Smart Homes: Technology, Application, Impact, Domain, Consequences, Social and Ethical Issues

The report mainly discusses about the smart homes, its application and implementation, use and consequence. It discusses how the implementation of the smart homes can bring in better results by implementing their application in order to build the smart cities. The consequences show the possible impacts that could be generated on the stakeholders for the implementation of the organisation. The report concludes focusing on the social and ethical issues by the implementing of smart homes discussing both the face of the benefits and hardships that could be faced with the technology.

Running head: SMART HOMES
SMART HOMES
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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Executive summary
The report mainly focus on the internet of things application by throwing light upon the smart
home technology. The home automation have been easing lives and is also energy efficient.
The home automation has been shown in the article the possible benefits that it generates on
the application at home. The technology it uses , the domain it can be applied to and the
consequences that can be generated through this technology. The report also focus on the
negative barriers that can be generated in social and ethical issue creating an ethical dilemma
of the project.

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Table Table of Contents
Executive summary....................................................................................................................1
Introduction................................................................................................................................3
Technology.................................................................................................................................3
Application.................................................................................................................................4
Impact.........................................................................................................................................4
Domain.......................................................................................................................................5
Consequences.............................................................................................................................7
Social issues...............................................................................................................................8
Ethical issues..............................................................................................................................9
Conclusion................................................................................................................................10
References................................................................................................................................11

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Introduction
The innovation have been now been the essential part of the human life. With the
technological advancement in our daily lives, it is quite easier for upgrading our lifestyle with
the information system. The computerised technologies have created more than a thousand
option to make the devices more faster, upgraded as well as efficient[1]. Under the technical
assistance, the domestic task can now allow the automation in them. The countless
technology and application can upgrade the electric home appliances as well as machines.
This can enable communication between home appliances and the user. It create
energy efficiency as well as self automated system provide better transferability and security
The smart homes immerged with the application like smart phone, voice recognition recorder
came in discovery the that have made the work much easier and efficient than before. The
automatic machine helps in optimal management of resources as well as securing the devices
from being stolen [2]. The smart homes are mainly aided with the internet and needs constant
network connection to work in an efficient manner.
Technology
The technology that have been used in creating Smart home technology are the internet of
things to automate and monitor in home systems for the elderly and people with special needs
.The smart home technology was brought in emergence by IBM . The smart home technology
allows user to control and monitor and interact to their home devices from the application and
other network devices, which empowers energy efficient techniques to conserve energy as
well as make sure that the home is secure[3]. The technology can be termed as home
automation. It connects the controlled devices to one central hub, which can also be
considered as a gateway. The user interface for the control of the system mainly uses the

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smart devices like tablet, or web application or web interface this can be accessed on site as
well as off site of the technology. The sensors and the assistive robotics can help in bringing
better interaction between the user and the appliances or the application. The two most
prominent radio network are Zig Bee and z wave and X 10 algorithm to create short message
without internet .The technology are mesh network that means more than one way for the
message to get its destination.
Application
It provides the special help to people who physically or mentally challenge by voice,
speech or sound [4]. The assistive robotics can be a major help in bringing the comfort level
and the feeling secure at the same time. The application of the smart technology can be seen
when it is mainly used to define as residential application method of performing the task
through automated senses, which could be remotely controlled at any point of time and from
anywhere, which could help the elderly. It is mainly used in conservation of energy. The
smart technology helps at every level. It is a financial saving option for long-term investment.
The major application of the smart home technology or the home automation could be used in
the following cases.
1. The video camera that could track the people in the pitch dark.: this keeps in track
about the people that are in around the premises of the residence. It can in turn help in
bringing the sense of security to the elderly. Example: google olu
2. Motion Sensors : this help in tracking the daily routine of the elderly and keep record
of their health ,habit and help the person to follow the routine. Make sure their is no
intruder in the residence.
3. Video door phones[5]: recognise the visitors that are visiting the residence of the
family

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4. Channel modulators: send the alert message in case of emergency for the health of
patients. Example: emergency speed dial.
5. Door enabling fingerprint or face recognition.: so that only the authorised person or
the recognised person enter the premises. Example: biometric identification
6. Application based home appliances: the assistive robots aid the elderly or the patient
better by voice interaction and keep them involved through their routines[6].
Example: alexa
Impact
The prevalent smart home application can be programmed to do anything in
accordance to the consumer needs and expectations with the devices. In recent days, there are
no home appliances without automation .The combination of the automation and
programmable artificial intelligence made the home evolution system. The impact that could
be generated from the application of the home technology can be seen by considering the
case of the people with special needs.
The intelligent interface have enabled the elderly individuals to depend on these
devices instead of shifting on the nursing home for better care. These interfaces learn the
habits, monitor their resident movement and also learn to recognize pattern of vital sign of the
resident. Suppose, the elderly person is suffering from the medical condition can get
immediate help due to the programmed systems that could alert the medical personal
immediately for any case of the help that is required to treat the person. The speech-impaired
person can get emergency help at any point of time with the interaction of the home systems.
The research survey stated by Ni et al. That states that with the implementation of the
home application and effective security system, the people who are physically challenged are

