Ageing in place and the internet of things \u2013 how smart home technologies, the built environment and caregiving intersect

As smart technology is introduced into our homes, new dangers emerge that threaten our safety. New technology is usually subjected to much scrutiny, but smart home devices face even more because they are brought into the home environment, which is focused on safety and privacy. The potential for smart home technology to improve home life is hindered by the fact that potential users face difficulty in trusting and accepting smart home technology. This paper explores different types of trust that can be used to inform strategies, promote trust, reduce threats towards smart home technologies, and overcome challenges in designing these systems and different methods for designing a trustworthy and secure system. To begin designing a trustworthy product that establishes trust between users and smart home technology, manufacturers should use these findings to understand how human beings form trust with new technology.

BackgroundLiving in poor quality housing is a significant contributor to public health problems, and represent a considerable societal and economic burden worldwide. However, detecting and responding to a poor home...

PurposeThere are 29 million homes in the UK, accounting for 14% of the UK's energy consumption. This is given that UK has one of the highest water and energy demands in Europe which needs to be addressed according to the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). Smart homes technology holds a current perception that it is principally used by “tech-savvy” users with larger budgets. However, smart home technology can be used to control water, heat and energy in the entire house. This paper investigates how smart home technology could be effectively utilised to aid the UK government in meeting climate change targets and to mitigate the environmental impact of a home in use towards reducing carbon emissions.Design/methodology/approachBoth primary and secondary data were sought to gain insight into the research problem. An epistemological approach to this research is to use interpretivism to analyse data gathered via a semi-structured survey. Two groups of participants were approached: (1) professionals who are deemed knowledgeable about smart home development and implementation and (2) users of smart home technology. A variety of open-ended questions were formulated, allowing participants to elaborate by exploring issues and providing detailed qualitative responses based on their experience in this area which were interpreted quantitatively for clearer analysis.FindingsWith fossil fuel reserves depleting, there is an urgency for renewable, low carbon energy sources to reduce the 5 tonnes annual carbon emissions from a UK household. This requires a multi-faceted and a multimethod approach, relying on the involvement of both the general public and the government in order to be effective. By advancing energy grids to make them more efficient and reliable, concomitant necessitates a drastic change in the way of life and philosophy of homeowners when contemplating a reduction of carbon emissions. If both parties are able to do so, the UK is more likely to reach its 2050 net-zero carbon goal. The presence of a smart meter within the household is equally pivotal. It has a positive effect of reducing the amount of carbon emissions and hence more need to be installed.Research limitations/implicationsFurther research is needed using a larger study sample to achieve more accurate and acceptable generalisations about any future course of action. Further investigation on the specifics of smart technology within the UK household is also needed to reduce the energy consumption in order to meet net-zero carbon 2050 targets due to failures of legislation.Practical implicationsFor smart homes manufacturers and suppliers, more emphasis should be placed to enhance compatibility and interoperability of appliances and devices using different platform and creating more user's friendly manuals supported by step-by-step visual to support homeowners in the light of the wealth of knowledge base generated over the past few years. For homeowners, more emphasis should be placed on creating online knowledge management platform easily accessible which provide virtual support and technical advice to home owners to deal with any operational and technical issues or IT glitches. Developing technical design online platform for built environment professionals on incorporating smart sensors and environmentally beneficial technology during early design and construction stages towards achieving low to zero carbon homes.Originality/valueThis paper bridges a significant gap in the body of knowledge in term of its scope, theoretical validity and practical applicability, highlighting the impact of using smart home technology on the environment. It provides an insight into how the UK government could utilise smart home technology in order to reduce its carbon emission by identifying the potential link between using smart home technology and environmental sustainability in tackling and mitigating climate change. The findings can be applied to other building types and has the potential to employ aspects of smart home technology in order to manage energy and water usage including but not limited to healthcare, commercial and industrial buildings.

