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Article Contents

Introduction, 1 smart-home definition, 2 smart-home infrastructures, 3 smart-home energy-management scheme, 4 technical challenges of smart homes, 5 conclusion, conflict of interest.

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Smart homes: potentials and challenges

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Rasha El-Azab, Smart homes: potentials and challenges, Clean Energy , Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2021, Pages 302–315, https://doi.org/10.1093/ce/zkab010

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Decentralized distributed clean-energy sources have become an essential need for smart grids to reduce the harmful effects of conventional power plants. Smart homes with a suitable sizing process and proper energy-management schemes can share in reducing the whole grid demand and even sell clean energy to the utility. Smart homes have been introduced recently as an alternative solution to classical power-system problems, such as the emissions of thermal plants and blackout hazards due to bulk plants/transmission outages. The appliances, sources and energy storage of smart homes should be coordinated with the requirements of homeowners via a suitable energy-management scheme. Energy-management systems are the main key to optimizing both home sources and the operation of loads to maximize home-economic benefits while keeping a comfortable lifestyle. The intermittent uncertain nature of smart homes may badly affect the whole grid performance. The prospective high penetration of smart homes on a smart power grid will introduce new, unusual scenarios in both generation and loading. In this paper, the main features and requirements of smart homes are defined. This review aims also to address recent proposed smart-home energy-management schemes. Moreover, smart-grid challenges with a high penetration of smart-home power are discussed.

Smart homes provide comfortable, fully controlled and secure lifestyles to their occupants. Moreover, smart homes can save energy and money with the possibility of profiting from selling clean renewable energy to the grid. On the other hand, the probable decrease in total domestic-energy loads encourages many governments to support promising smart-home technologies. Some countries have already put out many rules, laws and subsidy programmes to encourage the integration of smart homes, such as encouraging the optimization of the heating system, supporting building energy storage and/or deploying smart meters. For instance, the European Standard EN 15232 [ 1 ] and the Energy Performance of Building Directive 2010/31/EU [ 2 ], which is in line with Directive 2009/72/EC as well as the Energy Road Map 2050 [ 3 ], encourage the integration of smart-home technologies to decrease power demand in residential areas.

To control the environment, a smart home is automated by controlling some appliances, such as those used for lighting and heating, based on different climatic conditions. Now, recent control schemes adapt many functions besides classical switching ones. They can monitor the internal environment and the activities of the home occupants. They also can independently take pre-programmed actions and operate devices in set predefined patterns, independently or according to the user’s requirements. Besides the ease of life, smart homes confirm efficient usage of electricity, lowering peak load, reducing energy bills and minimizing greenhouse-gas emissions [ 4 , 5 ].

Smart homes can be studied from many points of view. The communication systems [ 6 ], social impacts [ 7 ], thermal characteristics [ 8 ], technologies and trends of smart homes [ 9 ] are reviewed individually. Moreover, the monitoring and modelling of smart-home appliances via smart meters are reviewed for accurate load forecasting, as in [ 10 , 11 ]. Recently, power-grid authorities have modified residential electrical tariffs to encourage proper demand-side management by homeowners. Different from previous reviews, this paper introduces smart homes from the electrical/economic point of view. It also discusses smart-home energy-management systems (SHEMS) in two different modes, offline load scheduling and real-time management. The prospective impacts of unusual smart-home power profiles on future smart grids are also summarized.

After this introductory section, Section 1 describes the different definitions of smart homes within the last two decades. Smart-home communication schemes and other infrastructures of smart homes are discussed in Section 2. Section 3 discusses in more detail the existing functions of SHEMS, their pre-proposed optimization techniques and related technical/economical objective functions. The impacts of smart homes on modern grids are also discussed in Section 4. Finally, in Section 5, the main conclusions and contributions of the paper are highlighted.

The term ‘smart home’ has been commonly used for about two decades to describe houses with controlled energy schemes. This automation scheme confirms easier lifestyles for homeowners than normal un-automated homes, especially for elderly or disabled persons. Recently, the concept of ‘smart home’ has a wider description to include many applications of technologies in one place.