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able to live on their own. Since the home security system allow the homeowner to keep the
track of the visitors through camera, microphone and sensors[8]. If the visitors are safe, the
security system will unlock and open the door for the guest .The security system make sure
that there is no threat faced by resident by keeping live track of the visitor that have been
visiting the place.
The home security application can also be used under the trend for automated parking
system of the malls and building to make sure that enable the parking system to deploy the
parking space for the vehicle in order to make sure the vehicle has enough space to park the
car.
Domain
The smart home technology not only benefits the home security ort bring the connectivity and
the convenience to the system. The major application can also be used in order to create
better approach in creating smart cities as well. The implementation of the home automation
can in turn security system and secure.
1. Security system can be used to secure the building, and also automate the parking
system, traffic control and reduce the number of accident by checking the movement
and speed of vehicles. The x10 that is used to enable short message communication
without internet can help in emergency help when needed outside. The helpline that
are connected through one gateway of the area could be connected without the help of
the network ,as x 10 is a radio wave that can communicate through short distance
during road accident and gain immediate help[9].
2. The artificial intelligence can be used in the organisation for the attendance tracking,
the daily monitoring of the student progress and the routine of the employee within
the workplace.[9]

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3. The medical purpose can use the robots in order to gain assistance like on the diet
checking of the patients, monitoring the health progress and sending alert messages in
case of the emergency. The home automation system could be of the great application
in the case of upgrading the nursing homes to make sure the patients with special
needs get proper care time to time. The hospital organisation must be empowered by
the Smart home technology can also use the voice recognition and finger scanner to
make sure of the safety of the patients in every way.
4. The sensors can be used in securing the valuables and be used in the banks to keep the
money secure from any potential threat like robbery.
5. The technology can also empower the traffic management through allowing the
sensors to make sure no accidents might take place[10].
Consequences
The impacts that will be created by the implementation of the smart home technology :
 Better security: the better security can be observed in this case is by bringing the
better monitoring devices and sensor that could build in the security for checking
accident and keeping the track of the vehicles on the road.[11]
 Better management: the better management and ease of work is facilitated in the
different organisation that plays an important role in bringing ease to the user by ease
the burden of work done on the daily basis for the organisation.
 Increasing convenience: the intelligent interface provide better interaction with the
organisation

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 Improved efficiency: with the automated sensor the devices and appliance make sure
when the appliance is needed to be off , by motion sensor installed which save a lot of
energy in the case of organisation [11].
The negative impacts that could be faced in this case are :
 Potential security threats: the constant connectivity to the networks provides more
chances of the security threat of the system of the organisation. The organisation
might be prone to the potential cyber attacks that could hamper the information
effectively .Which in turn can be used to create a potential harm to the people through
malware attacks, denial of services and ransom ware the automated system can be
altered or changed which could be a vital source of leaking the sensitive information.
The automated system without a good security framework can aid in malfunctioning
the system[12]
 Less people involved in the use of the technology: without the exposure of the
artificial intelligence and the internet technology there are chances that they would not
be comfortable with the new system.the proper training and application manual and
demo is quite essential for bringing the better outcome by the application of home
automation.
 Initial costing is really high: regarding the installation of the system the chances of the
information system to be implemented is quite high the sensor and monitoring devices
have high cost in the first place but this could be reduced with the better application of
the system[13].
This case can be termed as the ethical dilemma. The above case is of the ethical dilemma
because the consequences generated are both positive and negative. The issues that could be
faced in this case are as follows.

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Social issues
The social issues that could be possibly create through implementation of the smart homes
are as follows
 The smart application might be not easy for the older generation to use at first .Since
they were not that much exposed to the technology like the newer generation , there
may be chances that the there is the barrier of communication with appliances .Since
they might not know how to use the application in the first place.
 The implementation of the system might not ease the social tensions that have been
faced by the individual at the first place. The elderly might not like to communicate
with the machine ,they maybe more comfortable with the human
 The language barrier might also cause problem in understanding the appliances ,the
language barrier might create social tension with the individual[14]
 There are chances that the person might be suffering from multiple inability it is quite
impossible for the machine to help the patient in that case.
 The home security could be cracked it can be prone to any threat without a better
framework.
Ethical issues
The ethical issues in implementation of the smart homes can be seen in the following cases:
 Prone to security threats: the monitoring can be done by the home automated system
but they cant stop the chance of any potential harm that could be faced by the
individual if the security system has a break through. The security system must have
secondary ways to communicate any possible danger that could be faced in the
premises and help the people accordingly[15].