The terms smart homes, intelligent homes, home networking have been used for more than a decade to introduce the concept of networking devices and equipment in the house. According to the Smart Homes Foundation the best definition of smart home technology is the integration of technology and services through home networking for a better quality of living. If simple plug-and- play tools for controlling lights are included (e.g. X10 tools) or the computer network in houses are accounted for as smart home technology, hundred thousands of homes all over the world may be called smart homes as well. Only recently, some dozens of projects with smart technology in the houses of older people have been realised or started. The aim of introducing smart technology in these houses is the wish of the tenants to stay independent in their own house as long as possible. Applications are focussed on safety and security, care and comfort. In this presentation an overview will be given of the detailed applications in both new built houses and renovation projects. A summary of the first findings of experiences and reactions of older tenants will be included. Key factors in the further technical development of smart homes are the proper electrotechnical infrastructure, flexible solutions in infrastructure and applications because of shifting needs and wishes, acceptable user interfaces, and costs. Even more important for acceptance and breakthrough will be the content and services that can be delivered to the home. A wide range of companies is developing business models to serve the end consumer. Reference will be made to The Smartest House of the Netherlands, a new demonstration house of the Smart Homes Foundation, where both consumers and companies give feedback on the current market developments. The Internet and mobile telephony have been keen drivers to stimulate the interest of technology in the household. But also several economic and socio-cultural factors will cause changes in society in which smart home technology will really break through. The ageing western societies and the clearly expressed needs of older people have raised particular awareness of the several parties in the building process for the opportunities of smart home technology. Finally, based on expected product launches and technical developments at major international companies, as well as based on the feedback of older people currently living in smart homes, some expectations for the near future will be given.

BackgroundThe Internet of Things (IoT) has become integrated into everyday life, with devices becoming permanent fixtures in many homes. As countries face increasing pressure on their health care systems, smart home technologies have the potential to support population health through continuous behavioral monitoring.ObjectiveThis scoping review aims to provide insight into this evolving field of research by surveying the current technologies and applications for in-home health monitoring.MethodsPeer-reviewed papers from 2008 to 2021 related to smart home technologies for health care were extracted from 4 databases (PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and CINAHL); 49 papers met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed.ResultsMost of the studies were from Europe and North America. The largest proportion of the studies were proof of concept or pilot studies. Approximately 78% (38/49) of the studies used real human participants, most of whom were older females. Demographic data were often missing. Nearly 60% (29/49) of the studies reported on the health status of the participants. Results were primarily reported in engineering and technology journals. Almost 62% (30/49) of the studies used passive infrared sensors to report on motion detection where data were primarily binary. There were numerous data analysis, management, and machine learning techniques employed. The primary challenges reported by authors were differentiating between multiple participants in a single space, technology interoperability, and data security and privacy.ConclusionsThis scoping review synthesizes the current state of research on smart home technologies for health care. We were able to identify multiple trends and knowledge gaps—in particular, the lack of collaboration across disciplines. Technological development dominates over the human-centric part of the equation. During the preparation of this scoping review, we noted that the health care research papers lacked a concrete definition of a smart home, and based on the available evidence and the identified gaps, we propose a new definition for a smart home for health care. Smart home technology is growing rapidly, and interdisciplinary approaches will be needed to ensure integration into the health sector.

Industry and research increasingly explore opportunities to make our homes smart, e.g. through the Internet of Things (IoT). Technological developments nurture this rise of smart products, seemingly corresponding to households' needs. Yet, these domestic environments remain a complex domain to study or design for. This work explores the understudied complexity of families' needs and values in relation to connected and smart technology, in particular as a multi-user group. By leveraging participatory and do-it-yourself practices, I aim to engage families in discussion - and empower them to externalize and reflect upon their views. As such, I can study their reflective practices to reveal (tacit) understandings and (latent) needs which informs future developments in smart home technologies.

The article considers SMART technology, in particular smart house and basic communication protocols used for data exchange. Smart house technology additionally bears the name «home automation». Home automation in modern conditions allows the user or consumer to flexibly manage and independently configure the system, depending on the requirements of the user. One of the stages of customization of smart home technology is the selection of communication protocol for data exchange within the smart home system.To implement data exchange in smart home technology, it is necessary to properly approach the choice of communication protocols. Smart home technology uses several types of devices: controllers, sensors, acoustics. Since not all devices support existing protocols, there are also unique devices that support several of the existing protocols. There are several protocols used in smart home technology: ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi.In this article the analysis of two main wireless protocols operating at high frequencies, namely ZigBee and Z-Wave. Correctly selected protocols implement fast data transmission without loss. In addition, it will be possible to realize the needs of the user or user, which are set by the system.