Sowah et al. [ 12 ] define smart homes as: ‘Houses that provide their occupants a comfortable, secure, and energy efficient environment with minimum possible costs regardless their occupants.’ The Smart Homes Association defines a smart home as: ‘The integration of technology and services through home networking for a better quality of living’ [ 13 ].

Makhadmeh et al. define them as: ‘Incorporated residential houses with smart technology to improve the comfort level of users (residents) by enhancing safety and healthcare and optimizing power consumption. Users can control and monitor smart-home appliances remotely through the home energy-management system (HEMS), which provides a remote monitoring system that uses telecommunication technology’ [ 14 ].

Smart homes can be defined as: any residential buildings using different communication schemes and optimization algorithms to predict, analyse, optimize and control its energy-consumption patterns according to preset users’ preferences to maximize home-economic benefits while preserving predefined conditions of a comfortable lifestyle.

Distributed clean energy generated by smart homes provides many benefits for prospective smart grids. Consequently, the effects of smart homes on future power grids should be extensively studied. In the near future, smart homes will play a major role as a power supplier in modern grids, not only as a power consumer.

The general infrastructure of smart homes consists of control centres, resources of electricity, smart meters and communication tools, as shown in Fig. 1 . Each component of the smart-home model will be discussed in the following subsections.

Infrastructure of SHEMS source

2.1 The control centre

The control centre provides home users with proper units to monitor and control different home appliances [ 15 ]. All real-time data are collected by SHEMS to optimize the demand/generation coordination and verify the predefined objectives. The main functions of the control centre can be summarized as follows [ 15 ]:

(i) collecting data from different meters, homeowners’ commands and grid utility via a proper communication system;

(ii) providing proper monitoring and analysing of home-energy consumption for homeowners;

(iii) coordinating between different appliances and resources to satisfy the optimal solution for predefined objectives.

2.2 Smart meter

The smart meter receives a demand-response signal from power utilities as an input to the SHEMS system [ 16 , 17 ]. Recently, advanced smart-metering infrastructures can monitor many home features such as electrical consumption, gas, water and heating [ 18 ].

2.3 Appliances

Smart-home loads can be divided according to their operating nature into two categories: schedulable and non-schedulable loads. Non-schedulable loads are operated occasionally according to the homeowner’s desires without any predictable operating patterns, such as printers, televisions and hairdryers, whereas schedulable loads have a predictable operating pattern that can be shifted or controlled via SHEMS, such as washing machines and air conditioners [ 19 ].

According to [ 19 ], controllable devices are also classified into interruptible and non-interruptible load according to the effect of supply interruption on their tasks. Electric vehicles (EVs) can be considered as an exceptional load [ 20 , 21 ]. EVs have two operating modes: charging and discharging. Therefore, EVs are interruptible schedulable loads during the charging mode. Moreover, EV battery energy can also be discharged to supply power to the grid during critical events, which is known as vehicle-to-grid [ 22 ]. By SHEMS, EVs can participate in supplying loads during high-priced power periods. In low-priced power periods, EVs restore their energy from the grid [ 23 , 24 ].

2.4 Resources of electricity

Solar and wind plants are the most mature renewable-energy sources in modern grids. Nowadays, many buildings have installed photovoltaic (PV) modules, thermal solar heaters or micro wind turbines. For smart homes, various functions can be supplied by solar energy besides generating electricity, such as a solar water heater (SWH), solar dryer and solar cooler [ 25 ]. Moreover, PV plants are cheap with low requirements of maintenance [ 26 ], whereas hot water produced by SWHs can be used in many home functions, such as washing and cooking, which increases the home-energy efficiency [ 27 ].

Energy storage may be considered as the cornerstone for any SHEMS. SHEMS are usually installed with energy-storage systems (ESSs) to manage their stored energy according to predefined objectives. Many energy-storage technologies are available in the power markets. Batteries and fuel cells are the most compatible energy-storage types of smart-home applications [ 28 ]. A fuel-cell structure is very similar to a battery. During the charging process, hydrogen fuel cells use electricity to produce hydrogen. Hydrogen feeds the fuel cell to create electricity during the discharging process. Fuel cells have relatively low efficiency compared to batteries. Fuel cells provide extra clean storage environments with the capability of storing extra hydrogen tanks. That perfectly matches isolated homes in remote areas [ 29 ].

