Allen Technologies
Allen Technologies, Incorporated (ATI) provides interactive television systems for hospitals.
History
ATI was founded in 1977. In its early years, ATI provided hospitals with televisions and television systems. A simple television system would include a wired remote control, the television and a distribution system.
TV distribution system
A distribution system includes a cable or satellite feed. Within the distribution system, the cable TV plant modulates each incoming channel from the satellite or cable provider to a hospital selected channel. All of the channels are then recombined and distributed throughout the hospital.
TV distribution systems can use over-the-air, analog or digital satellite or cable, [quadrature amplitude modulation|QAM]] or other modulation techniques. In general, the signal coming out of the TV plant is one type.
Today's TV tuners can handle signals from multiple sources using multiple modulation schemes.
Initially, all TV distribution was done over coaxial cable, which commonly called coax. Now, TV can be distributed over coax or ethernet using iptv.
Set top box
In the 1980's, ATI introduced a set top box to its television system. A set top box is similar to the DVR in most homes. However, early set top boxes were very limited in functionalty. STB's could not record or pause TV.
An STB allows a company to offer TV and movies on request. Movies were modulated and sent over a TV channel. Movies could be either Hollywood hits or medical education videos.
WebTV
Artemis Research, later called WebTV Networks is credited with having created the first combination of a PC and a Television. Microsoft jumped in and its influence to this fledgling industry. Both of these were intended for home use. However, a lot of ProgresS was being made away from the home. LodgeNet was introducing interactive TV to hotels, and Allen Technologies was introducing it to hospitals.
In-room system
ATI's current offering includes an in-room PC, a high definition LCD TV and a wired remote control. TV's can be mounted on the footwall or on a retractable arm with a touch screen TV.
Wired remote control
In a a hospital, a wired remote control is called a pillow speaker. The most important button on the pillow speaker is the big red nurse call button. Interactive patient TV systems cannot interfere with the nurse call button.
Nurse call system
The pillow speaker is connected to a nurse call system. A nurse call system allows patients to communicate with the nursing staff, and allows a person at the nursing station to call other nurses as needed. Other controls on the pillow speaker include lighting and HVAC controls.