Having a home is a sanctuary of comfort and warmth, where the echoes of laughter and the embrace of familiarity create a haven of joy. It’s a place where cherished memories take root, and the walls echo with the stories of shared experiences. The simple pleasure of returning to a familiar space, surrounded by the people and possessions that define us, brings a sense of security and contentment.
However, we should be aware of the risk of fires in homes. It is essential to take proactive measures to prevent potential hazards. Common causes of residential fires include electrical malfunctions, cooking accidents, heating equipment issues, and flammable materials. Electrical overloads, faulty wiring, or the improper use of appliances can cause ignition points. Unattended cooking, especially with open flames, poses a significant risk. In addition, malfunctioning heating systems or improper use of heating devices can also result in fire incidents.
Annually, fire departments across the United States attend to over 350,000 residential structure fires, resulting in nearly $7 billion in direct damages. Beyond the significant property losses, the more distressing aspect lies in the fact that fires lead to over 100,000 deaths and permanent injuries each year. Exposure to even minimal amounts of the toxic elements released during a fire can cause disorientation and severe harm to the body. In the optimal scenario, managing the financial burdens and emotional strain in the aftermath of a fire can be an arduous experience.
Founded in 2002, SAAM, Inc. is dedicated to enabling individuals and communities to reside and operate in secure surroundings. This mission is achieved by advancing cutting-edge smoke alarms and air quality detection technology. Jason Booth, Director of Software at SAAM Inc. shares, “The SAAM goal is to empower individuals and communities to live and work in safe environments through the development of advanced technology, creating a sustainable differential advantage over competition for decades into the future.”
Using the Latest and Most Advanced Technology
Commencing in June 2024, new certification criteria for smoke alarms will be implemented by the Underwriters Laboratory (UL), rendering ionization alarms, presently prevalent in most US homes, obsolete. The prevailing smoke alarm technology, with a vintage of 50-70 years, is antiquated and necessitates replacement with a more advanced technology proficient in more effectively detecting smoke and fire within residential settings.
Positioned to emerge as a significant contributor in the smoke alarm and air quality sector, the SAAM S-Series is poised to save lives and enhance health by perpetually monitoring trace elements of chemicals and particulates in the air. Its innovative and patented Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) based technology achieves this. While Non-Dispersive Infrared (NDIR) Spectroscopy has been commercially available for many decades, primarily in the medical domain, spectral instruments’ size and cost constraints have limited their viability for consumer applications.
SAAM’s intellectual property addresses this challenge by significantly reducing the size and cost of spectral detection, making it more accessible for consumer use. Jason and his team assert that SAAM has successfully reduced the spectral detectors to about the size of a quarter while reducing the cost to a few dollars.
“SAAM’s novel and proprietary technology, with over 200 claims, is the first new and patented smoke, fire, and gas detection technology to be introduced to the consumer since the early 70’s. The SAAM product is a pre-emptive technology that will alert occupants before a potentially catastrophic event,” Jason shares.
Employing cutting-edge spectral technology, the SAAM S-Series gauges chemical alterations in the air indicative of chemicals, smoke, and fire. This affords homeowners more time to safeguard their lives and property. Since 2001, SAAM technology has garnered 8 awards, including the “CES Innovation Honoree” Award in the Smart Home category and the Digital Health category.
The Next-generation Innovator
Jason Booth boasts a robust background in both software engineering and artificial intelligence, having held the position of Director of Software and AI at SAAM, Inc. since June 2019. He is a seasoned and adaptable software engineer with over 15 years of expertise in developing embedded systems, UI/UX software, and Cloud IoT interfaces. His specialization lies in crafting software and algorithms specifically tailored for spectroscopic applications.
Before assuming this role, Jason functioned as an Independent Consultant, specializing in contract software engineering, starting in November 2018. Between March 2018 and November 2018, Jason served as the Software Engineering Manager at Hindsight Imaging. Furthermore, Jason has a substantial history with Rigaku, where they served as a Senior Software Engineer from April 2013 to March 2018. Before that, Jason held the position of Senior Software Engineer at Thermo Fisher Scientific (formerly Polychromix) from 2002 to 2013.
