Intelligent
or Smart Homes
Smart homes don't build
themselves!
Intelligent homes are no
longer a design concepts of the future. They are happening now,
and they are having a direct impact on the lifestyles of people
living in them. Intelligently designed and operated buildings
yield dramatic increases in worker productivity and energy cost
savings, and administrative savings.
Smart
Home is the term commonly
used to define a residence that uses a home controller to integrate
the residences various home automation systems. Integration of
the home systems allows them to communicate with one another
through the home controller, thereby enabling single button and
voice control of the various home systems simultaneously, in
pre-programmed scenarios or operating modes.
Smart Homes can be used
for older people and those with disabilities, providing safe
and secure environments. The Smart Home allows the user to control
many features or automate these features. The user can also be
monitored by the Smart Home system to ensure their safety, and
alert people should the user be in difficulties.
Although the Smart Home
has been embraced by the monied fractions, its utility within
the realm of augmenting the standard
care packages is slowly evolving. A number of Smart Homes
have been developed in the UK that have been specifically designed
to demonstrate the technology for older people and people with
disabilities. A fundamental stumbling block that has been identified
through the development of these sites is that there is no consistent
or easy method of developing a Smart Home that meets the true
needs of the end user.
The Robert
Gordon University, in conjunction with the Universities of
Porto and Reading, have recently designed a software tool that
solves this problem. The CUSTODIAN
project, which is EU funded,
has developed a tool that means anyone can design
a Smart Home for someone with disabilities.
Smart Thinking: Socio-Medical and
Assistive technological Research for Today
The
Independent Health Research Consultancy