Although wind energy is more economical for large-scale plants, it has a very limited market for micro wind turbines in homes. Typically, micro wind turbines require at least a wind speed of 2.7 m/s to generate minimum power, 25 m/s for rated power and 40 m/s for continuous generated power [ 30 ]. A micro wind turbine is relatively expensive, intermittent and needs special maintenance requirements and constraints compared to a solar plant [ 31 ].

Recently, biomass energy has been a promising renewable resource alternative for smart homes. Many pieces of research have recommended biomass energy for different types of buildings [ 32 ]. Heating is the main function of biomass in smart homes, as discussed in [ 33 , 34 ]. In addition, a biomass-fuelled generation system is examined for many buildings [ 35 , 36 ].

2.5 Communication schemes

Recently, communication systems are installed as built-in modules in smart homes. Both home users and grid operators will be able to monitor and control several home appliances in the near future to satisfy the optimum home-energy profile while preserving a comfortable lifestyle. Therefore, both wired and wireless communication schemes are utilized, which is known as a home area network (HAN), to cover remote-control signals as home occupants’ ones. Fig. 1 shows an example of a HAN that consists of Wi-Fi and cloud computing networks for both indoor and outdoor data exchange, respectively [ 37 , 38 ].

Energy-management systems for homes require three main components: the computational embedded controllers, the local-area network communication middleware and the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) communication for wide-area integration with the utility company using wide-area network communication [ 37 ].

According to home characteristics, many wired communication schemes can be selected, such as power-line communication (PLC), inter-integrated circuit (I2C) and serial peripheral interface or wireless technologies such as Zigbee, Wi-Fi, radio-frequency identification (RFID) and the Internet of Things (IoT) to develop HANs. A few of the most common techniques will be discussed briefly in the following subsections [ 38 ].

PLC is a technique that uses power lines to transmit both power and data via the same cable to customers simultaneously. Such wired schemes provide fast communication with low interference of data. Moreover, PLC provides many communication terminals, as all power plugs can be used for data transferring. As all electrical home devices are connected by power cables, PLC can communicate with all these devices via the same cable.

PLC set-up has a low cost, as it uses pre-installed power cables with minimum hardware requirements. With a PLC communication scheme, home controllers can also be integrated easily with a high speed of data transfer. On the other hand, PLC has a high probability of data-signal attenuation. Furthermore, data signals suffer from electromagnetic interference of transmitted power signals.

2.5.2 Zigbee

Zigbee is a wireless communication technique [ 37–46 ]. Zigbee follows the IEEE 802.15.4 standard as a radio-frequency wireless communication scheme. It does not require any licenses for limited zones such as homes [ 37 ]. Also, Zigbee is a low-power-consuming technique. Therefore, it is suitable for basic home appliances, such as lighting, alarm systems and air conditioners [ 39 , 40 ]. Zigbee usually considers all home devices as slaves with a master coordinator/controller, which is known as a master–slave architecture.

Zigbee provides highly secured transferred data [ 38 , 41 ] with high reliability and capacity [ 42 ]. It also has self-organizing capabilities [ 42 ]. Conversely, Zigbee is relatively expensive due to special hardware requirements with low data-transfer rates. Moreover, Zigbee is not compatible with many other protocols, such as internet-supported protocols and Wi-Fi.

2.5.3 Wi-Fi technology

Wi-Fi is a wireless communication technique that follows the IEEE 802.11 standard. Wi-Fi provides high-rate data transfer that is compatible with many information-based devices such as computers, laptops, etc. [ 43 , 44 ].