During Jason’s upbringing, his father had a significant influence on him. His father was renowned for his adept handiness and consistently engaged in constructing or repairing various items, skillfully fashioning or adjusting tools as needed during the process. “In general, engineering has always felt like a good fit. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always been interested in learning what makes things work, how to make things, and how to make them better,” he shares.
In the initial stages of his career, Jason had the privilege of working for a startup that underwent a transition from the telecom sector to specializing in spectroscopy. “This was just as portable, handheld spectrometers were starting to gain momentum in a few different industries. I’ve since worked on several different portable spectrometers involving different technologies, including NIR, Raman, hyperspectral, and LIBS. The key takeaway on each had been how can we make it smaller, more affordable, and easier to use,” Jason says.
Booth often generates his most insightful ideas through discussions with colleagues. He finds it beneficial to engage in conversations about a problem, exploring potential creative solutions before embarking on any implementation efforts. “I find talking through a problem with others helps to solidify it in my mind, and it makes weighing the pros and cons of potential solutions easier,” he says.
Jason emphasizes the significance of taking a high-level view of problems, considering them from a 30,000-foot perspective before delving into the details. According to him, having a broad, big-picture outlook on a problem can often reveal insights and directions that might not be immediately apparent.
Over the years and across various projects, Jason has developed the ability to recognize individuals who exhibit motivation, talent, and excellence in their respective roles. Consequently, Booth and his team consistently strive to attract and engage the exceptional talent they have identified over time.
"The SAAM goal is to empower individuals and communities to live and work in safe environments through the development of advanced technology, creating a sustainable differential advantage over competition for decades into the future."
Innovative Strategies and Initiatives
The Saam S-series, equipped with the ability to detect up to four times faster than conventional technologies, can identify trace elements of toxic chemicals, smoke, and gas in households before a catastrophic event occurs. These devices utilize exclusive machine learning algorithms to improve detection times, and accuracy and provide real-time indoor air quality monitoring through a smart app.
The Non-dispersive Infrared (NDIR) technology, a proven and established technology with decades of use, takes a unique approach to developing air quality and safety devices, including smoke alarms. Unlike competing devices that rely on detecting smoke particulates within alarms, this particular technology detects trace elements of chemicals indicative of smoke, fire, and gases in the air.
This revolutionary approach allows residents to measure chemical changes with lower limits of detection and at a competitive price point. “By alerting much sooner than traditional devices, we anticipate disrupting the industry and swiftly establishing SAAM as a leader in innovative smoke alarm technology,” Jason says.
To stay ahead of emerging trends and technologies, Jason stays proactive in monitoring patent applications, industry trends, and websites to ensure that SAAM Inc. remains at the forefront of technological advancements. Simultaneously, he maintains a disciplined approach by concentrating on the current device in the design and testing phase. Amidst a multitude of suggestions for incorporating additional technologies, Booth emphasizes the importance of staying focused on the task at hand. “This commitment to focus can be challenging, considering the constant influx of ideas, some of which may or may not ultimately benefit the end-user,” he mentions.
Forward Perspectives
Jason’s primary ongoing challenge is to meet the deliverables and secure adequate funding. Despite incorporating all available contingencies, the key insight gained over the years is the consistent occurrence of unexpected surprises. Looking ahead, navigating these unforeseen challenges remains a pivotal aspect of the home safety journey.
Jason envisions that the future of safety detection extends beyond the detection of Smoke/Fire particulates alone. He anticipates a shift towards sensor fusion, wherein chemical, particulate, and other sensor readings converge to provide an augmented situational awareness of our surroundings—whether in homes or workplaces—capable of distinguishing nuisances from genuine threats. Jason emphasizes that chemical detection will play a more significant role in monitoring Air Quality, ensuring a healthy environment in both residential and occupational settings. “We are spearheading a new way of looking at health and safety and creating that vision,” he shares.
Jason believes that reducing size, cost, and complexity will facilitate reaching a wider customer base. This approach will not only expand chemical detection and incorporate additional sensor capabilities but also contribute to saving lives and enhancing the health and well-being of customers. “We have evolved to align with existing and new industry requirements to give the consumer better products,” concludes Jason Booth.
