Abstract
There are dozens of definitions of smart furniture with meanings that vary greatly. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide an exact definition of the phrase “smart furniture” based on literature and patent analysis. Why a definition? Because by providing a good definition, we have a statement that captures the meaning, the use, the function, and the essence of a term or a concept and allows the impacts on stakeholders to be described. A literature search was undertaken between 20 July 2018 and 31 August 2018, and the databases searched included SCOPUS, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore (1998-2017), which were searched by keywords that included the phrase “smart furniture.” Patent searching was performed in the ESPACENET database, where 226 articles from scientific databases and 737 patent applications were examined. After the application of strict criteria, we obtained 23 articles and six patents containing meaningful definitions of smart furniture. Based on the results, smart furniture should be defined as designed, networked furniture that is equipped with an intelligent system or is controller operated with the user's data and energy sources. Smart furniture needs to have the ability to communicate and anticipate a user's needs using a plurality of sensors and actuators inside the user's environment, resulting in user-adapted furniture. The research results and discussion presented in this paper are based on the recognition that the smart furniture research has great policymaking, technological, and economy potential while contributing to the user's wellbeing and Quality of Life (QoL). This paper indicates that the collaboration between the ICT and social-economic research has to be initiated and consolidated in a sustainable way or in an environment that satisfies the needs expressed by the user.
Highlights
The Internet of Things (IoT) [1], [2] and Industry 4.0 [3], [4] provide many opportunities for the use of new technologies.The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Miltiadis Lytras.The increasing availability of high-quality data collected and transmitted in real time through inexpensive, ubiquitous hardware and connections will undoubtedly lead to scientific, technical, and commercial innovation [5]
In the context of current changes and trends, such as the IoT phenomenon, rapid technological developments, when different technology solutions are being made available to wider groups of users, or within the increasingly high quality of life in developed countries, it has been explored how and for whom the smart furniture solution can benefit, and what solutions exist in relation to selected target groups
The research results and discussion presented in this article are based on the recognition that the Smart Furniture research has great policymaking, technological, and economy potential while contributing to user’s wellbeing and Quality of Life (QoL)
Summary
The Internet of Things (IoT) [1], [2] and Industry 4.0 [3], [4] provide many opportunities for the use of new technologies.The associate editor coordinating the review of this manuscript and approving it for publication was Miltiadis Lytras.The increasing availability of high-quality data collected and transmitted in real time through inexpensive, ubiquitous hardware and connections will undoubtedly lead to scientific, technical, and commercial innovation [5]. O. Krejcar et al.: Smart Furniture as a Component of a Smart City—Definition Based on Key Technologies Specification processes, and technologies for managing these data. Some frequently used terms are IoT, intelligent control, home automation, energy management, wearable devices, and smart technologies [6]–[10]. All these elements can be part of the Smart Cities phenomenon. Papadopoulos et al 2015 [11] and Tokuda 2003 [12] understand a Smart City to be an intelligence-enabled area connected in a sustainable way that integrates all its infrastructure and services into one compact complex, where intelligent devices are used for monitoring and control to ensure sustainability and efficiency
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