The continuous improvement of the technology has brought new devices and gadgets to the human’s life. A transformation has been made on how the world is related to the computer science, specifically in the area of computing. The process of reducing the size of the electronics components has brought up the possibilities as well as the availability of a wide range of mini size smart devices. One of the examples is the Apple Watch where there are plenty of amazing features embedded in the small watch, such as tracking of daily activities as well as receiving and responding to notifications in an instant. Successful applications and gadgets have inspired the technological developments in every area where possible.
Today, I’m going to look at one of the examples of technology development, known as “Smart Home”. According to the Smart Homes Association, smart home technology can be defined as the integration of technology and services through home networking for a better quality of living. (Patrick R. W. Roe, 2009)
How do we classify a home as a smart home? A smart home is an intelligent home equipped with various kind of networking devices which is capable in bringing advance services to the resident. The following provides an illustration for an ideal smart home: “Imagine waking up in the morning, not to the glaring blare of an alarm clock, but to your favorite song streaming through speakers in the ceiling, as your blinds slowly open to reveal the morning sun. Touch one button by your bed and the lights in the hallway turn on so you can safely navigate to the kitchen where the TV is already tuned into your favorite morning news program. As you race out the door for work, smile as everything powers down—the lights, the TVs, the audio—even the thermostat dials back to a more energy-efficient setting. The alarm arms, the garage door closes and every door in the house gets locked. Automatically.” (Guest., 2014)
How’s this possible?''Imagine a sophisticated, but ridiculously easy-to-use universal remote that controls all of your home’s otherwise disconnected electronic systems and devices. With this one mighty remote, you can control everything from entertainment systems to heating and air conditioning, lights, shades, garage doors, security systems, exterior door locks, and so on. You can control everything in the house from virtually every screen in the house—your iPhone, a tablet, a touch screen, even your laptop. And once you’ve got your house “under control,” there’s no going back.'' (Guest., 2014)
Clearly, the integration of technology products and services is crucial in order to realize a complete smart home. Generally, the technology products and services can be classified into six different categories as shown below:
Visitor Identification
Today, I’m going to look at one of the examples of technology development, known as “Smart Home”. According to the Smart Homes Association, smart home technology can be defined as the integration of technology and services through home networking for a better quality of living. (Patrick R. W. Roe, 2009)
How do we classify a home as a smart home? A smart home is an intelligent home equipped with various kind of networking devices which is capable in bringing advance services to the resident. The following provides an illustration for an ideal smart home: “Imagine waking up in the morning, not to the glaring blare of an alarm clock, but to your favorite song streaming through speakers in the ceiling, as your blinds slowly open to reveal the morning sun. Touch one button by your bed and the lights in the hallway turn on so you can safely navigate to the kitchen where the TV is already tuned into your favorite morning news program. As you race out the door for work, smile as everything powers down—the lights, the TVs, the audio—even the thermostat dials back to a more energy-efficient setting. The alarm arms, the garage door closes and every door in the house gets locked. Automatically.” (Guest., 2014)
How’s this possible?''Imagine a sophisticated, but ridiculously easy-to-use universal remote that controls all of your home’s otherwise disconnected electronic systems and devices. With this one mighty remote, you can control everything from entertainment systems to heating and air conditioning, lights, shades, garage doors, security systems, exterior door locks, and so on. You can control everything in the house from virtually every screen in the house—your iPhone, a tablet, a touch screen, even your laptop. And once you’ve got your house “under control,” there’s no going back.'' (Guest., 2014)
Clearly, the integration of technology products and services is crucial in order to realize a complete smart home. Generally, the technology products and services can be classified into six different categories as shown below:
- Comfort
- Energy management
- Multimedia and entertainment
- Healthcare
- Security and Safety
- Communication
Visitor Identification
Monitoring and control
Intrusion Detection
Away mode set up
Going to work
''The advent of smart homes is part of the overall pattern of convergence that is occurring in technology. Through the exploitation of advances in high-tech networks, the smart home allows the convergence of the different environments of an individual’s life, the personal, leisure, workspace and educational environments. (Patrick R. W. Roe, 2009) A variety of technology that can be deployed and distributed along different environments is being produced. People and organizations are opening to this transformation. Computing, after five decades of unrelenting growth, is in the position to offer systems that will permeate people’s daily life as never before.'' (Augusto J.C.)
Sources :
Augusto J.C., AMBIENT INTELLIGENCE: BASIC CONCEPTS AND APPLICATIONS. Available at : http://hssc.sla.mdx.ac.uk/staffpages/juanaugusto/jca_KN_ICSOFT.pdf Last accessed : 26/11/2015
Patrick R. W. Roe. (2009), Smart Home Environment. Available at : http://www.tiresias.org/research/guidelines/smart_home_further_info.htm
Last accessed : 26/11/2015
Barajas I. (2014), Buying Guide : Building a Smart Home. Available at : http://blog.newegg.com/old-home-new-tech-how-to-build-a-smart-home/ Last accessed : 26/11/2015
Woensel L.V. and Archer G. (2015), Ten Technologies which Could Change Our Lives:
Potential Impacts and Policy Implications. Available at : http://www.europarl.europa.eu/EPRS/EPRS_IDAN_527417_ten_trends_to_change_your_life.pdf Last accessed : 26/11/2015
McGrath J. (2014),'What's a Smart Home?' Asks Almost Everyone Ever, According to a New Survey. Available at : http://www.digitaltrends.com/home/whats-smart-home-asks-almost-everyone-ever/ Last accessed : 26/11/2015
Guest. (2014), 5 Need-To-Knows: Designing Your Smart Home. Available at : http://www.control4.com/blog/2014/06/5-needtoknows-designing-your-smart-home. Last accessed : 26/11/2015
Anon. (2015), Samsung : Each Household. Available at : https://www.samsungsds-nss.com/?p=en_smarthome_private Last accessed : 26/11/2015