The article considers SMART technology, in particular smart house and basic communication protocols used for data exchange. Smart house technology additionally bears the name «home automation». Home automation in modern conditions allows the user or consumer to flexibly manage and independently configure the system, depending on the requirements of the user. One of the stages of customization of smart home technology is the selection of communication protocol for data exchange within the smart home system.To implement data exchange in smart home technology, it is necessary to properly approach the choice of communication protocols. Smart home technology uses several types of devices: controllers, sensors, acoustics. Since not all devices support existing protocols, there are also unique devices that support several of the existing protocols. There are several protocols used in smart home technology: ZigBee, Z-Wave, Wi-Fi.In this article the analysis of two main wireless protocols operating at high frequencies, namely ZigBee and Z-Wave. Correctly selected protocols implement fast data transmission without loss. In addition, it will be possible to realize the needs of the user or user, which are set by the system.

The article contains an overview and prospects for the introduction of smart and robotic technologies in the agricultural industry. Today, robotization of agriculture and food technology is not a leading industry compared to robotization of other sectors of the economy. Analytical review of the global robotics market revealed that robots in the food industry account for 2% of the total, and robots for agricultural operations account for less than 1%. We analyzed global trends in robotization and the introduction of artificial intelligence in agriculture in various countries. A review of smart robotic technologies, in particular, smart sensors and actuators, the Internet of Things, cloud technologies, methods of data analysis, forecasting, classification, and image recognition using neural networks, is provided. Methods and means are considered in relation to both crop production and livestock production. Four main classes of intelligent technologies in agriculture were identified: robotics, Internet of Things, machine learning, and UAVs. In crop production, robots are common in harvesting, controlling weeds, processing trees, monitoring trees at different stages of the growing season, including leaf and fruit diseases, counting the number of flowers and fruits, and other operations. Identification of fruits, leaves, weeds, as well as diseases of fruits and leaves is performed using computer vision, and in recent years convolutional neural networks have become widespread. Field monitoring is performed using UAVs with subsequent image processing using spectral analysis methods. In livestock farming, smart technologies are represented by feeding and milking robots, livestock monitoring, detection of predators, navigation in livestock buildings, monitoring animal health and behavior. Smart technologies are also used in fish farming to create smart farms. In this mini review, we have tried to integrate advanced smart and robotic technologies for various agricultural operations.

Internet of Things (IoT) is a revolutionary technology that aims to interconnect everyday objects equipped with identity, sensors, networking, and processing capabilities and allow them to communicate with one another and with other devices and services over the Internet to accomplish some objective. This is a transition from interconnected computers to interconnected things that require support for interoperability among heterogeneous devices enabling simplification of new application development for programmers under the infrastructure of IoT. Middleware for IoT is a software layer interposed between the infrastructure and the applications that basically aims to support important requirements for these applications (Yu et al. in Cybern. Inf. Technol. 14(5):51–62, 2014). Generally, the form of communication has been human–human or human–device, but the IoT is a communication as machine–machine. So, it is a network of objects with a self-configured wireless network. These IoT frameworks are used to collect, process, and analyze data streams in real time and facilitate provision of smart solutions. IoT is observed as a natural evolution of environmental sensing systems. This aims to use different sensors to measure key parameters in forest areas in regular basis, with no need of human intervention and to send this information via wireless communication to a central platform. IoT-based environment monitoring technologies and a smart home technology are being accepted by people because they have good prospects for development. IoT products in agriculture include a number of IoT devices and sensors as well as a powerful dashboard with analytical capabilities and in-built reporting features (Yu et al. in Cybern. Inf. Technol. 14(5):51–62, 2014). A networking-based intelligent platform can monitor forest environmental factors in time by applying IoT. This technology has the advantages of low power dissipation, low data rate, and high-capacity transportation.

Background The ageing populations in Ireland and around the world has led to an increased focus on technologies that support independent living for older adults. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a promising solution, with various AI-powered technologies being proposed to assist their daily lives. This review aims to synthesize the findings of studies exploring AI-powered technologies for independent living among older adults. Methods A systematic literature search was conducted using relevant databases, including PubMed, IEEE Xplore, and Google Scholar. The search terms included “artificial intelligence” and “independent living”. Studies published between 2009 and 2023 that investigated AI-powered technologies for independent living among older adults were included in the analysis. Results The included studies investigated various AI-powered technologies including tablets, wearable devices like smartwatches, web portals for carers, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions, user-centered design considerations, the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare, smart home technology, and ambient information systems. The pooled results indicated that AI-powered technologies can improve independent living outcomes for older adults. Benefits included real-time monitoring and health deterioration recognition, fall detection, personalised care, cognitive assistance and reduced isolation. User-centered design approaches and the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare were also found to be essential factors in the successful implementation of these technologies. Conclusion This analysis provides evidence supporting the effectiveness of AI-powered technologies in promoting independent living among older adults. IoT solutions and smart home technology appear to be particularly promising. However, the successful implementation of these technologies requires a multidisciplinary approach, incorporating user-centered design and the integration of AI with sociology and healthcare. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impact of AI-powered technologies on the well-being and autonomy of older adults.