Wi-Fi is a highly secured scheme with many of the familiar internet capabilities and low data-transfer delays (<3 ms) [ 45 ]. On the contrary, it is a relatively high-power-consuming scheme compared to Zigbee schemes [ 45 ]. Also, home devices can affect transmitted data signals by their emitted electromagnetic fields [ 46 ]. Wi-Fi can also suffer from interference from other communication protocols such as Zigbee and Bluetooth [ 43 ].

RFID is a wireless communication technique that conforms to the electronic product code protocol [ 47–52 ]. It can coincide with other communication schemes such as Wi-Fi and Zigbee. It can be utilized for a relatively widespread range of frequencies, from 120 kHz to 10 GHz. It also covers a wide range of distances, from 10 cm to 200 m [ 48 ]. Many researchers are investigating RFID home applications, such as energy-management systems [ 49 ], door locks [ 50 ] and lighting controls [ 51 ].

RFID operates on tags and reader-identification systems with a high data-transfer rate. Nevertheless, RFID has expensive chips with low bandwidth. The possibility of tag collision within the same zone decreases the accuracy of the RFID scheme.

This scheme connects home devices, users and grid operators via the internet to monitor and manage smart homes [ 6 , 38 , 53–65 ]. Consequently, the IoT and cloud computing have proven to be cheap, popular and easy services for smart homes. Moreover, IoT schemes are compatible with many other communication protocols, such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, etc., as listed in Table 1 . Internet hacking is the main problem with IoT schemes. System security and privacy are critical challenges for such internet-based schemes.

IoT protocols features

Today, building energy-management systems (BEMS) are utilized within residential, commercial, administration and industrial buildings. Moreover, the integration of variable renewable-energy sources with proper ESSs deployed in buildings represents an essential need for reliable, efficient BEMS.

For small-scale residential buildings or ‘homes’, BEMS should deal with variable uncertain load behaviours according to the home occupants’ desires and requirements, which is known as SHEMS. Throughout recent decades, many SHEMS have been presented and defined in many research studies.

In [ 66 ], SHEMS are defined as services that efficiently monitor and manage electricity generation, storage and consumption in smart houses. Nazabal et al. [ 67 ] include a collaborative exchange between smart homes and the utility as a main function of SHEMS. In [ 68 ], SHEMS are defined from the electrical-grid point of view as important tools that provide several benefits such as flattening the load curve, a reduction in peak demand and meeting the demand-side requirements.

3.1 Functions of SHEMS

Adaptive SHEMS are required to conserve power, especially with the increasing evolution in home loads. SHEMS should control both home appliances and available energy resources according to the real-time tariff and home user’s requirements [ 4 ]. Home-management schemes should provide an interface platform between home occupants and the home controller to readjust occasionally the load priority [ 5 ].

As shown in Fig. 2 , the majority of smart-home centres can be summarized as having five main functions [ 5 ], as follows:

Functions of SHEMS

(i) Monitoring: provides home residents with visual instantaneous information about the consumed power of different appliances and the status of several home parameters such as temperature, lights, etc. Furthermore, it can guide users to available alternatives for saving energy according to the existing operating modes of different home appliances.

(ii) Logging: collects and saves data pertaining to the amount of electricity consumed by each appliance, generated out of energy-conservation states. This functionality includes analysing the demand response for real-time prices.

(iii) Control: both direct and remote-control schemes can be implemented in smart homes. Different home appliances are controlled directly by SHEMS to match the home users’ desires, whereas other management functions are controlled remotely via cell phones or laptops, such as logging and controlling the power consumption of interruptible devices.

(iv) Management: the main function of SHEMS. It concerns the coordination between installed energy sources such as PV modules, micro wind turbines, energy storage and home appliances to optimize the total system efficiency and/or increase economic benefits.

(v) Alarms: SHEMS should respond to specific threats or faults by generating proper alarms according to fault locations, types, etc.

3.2 Economic analysis

Economic factors affecting home-management systems are classified into two classes. First, sizing costs include expanses of smart-home planning. Second, operating costs consist of bills of consumed energy. These costs depend mainly on the electrical tariff.

3.2.1 Sizing costs

These include capital, maintenance and replacement costs of smart-home infrastructures, such as PV systems, wind turbines, batteries/fuel cells and communication systems. In most previous SHEMS, such planning costs usually are not taken into consideration, as management schemes usually concern the daily operating costs only [ 69 ].

