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A Guide to "SMART" Home Terms
These
page are meant to provide a brief overview of the different
types of smart home technology that are currently available.
They are not supposed to be a complete guide but an introduction
to the area. To get a more in depth view, I would suggest
that you follow the manufacturers links in the Links page.
You can Download this guide in pdf format here
Introducing "Smart Homes" for Disabled People
"Smart
homes" (Automated Homes, Domotics, Networked Homes,
Intelligent Homes, Home networks etc) are not as
complex as many people initially consider. The 'smartness' of the homes is derived from the installation and configuration
of devices that are able to be programmed to undertake tasks.
A simple task could be to turn a light on by the use of
a remote control. This means that the light will be activated
by pressing the correct button on the controller. A simple
parallel would be changing the channel on the television
using a remote controller. Most people do not question why
the remote controller is able to change the channel, they
simply accept it as a function of the television. The "smart
home" is not so different, a number of electrical devices
(almost all the electrical items in a house in fact) could
be controlled and automated to work through a control unit
(remote control) or automatically in a way that is determined
by the user or programmer.
Clearly,
most people have little or no use for most of home automation,
as they are able to undertake the tasks themselves without
assistance. Many people are happy to use a traditional light
switch instead of having a remote controller to do the task
for them. This is an acceptable position, as a number of "smart house" systems allow the user to determine
how they wish the house (or devices within the house) to
work.
Designing "smart homes" for disabled or older people requires
that the designer meets the needs and desires of the occupants
of the home, the carers (formal and informal) as well as
a number of other stakeholders [for more information on
this see The
Articles section]. The designer is required to
gather all relevant information from the occupant(s) of
the home to be modified or built. The designer must determine
through these consultations whether technological interventions
required are to enhance the person's quality of life or
could potentially hinder this. Often, the technological
input will be minimal due to cost factors and other social
circumstances. It is rare in the experience of SMART Thinking
for a whole house to be made smart. More commonly, it is
sufficient to install specific devices that can be interfaced
together within the living areas.
'Smart
home' technology can potentially benefit disabled people
by augmenting the traditional care support that is obtained
through state or private organisations. It
does not and cannot be used instead of external agencies
and should not be used to save finance or personnel costs. The benefit of this form of technology is that enables people
to have a quality of life that they might not have otherwise
had. Through appropriate technology (whether assistive technology
or "smart house" technology) the disabled person
can relate better to their environment and be able to have
greater control over their home. "Smart home" technology can also be used to allow the house to monitor
that activities of the occupants and provide alerts to specified
external agencies should it be required. This enables the
home itself to monitor the occupants activities so that
no information is transferred externally, which maintains
the individuals' need for privacy and confidentiality, hence
it is required to be dependable. Technology can also enable
people in a number of other significant ways, as stated
in a number of Articles,
technology can become an essential part of the psyche of
the disabled person. Technology can enhance and empower
the person through empowering their self concept.
1.
Devices and their properties
A
glossary of smart home terms
There are a number of standard smart home devices that
are important to consider in the design of any home. Most
of these are used within the home security sectors. The
difference between this sector use them and the smart home
designer is that the latter are interconnected and have
the ability to communicate with each other through either
a fieldbus (a wire that co
Friday, 2 May, 2008
ugh infra red or radio control. The
following are the main devices and terms used commonly:
Actuator
Another name for a motor. Mechanical devices such as window
or door openers require actuators to undertake the task.
Assistive Technology
As an umbrella term for any device or system that allows
an individual to perform a task they would otherwise be
unable to do or increases the ease and safety with which
the task can be performed.
Bus System (fieldbus)
A dedicated set of wiring specifically installed for the
purpose of transmitting data to and from electronic devices
within a building. The bus line usually runs in parallel
to the conventional house wiring system.
Communication
Protocols
The agreed 'language' that electronic systems use to pass
information to each other. All systems rely on their own
protocol. Some systems such as LonWorks have protocols which
are manufacturer specific. Consequently this means that
configuring these products is more difficult. As well as
setting out the actual electronic 'words' the systems will
use, the protocol will also define how 'loud' and at what
'pitch' the messages will be sent as well as what responses
are required to confirm that the information has been received.
Computer
Peripherals
A generic term for the devices used by a computer that fall
outside of the basic requirements of processor, monitor,
keyboard and mouse. These will include printers, scanners,
external storage devices, etc.
Dependability
Dependability is defined as that property of a computer
system such that reliance can justifiably be placed on the
service it delivers. The service delivered by a system is
its behavior as it is perceptible by its user(s); a user
is another system (human or physical) which interacts with
the former. (Laprie 1995, 42)
Electronic
Assistive Technology (EAT)
Assistive Technology that ranges from wheelchairs through
to whole house systems. Basically any supportive technology
that is electronic can come into this category, although
recently the term is being used to mean electronic devices
that support disabled people.
Environmental Controls
Environmental Controls allow the user to
have control over simple devices within a room such as door
opener and the functions are run through a control
box in order to perform a number of different controls
Heating
Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
The bundle of mechanical services used to control environmental
conditions in the home, also known as environmental controls.
Information
and Communication Technologies
The bundle of technologies relating to the electronic storage
and retrieval of information and the transmission of such
information. Storage and retrieval is typically the function
of a computer system, while communication
ne and mobile) to the Internet and
more specific computer networks (such as those found in
offices).
Infrared
A wavelength of light beyond the visible spectrum, infrared
can be used as a method of transmitting signals. The most
common application in the home would normally be in remote
control units.