The capability of the Internet of Things (IoT) to electronically meter, path and monitor objects in the physical world has encouraged a flow of innovation and interest from many industries. It's probable to driving, chaotic changes across many sector offerings a myriad of potential services and applications. Smart home service, one of the symbolic developing technologies in the IoT era, has changed house equipment into being more intelligent, remote controllable, and interconnected. This paper is division of current the author's research on the adoption of IoT application for home building in Malaysia. The data and information presented in this paper were gathered from the reviews of the available relevant literature related to IoT and smart home in Malaysia. This paper addresses the major concern and challenges in IoT and smart home in Malaysia. Based on the analysis, it was found that three main challenges cited in the literature are perception of usefulness, confidentiality and privacy of consumer data, and absence of enterprise IoT applications in the country. As for Iot and smart home technology improvement in the near future, suggested tackling the current issues on home online education and working from home (WFH) especially because of the problematic pandemic Covid-19 worldwide.

Internet of Things (IoT) is a technology with great potential to enhance the quality of life through inter-device connectivity. One of the rapidly growing implementations of IoT is the smart home, aimed at creating more efficient, secure, and comfortable living spaces. This community service initiative seeks to improve public understanding and skills related to the application of IoT in smart homes. The training involves students, lecturers, and community members interested in smart home technology. Using a combined approach of theory and practice, participants are trained to design and implement IoT-based solutions, not only for household needs but also for other sectors, such as industry and agriculture. The training equips participants not only with fundamental knowledge about IoT but also with practical skills in using various IoT platforms such as Arduino and Arduino Cloud. Participants are also introduced to various IoT components, including sensors, actuators, and microcontrollers used in smart home systems. By the end of the training, participants are expected to apply IoT technology in their daily lives and develop innovative solutions to create more efficient and secure smart homes. Additionally, the training aims to increase awareness and technological literacy among the community while fostering creativity and the ability to develop IoT applications that can provide long-term benefits for daily life and industrial sectors.

New technologies’ advances offer innovative automations to people’s daily lives. More and more devices are continuously connected to the internet allowing people to control them remotely. The smart home is such a technological development. However, it is uncertain whether and to what extent the average consumer will accept smart home technology. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors that affect the intention of Greek consumers to use smart home technology. The results of this study show that Greek consumers are beginning to have a positive attitude towards smart home technology. Important factors that contribute to their intention to use smart home technology include their perceived usefulness, compatibility, and ease of use of smart home technology. On the contrary, they do not think that they are influenced by their social environment regarding their intention to use smart home technology. Finally, they think that the major benefits of using smart home technology include the health monitoring, home security, and cost savings.

Optimal aging in place has become a common preference among older adults to maintain identity and independence, thus smart home technologies are increasingly utilized to achieve these goals. However, disconnect may exist between potential technological benefit and perceptions of acceptability and usability (Lee & Coughlin, 2015). We assessed perceptions of adults aged 50+ (range 50-90 years) to analyze their priorities and ultimate acceptability of smart home technology. Data were collected through surveys, focus groups, and case study interviews. Three major themes emerged regarding smart home utilization: benefits, concerns, and expectations. Participants endorsed smart home technologies (e.g., sensors, telehealth devices) and identified benefits, such as the promotion of optimal aging (e.g., maintaining independence, staying active, safety). However, responses also reflected concerns about privacy, ease of use, and amount of control. Expectations regarding smart homes included more mobility, efficiency, and safety within the home. One participant described technology as having “options [that] are exhausting, but also exciting.” Survey responses (n=30) were analyzed to understand participants’ familiarity with smart home technologies, including: nanotechnology (10.7%), smart showers (42.9%), home sensors (70.4%), telehealth (74.1%), smart appliances (71.4%), personal sensors (81.5%), and voice-activated devices (96.4%). Additionally, respondents indicated their willingness to implement these technologies to maintain and/or improve their daily functioning: nanotechnology (53.8%), smart showers (28.6%), home sensors (66.6%), telehealth (81.5%), smart appliances (40.0%), personal sensors (55.5%), voice-activated devices (64.3%). Discussion focuses on the priorities and needs older adults express regarding technology utilization and the implications for person-centered design and implementation of future smart home technologies.