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 Decrease the human interaction: the automated might bring the chances of the
increase in anxiety of the people that need extra care, the daily monitoring and
automated voice might not provide them the same comfort level as the machines
 The anxiety disorder might increase in the patients due to the same reason if there is
less human interaction.
 The diverged network devices application might increase the threat of increasing the
threats of the breach and sensitive information leak through any cyber threat like sql
injection and malware like virus and worms
 The constant power supply is need to make sure that the smart appliances work
correctly[16].
Conclusion
The report mainly discusses about the smart homes, its application and implementation, use
and consequence. It discusses how the implementation of the smart homes can bring in better
results by implementing their application in order to build the smart cities. The consequences
show the possible impacts that could be generated on the stakeholders for the implementation
of the organisation. The report concludes focusing on the social and ethical issues by the
implementing of smart homes discussing both the face of the benefits and hardships that
could be faced with the technology.

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References
[1] Wilson, Charlie, Tom Hargreaves, and Richard Hauxwell-Baldwin. "Smart homes and
their users: a systematic analysis and key challenges." Personal and Ubiquitous
Computing19.2 (2015): 463-476.
[2] Ni, Qin, Ana Belén García Hernando, and Iván Pau de la Cruz. "The elderly’s
independent living in smart homes: A characterization of activities and sensing infrastructure
survey to facilitate services development." Sensors 15.5 (2015): 11312-11362.
[3] Liu, Lili, et al. "Smart homes and home health monitoring technologies for older adults: A
systematic review." International journal of medical informatics 91 (2016): 44-59.
[4] Demiris, George, and Brian K. Hensel. "Technologies for an aging society: a systematic
review of “smart home” applications." Yearbook of medical informatics 17.01 (2008): 33-40.
[5] Lobaccaro, Gabriele, Salvatore Carlucci, and Erica Löfström. "A review of systems and
technologies for smart homes and smart grids." Energies 9.5 (2016): 348.
[6] Zhou, Bin, et al. "Smart home energy management systems: Concept, configurations, and
scheduling strategies." Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 61 (2016): 30-40.
[7] Stankovic, John A. "Research directions for the internet of things." IEEE Internet of
Things Journal 1.1 (2014): 3-9.
[8] Alur, Rajeev, et al. "Systems computing challenges in the Internet of Things." arXiv
preprint arXiv:1604.02980 (2016).
[9] Debes, Christian, et al. "Monitoring activities of daily living in smart homes:
Understanding human behavior." IEEE Signal Processing Magazine 33.2 (2016): 81-94.

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[10] Jacobsson, Andreas, Martin Boldt, and Bengt Carlsson. "A risk analysis of a smart home
automation system." Future Generation Computer Systems 56 (2016): 719-733.
[11] Khatoun, Rida, and Sherali Zeadally. "Smart cities: concepts, architectures, research
opportunities." Communications of the ACM 59.8 (2016): 46-57.
[12] Ni, Qin, Iván Pau de la Cruz, and Ana Belén García Hernando. "A foundational
ontology-based model for human activity representation in smart homes." Journal of Ambient
Intelligence and Smart Environments 8.1 (2016): 47-61.
[13] Wu, Chen, Amir Hossein Khalili, and Hamid Aghajan. "Multiview activity recognition
in smart homes with spatio-temporal features." Proceedings of the Fourth ACM/IEEE
International Conference on Distributed Smart Cameras. ACM, 2010.
[14] Ni, Qin, Iván Pau de la Cruz, and Ana Belén García Hernando. "A foundational
ontology-based model for human activity representation in smart homes." Journal of Ambient
Intelligence and Smart Environments 8.1 (2016): 47-61.
[15] Okeyo, George, et al. "A hybrid ontological and temporal approach for composite
activity modelling." Trust, Security and Privacy in Computing and Communications
(TrustCom), 2012 IEEE 11th International Conference on. IEEE, 2012.
[16] Tapia, Emmanuel Munguia, Stephen S. Intille, and Kent Larson. "Activity recognition in
the home using simple and ubiquitous sensors." International conference on pervasive
computing. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg, 2004.

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