>>> SOME TIME DURING THE 1938
BASEBALL SEASON, YANKEES
ALL-STAR LOU GEHRIG REPORTED
FEELING UNUSUALLY TIRED.
THE NEXT YEAR ON GEHRIG'S 36th
BIRTHDAY, DOCTORS DIAGNOSED HIM
WITH A DISEASE CALLED ALS.
TWO DAYS LATER, HE RETIRED FROM
BASEBALL.
TODAY THE CRUEL DISEASE THAT
TAKES THE BODY BUT LEAVES THE
MIND BEAR'S GEHRIG'S NAME WHILE
DOCTORS CONTINUE TO WORK ON AN
ELUSIVE CURE, TECHNOLOGY IS
MAKING IT EASIER FOR ALS
PATIENTS, INCLUDING ONE WHO IS
PUTTING HIS CONSIDERABLE TALENT
TO WORK.
NBC'S JO LING KENT HAS TODAY'S
"SPOTLIGHT".
>> Reporter: WHEN YOU ENTER THE
FLORENCE CENTER IN
MASSACHUSETTS.
>> WELCOME TO MY HOME.
>> Reporter: STEVE IS STIRRING
IT UP.
THE FORMER ARCHITECT HAS ALS,
DIAGNOSED BACK IN 2006.
>> I WAS TOLD MY LIFE EXPECTANCY
WAS BETWEEN THREE AND FIVE
YEARS.
I'VE ALWAYS HAD A PROBLEM WITH
AUTHORITY.
I QUESTIONED WHY I WOULD DIE
WITHIN FIVE YEARS IF I CHOOSE TO
USE ALL OF THE TECHNOLOGY THAT
IS AVAILABLE TO ME.
>> Reporter: HE BELIEVED THE KEY
TO LONGEVITY IS MOBILITY.
HE ALREADY HAD A HIGH-TECH
WHEELCHAIR, A COMPUTER TO SPEAK.
IT WAS THE WORLD AROUND HIM THAT
NEEDED SOME ENGINEERING.
>> IN A TIME WHEN EVERYONE
DEPENDS ON THEIR SMARTPHONE AND
COMPUTER AND THE CLOUDS, THERE
IS NO EXCUSE FOR LEAVING THE
DISABLED BEHIND.
>> Reporter: SO HE ALONG WITH
DEVELOPER BARRY BERMAN GOT TO
WORK DESIGNING THE FIRST AND
ONLY SMART HOME SO FAR FOR ALS
PATIENTS.
IT'S PRETTY AMAZING.
>> THE ELEVATORS ARE FULLY
AUTOMATED SO THAT I CAN CALL THE
ELEVATOR.
MY COMPUTER SENDS A WIRELESS
SIGNAL TO THE AUTOMATION SERVER
IN THE BASEMENT SO THAT I CAN
PUSH THE BUTTON, LIKE THIS.
>> Reporter: YOU THOUGHT OF
EVERYTHING.
HE USES THIS SMALL SILVER DOT ON
HIS GLASSES TO CONTROL HIS
ONBOARD COMPUTER.
EACH TIME HE WANTS TO SAY
SOMETHING, IT'S A PROCESS,
CHOOSING LETTERS ONE BY ONE.
HIS HEAD MOVEMENT IS THE LAST
MOTOR FUNCTION HE HAS RIGHT NOW
AS ALS PROGRESSES.
>> IT'S POSSIBLE IN EVERY
BEDROOM IN THE HOUSE, I CAN OPEN
MY DOOR, CONTROL THE LIGHTS, THE
WINDOW SHADE, THE THERMOSTAT,
THE TV AND HOME THEATER.
AND ANY ELECTRICAL DEVICE.
>> Reporter: JUST LIKE THE
ELEVATOR, THE ELECTRONICS IN HIS
BEDROOM CAN BE CONNECTED SO THEY
CAN BE CONTROLLED BY STEVE ON
COMPUTER OR SMARTPHONE.
>> ALL THIS TECHNOLOGY MEANS I
HAVE A LEVEL OF INDEPENDENCE
UNHEARD OF FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME.
>> Reporter: CURRENTLY, 30
PEOPLE WITH ALS LIVE AT THE
LEONARD FLORENCE CENTER.
CEO BARRY BERMAN SAYS HUNDREDS
MORE ARE ON THE WAITING LIST.
>> IT'S SUCH A TREMENDOUS,
TREMENDOUS NEED TO OFFER THIS
QUALITY OF LIFE.
>> Reporter: THE COST TO RUN
THIS FULLY TECH-ENABLED SKILLED
NURSING FACILITY IS ABOUT
$200,000 A YEAR FOR EACH
RESIDENT.
SAILING CAN LIVE HERE THANKS TO
SIGNIFICANT CHARITABLE DONATIONS
ALONG WITH HIS MEDICAID.
>> IT CAN BE DONE ELSEWHERE AS
LONG AS AN ORGANIZATION HAD A
COMMITMENT AND THE FUNDING AND
THE PHILANTHROPY TO MAKE IT
HAPPEN.
>> Reporter: THAT'S WHY SAILING
IT CALLING ON BIG TECH COMPANIES
TO JOIN HIS CAUSE.
>> IT IS NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE
BECAUSE THE COMPANY, WHO CREATED
IT IS TOO SMALL TO SELL IT
AFFORDABLY.
I WOULD LIKE GOOGLE OR MICROSOFT
OR AMAZON TO PICK IT UP.
IT WOULD BE A GREAT ADDITION TO
ALEXA, DON'T YOU THINK?
>> Reporter: TILL THEN, HE PLANS
TO EMBRACE EVERY DAY, NO MATTER
WHAT CHALLENGES MAY COME.
>> ALS WAS NOT THE END OF MY
LIFE, JUST A CHANGE IN THIS
DIRECTION.
I FIGURE YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE,
MIGHT AS WELL ENJOY IT.
>> Reporter: FOR "SUNDAY TODAY,"
JO LING KENT, CHELSEA,