3.2.2 Operating costs

The electricity tariff is the main factor that gives an indication of the value of saving energy, according to the governmental authority; there are many types of tariffs, as follows [ 70–74 ]:

(i) Flat tariffs: the cost of consumed energy is constant regardless of the continuous change in the load. Load-rescheduling schemes do not affect the electricity bills in this scheme. Therefore, homeowners are not encouraged to rearrange their consumed energy, as they have no any economic benefits from managing the consumption of their appliances.

(ii) Block-rate tariffs: in this scheme, the monthly consumed energy price is classified into different categories. Each category has its own flat-rate price. Therefore, the main target of SHEMS is minimizing the total monthly consumed energy to avoid the risk of high-priced categories.

(iii) Seasonal tariffs: in this scheme, the total grid-demand load is changed significantly from one season to another. Therefore, the utility grid applies a high flat-rate tariff in high-demand seasons and vice versa. SHEMS should minimize the total consumption in such high-priced seasons and get the benefit of consumption in low-priced seasons.

(iv) Time-of-use (TOU) tariff: there are two or three predefined categories of tariffs daily in this scheme. First, a high-priced-hours tariff is applied during high-demand hours, which is known as a peak-hours tariff. Second, an off-peak-hours tariff is applied during low-demand hours with low prices for energy consumption. Sometimes, three levels of pricing are defined by the utility grid during the day, i.e. off-, middle- and high-peak costs, as discussed in [ 75 ]. SHEMS shift interruptible loads with low priority to off-peak hours to minimize the bill.

(v) Super peak TOU: this can be considered as a special case of the previously described TOU tariff but with a short peak-hours period of ~4 hours daily.

(vi) Critical peak pricing (CPP): the utility grid uses this tariff scheme during expected critical events of increasing the gap between generation and power demand. The price is increased exceptionally during these critical events by a constant predefined rate.

(vii) Variable peak pricing: this is a subcategory of the CPP tariff in which the exceptional increase in the tariff is variable. The utility grid informs consumers of the exceptional dynamic price increase according to its initial expectations.

(viii) Real-time pricing (RTP): the price is changing continuously during pre-identified intervals that range from several minutes to an hour. This tariff is the riskiest pricing scheme for homeowners. The electricity bill can increase significantly without a proper management system. SHEMS should communicate with grid utility and reschedule both home appliances, sources and energy storage continuously to minimize the total bill.

(viii) Peak-time rebates (PTRs): a proper price discount is considered for low-consumption loads during peak hours, which can be refunded later by the grid.

Depending on the electricity tariff, SHEMS complexity varies dramatically. In the case of using a flat-rate tariff, the algorithm becomes simpler, as one value is recorded for selling or buying the electricity. Tariffs may be published from the proper authority or predicted according to historical data. Prediction of the dynamic tariff is a main step in any SHEMS. Many time frames of tariff prediction are proposed that vary from hourly, daily or even a yearly prediction. Many optimization techniques with various objective functions are proposed to handle different features of both smart-home infrastructures and electricity tariffs, as will be discussed in the following section.

3.3 Pre-proposed SHEMS

Different SHEMS may be classified according to four features: operational planning of load-scheduling techniques, system objective functions, optimization techniques and smart-home model characteristics, as will be discussed in the following subsections.

3.3.1 Load-scheduling techniques

SHEMS concern the generation/load power balance to provide a comfortable lifestyle with the minimum possible costs. Scheduling loads according to their priority and the periods of renewable energy (solar, wind and EV state) can help in reducing the overall energy consumption daily. According to data collected by the management system, an initial load schedule is suggested daily to minimize the daily cost of consumed energy [ 76 ].

