Smart Homes: Steps, Components, Utilities and Challenges

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.

Smart home is a prime research interest among researchers around the globe due to the fact that it offers ample features to make people’s life effortless and efficient. People can lead their life smartly through the use of smart home technology [17]. There are numerous communication systems in both wired and wireless media exist that are used in smart home technology. However, not a single communication system itself can satisfy all the demands of secure, comfort and intelligent smart home system. Wireless communication is flexible, requires negligible number of instruments, cheap and easy to install but the key concerning issue for wireless communication system in smart home technology is the slow data rate. In contrast, wired communication provides better performance through the provision of higher data rate and uninterrupted connectivity; however, consumers have to pay substantial amount of payment for smart home services [3]. Therefore, it is essential for researchers to analyze both wired and wireless communication system in terms of data rate and area of coverage in order to find out the right communication system for right feature of smart home system. In this paper, authors reviewed and analyzed both wired and wireless communication methods that are commonly used in smart home technology. It can be seen after careful analysis that for majority of the services of smart home system can get better result through the use of wireless communication system even though wired communication system offers better data rate and greater coverage.

Smart home is a prime research interest among researchers around the globe due to the fact that it offers ample features to make people’s life effortless and efficient. People can lead their life smartly through the use of smart home technology [17]. There are numerous communication systems in both wired and wireless media exist that are used in smart home technology. However, not a single communication system itself can satisfy all the demands of secure, comfort and intelligent smart home system. Wireless communication is flexible, requires negligible number of instruments, cheap and easy to install but the key concerning issue for wireless communication system in smart home technology is the slow data rate. In contrast, wired communication provides better performance through the provision of higher data rate and uninterrupted connectivity; however, consumers have to pay substantial amount of payment for smart home services [3]. Therefore, it is essential for researchers to analyze both wired and wireless communication system in terms of data rate and area of coverage in order to find out the right communication system for right feature of smart home system. In this paper, authors reviewed and analyzed both wired and wireless communication methods that are commonly used in smart home technology. It can be seen after careful analysis that for majority of the services of smart home system can get better result through the use of wireless communication system even though wired communication system offers better data rate and greater coverage.

The concept of a smart home has developed since the 90s. Where the initial goal of the emergence of the concept of a smart home is to create home automation that can increase the comfort of its residents. Smart home technology enables communication between household appliances and users and improves automation, monitoring and remote-control capabilities. Various studies have been conducted to develop smart home technology. The main purpose of developing a smart home is to meet human needs, namely, to increase user comfort and make everyday life easier. In its development, there are several aspects in a smart home that must be met, namely Security and Safety, Energy Management, and Comfort Control. In various countries have started implementing smart home simulators as learning media, various studies also show that the use of simulators can help in understanding a technology. But until now, in Indonesia, there is still no simulator/trainer who can facilitate learning about smart home technology. Therefore it is necessary to develop intelligent home prototypes that are integrated into one product to facilitate this learning. In this case, context-aware technology is a solution that can be used in the development of a smart green building. Technology context-aware is a term for a smart home that has the intelligence to automate home devices based on the context of the occupants. This paper aims to be a reference in developing smart home prototypes that fulfil the smart home aspects so that they can facilitate learning about smart home technology. This article was prepared by applying the method of critical analysis of literature published from 1992 to 2019 in journals and proceedings in Indonesian and English. As a follow up to future research, this article proposes the development of context-aware smart home simulator to facilitate learning about smart home technology.

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.

Flexiwatts and seamless technology: Public perceptions of demand flexibility through smart home technology

This study explores the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into smart home systems using the Android operating system to enhance security, privacy, efficiency, and user comfort. Key security measures include data encryption, robust authentication methods, sandboxing, and AI integration, specifically leveraging Google Assistant for improved privacy controls. Maintenance strategies for smart homes emphasize energy management, device condition monitoring, and enhanced safety features. AI adaptation to user habits enhances productivity and situational awareness, while Android's role in connecting various IoT devices facilitates remote control and energy-efficient recommendations. Methods such as Eco Android, Greensource, byte-code transformations, and automated energy diagnosis tools aid in optimizing energy use. The comparison between smart and non-smart homes highlights the efficiency and convenience of smart homes despite higher installation costs and potential network issues. The development and deployment of an Android-based application, SafeHause, exemplifies practical implementation, emphasizing end-to-end testing, security updates, and user education. The findings affirm that AI integration with Android significantly improves the smart home experience by enhancing energy optimization, data security, and personalized user interaction. Furthermore, the study discusses future trends in smart home technology, such as the potential for more advanced AI algorithms and machine learning techniques to provide even greater personalization and automation. The importance of regular software updates and the role of user feedback in refining smart home systems are also highlighted, ensuring that these technologies continue to evolve and meet user needs effectively.

