1.2 Identify how TEC has evolved over time

This guide will help you answer 1.2 Identify how TEC has evolved over time.

Technology Enabled Care, often shortened to TEC, refers to the use of digital tools and systems to support health, wellbeing and independence. It includes devices, services and software designed to help people manage their health or receive support outside traditional care settings. Over time TEC has moved from basic emergency response devices to integrated systems that use smart technology and real-time data.

Early Stages of Technology Enabled Care

In the 1960s and 1970s, TEC was very basic. Its focus was mostly on emergency alarms for older people or those living with disabilities. These early devices allowed a person to press a button during an emergency. The signal would go to a central monitoring centre, often via a landline telephone. This type of technology was called community alarm or pendant alarm.

The aim was simple. It helped people call for help quickly if they suffered a fall, sudden illness or felt unsafe. The technology was not designed to track the person’s daily needs. It only worked when activated in an emergency.

Key features of early TEC included:

• Push-button devices worn on the wrist or around the neck
• Landline-based systems linked to monitoring centres
• Limited to emergency support rather than ongoing monitoring

Introduction of Telecare

From the late 1980s and into the 1990s, the field expanded. Telecare systems appeared, which could automatically detect certain risks. Examples included sensors in the home to detect smoke, gas leaks or floods. Falls detectors that worked without the person pressing a button started to become available.

Telecare provided a wider safety net. For instance, bed occupancy sensors could alert carers if someone had not returned to bed after a certain time. Door sensors could help carers know if a vulnerable person had left their home during the night.

This era showed how TEC could offer proactive protection, not just reaction to problems. It broadened the scope to include environmental risks and changes in movement patterns.

Rise of Telehealth

In the early 2000s telehealth became a recognised part of TEC. Telehealth refers to remote healthcare services supported by technology. It allowed patients to monitor long-term conditions from home. They could measure vital signs such as blood pressure or oxygen levels and send the data electronically to healthcare teams.

The introduction of telehealth meant care was no longer restricted to in-person visits. It helped manage conditions such as heart disease, respiratory illnesses and diabetes. As internet speeds improved and equipment became more affordable, telehealth became more practical.

Examples of telehealth developments included:

• Home blood pressure monitors that linked to GP systems
• Portable ECG devices to check heart rhythms
• Blood glucose monitors linked to diabetes care teams

Shift From Analogue to Digital Systems

Earlier TEC relied heavily on analogue phone networks. This limited flexibility, speed and integration with other systems. By the mid-2010s, there was a shift towards digital TEC. Digital systems could link with mobile networks, Wi-Fi and cloud platforms. This opened the door for more complex monitoring, two-way communication and integration with other services such as social care databases.

Digital platforms could run on smartphones and tablets, offering more portable solutions. Family members could receive alerts on their phones if there was a problem. Care staff could log in remotely to check the status of sensors and devices.

This shift also improved data storage and sharing. Information about a person’s health and environment could be kept securely and updated in real time.

Influence of Smartphones and Apps

Smartphones and apps changed the way TEC was delivered. People could access health information, reminders and alerts from their devices. Many apps now track medication schedules, provide exercise programmes or allow video consultations with clinicians.

Some smartphones can measure health data through built-in sensors. For example, step counters on phones encourage physical activity. Wearable devices linked to smartphones track heart rate or sleep patterns and feed this data into health monitoring apps.

These developments moved TEC into everyday life, making some aspects of care almost invisible yet constantly working in the background.

Wearable Technology

Wearables such as smartwatches, fitness trackers and medical alert bands became common from the 2010s onwards. These devices provide continuous monitoring and gather detailed physical data. Some wearables can detect irregular heart rhythms, stress levels or reduced oxygen saturation. This information helps people and their healthcare providers respond quickly to potential problems.

By linking wearables to TEC systems, alerts can be sent instantly to monitoring teams. This type of technology has helped people with chronic health conditions live independently for longer.

Connected Home Technology

Home automation and smart devices expanded the scope of TEC. Voice-activated assistants can now remind people to take medicine or contact a support service. Smart lighting can adjust to support people with visual impairments, while video doorbells let carers and family members check visitors.

Environmental sensors have become smaller, cheaper and easier to install. They can report temperature changes, detect damp or check air quality. Linking these to care systems allows support workers to act before a situation becomes dangerous.

Artificial Intelligence and Predictive Systems

Recent TEC developments include artificial intelligence (AI). AI systems can analyse large amounts of data from sensors and health records to spot patterns. This means issues can be predicted before they cause harm. For example, an AI system might notice reduced movement in a person’s home combined with missed meals, suggesting early signs of illness or mental health decline.

Predictive TEC means care can be more preventative. Instead of waiting for an emergency, alerts can prompt an early visit or intervention.

Integrated Care Platforms

Integration is a major change in modern TEC. Systems now aim to connect health services, social care, housing support, and family carers into one platform. This makes information easier to share safely. If a person’s health changes, all relevant people can be informed quickly.

Integration helps shorten response times, avoids duplication of work and ensures all those involved in care have up-to-date data. For example, if a sensor detects a fall, both the monitoring service and the local care team may be notified automatically.

Remote Consultations and Video Care

Video calling became a significant part of TEC during the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions pushed healthcare providers to adopt remote consultations more widely. This gave people access to GP appointments, therapy sessions and specialist advice from home.

Remote consultations work well alongside other TEC tools. For example, someone can use a blood pressure monitor at home and share results during a video discussion with their GP.

Expansion to Mental Health Support

TEC has also moved into mental health. Apps offer guided self-help programmes, mood tracking and direct links to support services. Video counselling helps those who cannot attend in person. Wearable devices tracking sleep and activity can offer clues to mood changes, which can trigger early conversations with support teams.

This broader reach means TEC now supports emotional wellbeing as well as physical health.

Data Protection and Security Progress

The evolution of TEC required progress in data protection and security. As more devices collect sensitive information, strong safeguards are necessary. Systems now use encryption, secure login methods and regular security updates to protect user data. Regulations such as the UK Data Protection Act 2018 have guided how information should be stored, shared and processed.

Earlier TEC systems collected little data beyond emergency alerts. Modern systems can store health histories, medication records and daily activity logs. This makes privacy measures central to TEC design.

Trends in Current TEC

Current TEC trends in the UK show a move towards:

• Personalised dashboards showing the person’s health and activity
• Greater use of mobile networks and internet connections instead of landlines
• Linking TEC with wearable health trackers
• Using AI to predict possible health events
• Offering direct communication with carers via apps and messaging services

Future Directions

Future TEC is likely to offer more automation and prediction. Systems may analyse subtle signs of illness across physical, behavioural and environmental data. The quality and speed of video consultations will improve. Wearables may become smaller and more discreet, possibly embedded in clothing or implants.

TEC may work more closely with digital NHS records, giving healthcare staff a complete picture of a person’s needs.

Final Thoughts

TEC has changed from simple emergency buttons to complex monitoring systems connected to digital platforms. It now provides constant support across health, wellbeing and safety. The development from analogue alarms to wearable devices and AI-powered prediction shows how new technology can transform care.

Workers in health and social care benefit from TEC because it helps them respond faster, share information more easily and support independence for those they care for. Understanding its evolution helps explain why modern TEC offers opportunities far beyond its early emergency-focused role.