By using a proper optimal scheduling algorithm, electricity bills can be reduced by shifting loads from high-priced to low-priced intervals [ 77 , 78 ]. Many techniques have been proposed for home load scheduling, as will be discussed in the following subsections:

(i) Rule-based scheduling: in this algorithm, all home appliances and resources are connected to smart data-collector taps. By processing the collected data, different appliances are scheduled according to their priorities and based on the if/then rule. Also, some high-priority loads are supplied by home renewable sources/storage to maintain their function during predicted peak hours [ 79 , 80 ].

(ii) Artificial intelligence (AI): many AI controllers have been proposed for home load scheduling, such as artificial neural networks (ANNs), fuzzy logic (FL) and adaptive neural fuzzy inference systems (ANFISs). Table 2 compares between the three types of scheduling scheme based on AI.

Optimization techniques for load scheduling

3.3.2 Objective functions

(i) Single-objective techniques: in these schemes, only one criterion is minimized or maximized according to the home-user requirements. Several minimization objective functions were proposed, as follows:

lifetime degradation [ 47–49 ];

life-cycle costs [ 93 ];

gas emissions [ 94–96 ];

both active and reactive losses [ 97 , 98 ].

On the other hand, some research defined other single maximizing objective functions, such as:

net present value [ 96 ].

economic profits [ 97 , 98 ].

increased system reliability: according to many well-known reliability indices, such as loss of power supply probability, loss of load probability and others [ 99 , 100 ].

generated power [ 101 , 102 ].

loadability [ 103 ];

Multi-objective techniques: homeowners may have several criteria to be optimized together. Multi-objective optimization (MOO) problems consider many functions simultaneously. MOO finds a proper coordination that moderately satisfies the considered objectives. In [ 102 ], SHEMS with MOO techniques are summarized. Table 3 lists some examples of such multi-objective functions.

Multi-objective functions of SHEMS

3.3.3 Optimization techniques

Optimization techniques aim usually to identify the best coordination taking into consideration predefined constraints. Many approaches are available for addressing optimization problems. These approaches can be classified into two categories: classical and AI-based techniques. Table 4 lists various SHEMS optimization techniques and their main features.

Optimization techniques in SHEMS

Classical methods, especially linear programming types, have been usually applied in the last decade for smart homes with limited objective functions and simple model characteristics of tariff and home appliances. Recently, AI-based techniques have been proposed to cover more complicated models of smart homes with multi-objective functions with high levels of comfortable lifestyles.

3.3.4 Home-model characteristics

The smart-home model differs significantly according to three factors: installed variable energy sources, applied tariff and EV deployment. PV systems have been applied for nearly all studied smart homes due to their low price, simplicity of installation, low maintenance requirements and easily predicted daily power profile. On the other hand, a few pieces of research have considered micro wind turbines in their home models, such as [ 120 ]. Wind turbines are limited by high-wind-speed zones that are usually located in rural areas. In addition, homeowners usually do not prefer wind turbines due to their high prices, mechanical maintenance requirements and the unpredictable variation in wind power.

Dynamic tariffs are applied in most smart-home research. Specifically, the TOU tariff is analysed in a lot of studies, such as [ 121 , 122 ], whereas little research uses RTP, such as [ 123 , 124 ]. EV is studied as an energy source in the parking period or vehicle-to-grid (V2G) mode. In [ 75 , 125 ], EV in V2G mode reduces the electricity bill in peak hours, whereas, in [ 126–130 ], ESSs are managed only to reduce the electricity usage from the grid.

Many technical challenges arise for modern grids due to the increasing mutual exchange between smart homes and utility grids, especially power-quality control. Electric-power-quality studies usually confirm the acceptable behaviour of electrical sources such as voltage limits and harmonics analysis. Recently, smart power grids have diverse generation sources from different technologies that depend mainly on power electronics devices that increase the difficulty in power-quality control. Power-quality constraints should be taken into consideration for any energy-management systems to provide harmony between modern sources and loads.

On the other hand, power-quality issues should not form an additional obstacle against the integration of new technologies in modern grids. Therefore, both advanced communication schemes and AI-based techniques make modern grids ‘smart’ enough to cope with selective power-quality management. Smart homes exchange power with utility grids. With the prospective increase in such smart homes, the effect of their behaviour should be studied and controlled. Smart homes affect the grid-power quality in three different areas, as will be discussed in the following paragraphs [ 154–156 ].

