Proposal for a New Open Standard for Home Safety: The HELP Protocol

[anordinaryman]

I am writing to introduce a proposal for a new, open-source safety standard designed for the modern smart home.

The proposal, titled the Home Emergency Light Protocol (HELP), addresses a critical gap in residential safety: the limitations of audible-only alarms and the lack of contextual information during an emergency. HELP leverages the widespread adoption of connected RGB lighting to create a universal visual language, signaling specific events like fire, intrusion, or medical emergencies through distinct, pre-defined light patterns.

This protocol is designed from the ground up to be a royalty-free, open standard that can be implemented via a simple software update, enhancing the value of the existing smart home ecosystem and significantly improving accessibility for the deaf and hard of hearing.

I believe this initiative aligns perfectly with the CSA's mission to create a more intuitive and secure connected world. All documentation, including the strategic proposal, technical specifications, and a detailed wiki, has been published for public review on GitHub.

You can view the complete proposal here: https://github.com/brianlenehan/The-Home-Emergency-Light-Protocol-HELP-Standard/wiki

I would be grateful for the opportunity to have your teams review this proposal and would welcome any discussion on how it might complement the CSA's work, perhaps within a working group or as a future adopted standard.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Respectfully,

Brian Lenehan Initiator, The HELP Standard Project

[anordinaryman]

The HELP standard is designed to be simple and intuitive. Each signal uses a unique combination of color and pattern to communicate a specific emergency clearly.

Signal | Icon | Color(s) | Pattern & Meaning -- | -- | -- | -- Fire / Smoke | 🔥 | Red & Orange | A rapid, chaotic flicker that mimics a real flame. This is the highest priority alert, signaling immediate danger and the need to evacuate. Intruder / Security | 🚨 | Bright White | An aggressive, high-frequency strobe. This pattern is designed to disorient intruders and attract the maximum amount of attention from neighbors and passersby. Medical Emergency | ⚕️ | Cyan (Light Blue) | A slow, steady "heartbeat" pulse. This is a user-activated signal indicating that medical assistance is required. Its calm pattern signals urgency without causing panic. Environmental Hazard | ⚠️ | Canary Yellow | A slow, "breathing" fade. This indicates a serious but non-violent threat, such as a natural gas or carbon monoxide leak, requiring caution and professional help.

[Suc_dpe · Accepted solution]

Hello,

Thanks for the HELP Protocol proposal. Using RGB lights for emergency signals is a creative accessibility solution.

Key questions we'd need to evaluate:

• Device compatibility across manufacturers
• Power/network reliability during emergencies
• Integration with existing safety systems
• Standardized patterns for different visual needs

We'll review the GitHub documentation and route this to our product and accessibility teams for assessment.

Appreciate you considering inclusive design for home safety.