IR
Within smart home design IR stands for Infra red Receiver,
this can be in the form of a receiver situated on the wall
in a convenient location or a controller, which sends IR
signals to the IR receiver. Similar to the receiver on a
TV which picks up the signal from the remote controller
Iris
Recognition
In a similar manner to fingerprints our eyes have a unique
and identifiable pattern. Iris recognition systems use cameras
to view and analyse the patterns of the iris with a much
higher level of certainty than can be applied to say a fingerprint.
This is currently being trailed for cashpoint dispensers
and other security features.
Kbytes
A unit of data volume; in the cases used in this report
it relates to the volume of data that can be transmitted
by a specific medium each second.
Microprocessor
A series of complex electronic circuits on a silicon chip.
These carry out the calculations for any electronic product,
from timers and calculators to large computer systems.
Optical
Fiber (Fiber Optic)
The use of glass fiber as a medium for the transmission
of information. In a similar way to electrical wiring optical
fibers can be used to transmit data, but instead of using
electrical current optical fibers use light. This allows
huge amounts of data to be transmitted through a relatively
narrow cable. Telephone and cable television systems use
optical fibers for transmission but convert this signal
to more conventional electrical signals in the home or workplace.
PIR
(Passive Infra Red Sensor) The magic eye, that is used to
detect movement within a room. PIRs can trigger devices
on detection of a presence.
Personal
Data Assistants (PDA)
A small computer with limited, although extending, functionality.
PDAs were developed as a sort of electronic filofax, combining
diary, address book, notebook and alarm clock together.
More recent PDAs have featured links to personal computers
handwriting recognition and e-mail, cameras, MP3 players
and fax facilities. The use of PDAs can be developed for
people with memory problems and other cognitive impairments.
PDAs are increasingly becoming more complex and are able
to use IR Bluetooth connectivity as well as an adapted
Windows interface.
Plug
and Play
Equipment that is designed to be fully compatible and recognisable
by the network and software it will be connected to. Plug
and play equipment should be able to be connected to and
configured by the system with little to no input from the
user.
Powerline
The use of existing electrical cabling for the purpose of
transmitting data to and from electronic devices within
a building. Powerline transmission sends a data signal at
a different frequency to that used for normal electrical
current transmission which can then be detected by devices
connected to the circuit.
Pressure Pad
Similar to the types used in home security, if a person
steps on the pressure pad a signal is sent to the control
unit and an action is triggered.
Smart Cards
Cards similar in size and shape to a credit card but with
a microprocessor embedded in them. Smart cards (similar
to cashpoint cards) can contain data about the person they
belong to that can be read either by inserting them in a
machine or remotely over short distances.
Telecare/Telemedicine
The remote delivery of response and medical services, by
the use of networks to remote links. Telemedicine can
range from remote diagnosis by a doctor from symptoms
verbally described to the transmission of detailed
x-ray or photographic images by a nurse to a doctor
back at the surgery or hospital. The development of
telemedicine in likely become expanded greatly in the
future.
Teleworking
The practice of conducting work activities remotely from
the workplace utilising computer and communications systems.
Teleworking can range from having the work telephone diverted
to, for example, your home to being able to access and alter
data stored on mainframes and servers in the main office
from a remote location over a conventional telephone line.
Twisted
Pair
A kind of cabling where two relatively thin wires are twisted
together. The term twisted pair can also be applied to wires
with bundles of pairs of wires where the wires will only
be used in twos. Telephone cabling in the home typically
uses a twisted pair for transmission of sound and data.
User
Interface (GUI)
The method or methods by which the user of an electronic
device conveys their intentions to the device and receives
feedback. On a computer for example the user types on a
keyboard and points and clicks with a mouse and receives
feedback from this on the screen of the monitor.
Warden
Call Systems
Emergency communication systems fitted in accommodation
that is supported by a warden (such as dwellings for the
elderly or people with disabilities). Warden call systems
can be used to either send an emergency alarm or to allow
a two way communication system direct between warden and
the person occupying the dwelling.
2. Types of smart home technology
Blue
tooth
Blue tooth technology is a set of protocols for the design
of systems that allow radio frequency control over the system.
The technology is readily available for download off the
web for designers to integrate into their products. Blue
tooth enables devices to be connected together within a
short distance (ideal for home automation). At present this
technology is still in its infancy but is likely to become
the leader once the substantive problems are ironed out.
Busline based technology
Busline technology involves the use of a cable which is
either soft wired or hardwired into the home. The data
is transferred through the cable to the devices enabling
the devices to communicate with each other. Many companies
are now developing Powerline equivalents although the reliability
of Powerline has not been substantiated for use within
housing for people with disabilities. Busline systems are
generally ideal for disability engineering and design for
homes. Within the field of busline there are a number of
companies who are involved in the production of the system
and many different protocols that within the field are:
BatiBus
CEBus
EIB
LonWorks
It is best to access the individual website's
for further information on any of these. You will find
them within the Links page
X10
The most common and accessible form of smart home technology.
This technology is computer centered and devices are NOT
able to communicate with each other. The device receives
its instructions from the computer which will usually be
running one of the many packages for home automation. Generally
this type of technology is NOT suitable for use with people
with disabilities as it does not have the level of reliability
that the fieldbus systems have. There are some software
packages which are designed specifically for people with
disabilities but any system that relies on a computer is
always as weak as the computer itself. That said, a number
of systems we have designed and installed do you X10 protocols
for isolated devices with specific functions.
For
More information
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