4.1 Generating equipment

Integrated micro generation schemes in smart homes are mainly single-phase sources based on inverters with high switching frequencies that reach to many kHz. Low-order harmonics of such a generation type can usually be disregarded. However, with the expected continuous increase in such micro generators, the harmonics of low-voltage networks may shift into a range of higher frequencies, perhaps from 2 to 9 kHz [ 157 ]. Therefore, more research is needed to re-evaluate the appropriate limits for generation equipment in smart homes. Moreover, single-phase generation increases the risk of an unbalanced voltage in low-voltage grids. Therefore, negative-sequence voltage limits should be re-evaluated particularly for weak distribution networks. Also, a need for zero-sequence voltage limits may arise [ 154 ].

4.2 Home appliances

Modern home appliances depend mainly on electronic devices, such as newer LED lighting systems, EV battery chargers, etc., with relatively low fundamental current and high harmonic contents compared to traditional ones. According to many power-system analysers, many harmonics will increase significantly to risky levels, particularly fifth-harmonic voltage, with increase in such new electronic appliances [ 155 ].

4.3 Distribution network

In future grids, significant unusual operating scenarios may be possible with high penetration of domestic generation, especially with the possibility of an islanded (self-balanced) operation of smart homes. Short-circuit power will differ significantly during different operating conditions compared to classical grids. Moreover, low-voltage networks may suffer from damping-stability problems due to the continuous decrease in resistive loads, in conjunction with the increase in capacitive loads of electronic equipment. In addition, resonance problems may occur with low frequencies according to the continuous change in the nature of the load [ 156 ].

Although smart homes have bad impacts on utility grids, there are no charges applied from the grid authority to homeowners based on their buildings’ effects on grid-power quality. Therefore, home planners and SHEMS designers are usually concerned only with the economic benefits of their proposed schemes.

Smart homes, using new revolutions in communication systems and AI, provide residential houses with electrical power of a dual nature, i.e. as producer and consumer or ‘prosumer’. The energy-management system includes many components that mainly depend on a suitable communication scheme to coordinate between available sources, loads and users’ desire. Among many proposed communication systems, the IoT has many advantages and was chosen in many studies. Besides the popularity of the IoT, it does not need any special equipment installation and is compatible with many other communications protocols.

Many functions are applied by management systems such as monitoring and logging to facilitate a proper interaction between home occupants and the management scheme. Home security also should be confirmed via the management scheme by using different alarms corresponding to preset threats. Home users control different home appliances according their desires by SHEMS and via cell phones or manually.

The electricity tariff plays an important role in defining management-system characteristics. Tariffs vary from simple fixed flat rates to complicated variable dynamic ones according to the electrical-grid authority’s rules for residential loads. According to the tariff and selected objective functions, pre-proposed optimization techniques vary significantly from simple classical linear programming to sophisticated AI ones.

Modern electronic-based home appliances increase power-grid-quality problems, such as high harmonic contents, unbalanced loading and unpredictable short-circuit currents. On the other hand, power-grid authorities do not charge homeowners according to their buildings’ effects on the power quality. Therefore, all proposed energy-management systems are concerned mainly with the economic profits from reducing electricity consumption or even selling electrical power to the utility grids. In the future, price-based power-quality constraints should be defined by the grid authorities to confirm proper power exchange between both smart homes and grids. A possible future direction is behaviour modelling of aggregated smart homes/smart cities in different operating scenarios to conclude probable power-grid scenarios for stability and quality.

This work was supported by the project entitled ‘Smart Homes Energy Management Strategies’, Project ID: 4915, JESOR-2015-Cycle 4, which is sponsored by the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT), Cairo, Egypt.

None declared.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of a Smart Home

By benny kounlavouth ,.

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More and more families across the world are adopting smart home technology into their homes and daily routines. 

In my opinion, a smart home has many advantages and few disadvantages. But, every family is different. 

Pros & Cons of Smart Home Technology

Smart devices add a lot of value to my daily routine and really help me be more efficient. For that reason, I do believe smart home technology is worth it. 