Smart homes – a residence with innovative, interconnected, and automated technologies – can enhance the resident’s quality of life and well-being. Despite these potentials, users’ may have concerns about the increased automation which negatively influence their technology acceptance. Missing trust in automated technologies and privacy concerns have been identified as crucial barriers for smart home adoption. Still, privacy and trust perceptions in smart homes have not yet been deeply understood. Also, the effect of different automation levels has not been studied so far. In a qualitative empirical approach, we examine perceptions of privacy and trust in smart home technologies depending on the level of automation (using two juxtaposed scenarios: partially automated vs. highly automated). 10 adults (20 to 87 years) were interviewed. Trust in smart home technologies comprises multiple dimensions of not only trust in the functionality of the technology but also in the human stakeholders involved and in connected technologies. Privacy in smart home does not only regard informational privacy (data protection) but also physical, social, and psychological dimensions of privacy which are often neglected. The results show that privacy and trust in smart home are interdependent. The degree of automation strongly influences privacy and trust perceptions – with a higher automation leading to more concerns. Our results contribute to a deeper understanding of privacy and trust in smart homes. The negative impact of the level of automation on privacy and trust perceptions is a guide for the development of smart home technologies that meet users’ acceptance.

The aim of this study was to explore factors that influence family caregiver readiness to adopt health smart home technology for their care-dependent older adult family member. Health smart homes are designed to remotely monitor the health and wellness of community-dwelling older adults supporting independent living for as long as possible. Accordingly, if the health smart home is deployed into the home of a care-depended older adult, it can potentially support family caregivers by facilitating workforce participation and give piece of mind to the family caregiver who may not live close to the older adult. However, wider adoption of health smart home technologies into the homes of community-older adults is low, and little is known about the factors that influence the readiness of family caregivers to adopt smart home technologies for their care-dependent older adults. A qualitative Descriptive study design was utilized. Qualitative data were collected between 2019 and 2020 via semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis of interviews was completed, and data were organized into themes. Study findings show that caregiver readiness (N = 10) to adopt smart home technology to monitor older adult family members were influenced by five primary themes including a 'big brother effect', 'framing for acceptance', 'data privacy', 'burden' and 'cost.' Family caregivers were open to adopting smart home technology to support the independent living of their older adult family members. However, the readiness of family caregivers was inextricably linked to the older adults' readiness for smart home adoption. The family caregiver's primary concern was on how they could frame the idea of the smart home to overcome what they viewed as hesitancy to adopt in the older adult. The findings suggest that family caregivers endeavour to balance the hesitancy in their older adult family members with the potential benefits of smart home technology. Family caregivers could benefit if their care-dependent older adults adopt smart home technology. Recognizing the role of caregivers and their perspectives on using smart home technologies with their care-dependents is critical to the meaningful design, use and adoption.

Robotic vacuum cleaners save energy? Raising cleanliness conventions and energy demand in Australian households with smart home technologies

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.

Smart Home research started in 2000. Since then, Smart Home has attracted the attention of many researchers, and several studies have been conducted. This study aims to chart Smart Home research trends using bibliometric analyses from all years up to the publication date indexed in Scopus. We use keywords related to Smart Home in the Scopus database. Analysis techniques that use parameters include the year of publication, Scopus quartile range, year of publication, type of publication, journal publication, the publication of the most frequently cited maps, and density display mapping. The results show that the Q1 journal dominated since the first Smart Home publication in 2000 and peaked in 2013. The journal article type is the most commonly published compared to research conferences and other publications. Journal publications show the majority of IEEE transactions in consumer electronics. Three Smart Home publications have been cited more than 1563 times. This study also found that the words ‘smart home’, ‘technology,’ and ‘management’ are widely used by researchers. For future research, you should use keywords like ‘smart home energy management,’ ‘smart home environment,’ ‘sensor,’ ‘electric vehicle,’ and ‘smart home technology.’

Just a Smart Home or Your Smart Home – A Framework for Personalized User Interfaces Based on Eclipse Smart Home and Universal Remote Console

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.

While various forms of smart home technology have been available for decades, they have yet to achieve widespread adoption. Although they have risen in popularity during recent years, the general public continue to rate smart home devices as overly complex compared to their benefits. This article reports the results of an eight-month study into the effects of training on smart home technology adoption. Building upon the results of a previous study, and using the same living laboratory approach, we studied the effects of training on the attitudes of a group of residents toward use of smart home technology. Results show that training influences those attitudes toward smart home technology, including increased confidence in future use, and increased actual use of more complex smart home features. Results also indicate that users tended to seek out other users rather than training materials for advice, and that privacy concerns were not a deterrent to using smart home devices.