contrast colour schemes and a large typeface. The device is built to comply with both the first and second generation (SMETS1 and SMETS2) standards which will allow it to work together with almost all types of smart meters being installed.
RNIB’s Tried and Tested certification is awarded to products, apps and websites following a rigorous assessment to let customers with sight loss know that they are accessible and usable. The certification is based on expert assessment and observed user testing with blind and partially sighted people.
“Energy suppliers are required to offer an in-home display that can be easily accessed and understood by a wide range of consumers, so our challenge was to ensure the geo Accessible In-Home Display would be suitable, not just for people with sight loss, but also for age-related difficulties such as hearing loss, loss of dexterity, small tremors and reduced strength,” said Simon Hughes, Chief Commercial Officer at geo. “The RNIB Tried and Tested certification is testament to the success of the design, which will benefit many of the more than two million people in the UK living with sight loss.”
John Worsfold, Innovation and Technology Implementation Manager at RNIB, said: “As smart meters are rolled out and we’re all encouraged to be more aware of the energy we use, the new technology presents some barriers for customers with sight loss.
“The Accessible In-Home Display helps to break down these barriers, enabling blind and partially sighted customers and customers who find themselves in vulnerable situations to independently understand their energy usage and associated cost implications.
“We are delighted to award geo the RNIB Tried and Tested certification for the Accessible In-Home Display and look forward to all energy suppliers rolling out this innovation.”
In developing the Trio II Accessible In-Home Display, geo was mindful of the need for a device that would provide energy usage information in near realtime, without relying solely on a visual display screen, and it became clear that including a speech output function that can easily be turned on or off was required.
The geo Trio II Accessible In-Home Display will be available for customers with accessibility needs on request from selected energy suppliers from summer 2019 as part of the smart meter rollout. Eligible customers should contact their supplier to find out more.
More information on the geo Accessible In-Home Display can be found at www.geotogether.com/aihd
About geo
geo was founded in Cambridge in 2006, the award-winning brainchild of CEO Patrick Caiger-Smith and Non-exec Director Simon Anderson, both intent on revolutionising the smart home interface in a bid to encourage consumer engagement and a greener way of home living. Their commitment to making a positive impact on energy consumption drove them to found geo, even winning a Shell Springboard regional award in their first year of business.
From those early pioneering days, the company has enjoyed continued growth and is one of the success stories of the smarter energy business. Following the launch of their first product, Solo, in 2007, geo has gone on to design, develop and supply a broad range of products and services, offering simple but intelligent user interface and delivering clear, understandable information about the energy being used. Their Cosy won the IDA Silver Award (International Design Award) in 2015.
So far geo has delivered close to 5 million systems to homes throughout the UK and Europe, and they’re currently the leading provider of consumer feedback devices and services to the UK Smart Metering Programme. They are also trusted by multiple utilities, meter providers and energy installers, who sell geo products on to their own customers. From their Cambridge headquarters, Patrick continues to lead a formidable team of experts in renewable energy, engineering, consumer engagement, business and finance. This was acknowledged in 2017 with geo’s selection for a Queen’s Award for Innovation.
About RNIB
We are the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Every six minutes, someone in the UK begins to lose their sight. RNIB is taking a stand against exclusion, inequality and isolation to create a world without barriers where people with sight loss can lead full lives. A different world where society values blind and partially sighted people not for the disabilities they’ve overcome, but for the people they are.
RNIB. See differently.
Call the RNIB Helpline on 0303 123 9999 or visit www.rnib.org.uk