But technology moves fast, and keeping up with the latest and greatest can be a struggle. Plus, the initial costs and internet reliance makes smart homes unfeasible for some.

There’s no perfect answer — it’s up to you to weigh the pros and cons and decide what’ll work best for your family.

Advantages of a Smart Home

Remote control.

Most smart home devices connect to the internet, either directly or through a hub. This means you can access those devices from anywhere you have an internet connection.

Here are some examples of how remote control can make your life easier:

• You just got to work but forgot to turn off a few lights around the house. Turn them off with your smart bulb or switch app .
• Someone is at your door, but you aren’t home. See and speak to the visitor through your smart doorbell’s app .
• You normally lower the heat when you go to work, but you forgot today. Smart thermostats allow you to control the temperature from anywhere .

We could probably fill a book of examples, but these three cases give you an idea of the possibilities.

Energy Saving & Monitoring

From energy monitoring to lowering the temperature of your home while you’re away, smart home devices help you keep track of how much energy you’re actually using. 

Smart plugs can give you energy consumption reports , and some even have controls that automatically turn a socket off when a device has consumed a certain amount of energy.

Smart thermostats can learn your schedule and heating and cooling preferences , then automatically adjust to keep your home running as efficiently as possible. 

Customization

Smart homes can be as complex or simple as you choose. There really is no “one-size-fits-all” solution. Whether you want to take advantage of one device or twenty is completely up to you .

Home automation is adaptable depending on: 

• Whether you rent or own your home
• How much of your home you want to automate
• How much y ou want to spend

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of devices. You can automate almost every aspect of your home, or just a couple of rooms . 

Pick one, pick two, pick them all! You have options in each category and they’re all useful in their own way.

Convenience

Smart home technology allows your home to run more efficiently and work better for you. It is up to you to find the devices that will improve your life and add value to your home.

You can always be home to greet your visitors with a smart video doorbell. You can have your door automatically unlock when you arrive home from work. You can even use your voice to turn on lights or start a pot of coffee.

There is an added level of safety that comes with smart devices. Door, window, and motion sensors alert you when movement is detected in your home , and depending on what you have connected, could even send a livestream to your phone. 

There are even smart smoke detectors and CO2 sensors . These work similarly to their “dumb” counterparts, but with the bonus of sending a notification to your phone when smoke or CO2 is detected in your home.

Google Nest’s smart smoke detector will even tell you exactly where the problem is through built-in speakers.

(Alarm Sound) “Emergency. There’s carbon monoxide in the (room name). Move to fresh air.”

-Google Nest Protect warning message

Video doorbells and smart security cameras also add a layer of protection. They allow you to see anyone in or around your home from anywhere and can record whenever they sense motion .

Voice Commands & Routines

Another benefit of smart home technology is hands-free control and setting routines. A routine is an action that sets off other actions within your connected home.

You can set up routines to trigger: 

• When you say a certain phrase
• At a certain time of the day
• On designated days  

These routines can include anything from turning smart devices on and off to getting news briefs or weather reports.

For example, my morning routine is triggered by the phrase “ Alexa, good morning .” That command turns on my lights, tells me the weather, goes through the news brief, and starts a pot of coffee.

Check out this video of a completely hands-free home, controlled by voice commands and Alexa Routines.

Accessibility

There are many smart devices you can control using just your voice, making smart home technology a wonderful tool for the differently-abled. 

Here are just a few of the ways smart tech can make life at home more accessible :

• Smart switches and bulbs let you turn lights on or off without flipping a switch.
• Smart video doorbells let you see and talk to anyone at the door from your phone.
• Smart assistants can help you make phone calls or send text messages when you aren’t near the phone. 

Whether you have limited mobility or want to make life easier for an older relative, smart home technology can make doing things around the house much simpler.

It Can Increase Your Home’s Value

Smart technology and devices can also increase your home’s value . If you plan to sell anytime soon, those permanent smart fixtures will attract more buyers and may even shorten the time it takes to sell your home.

In addition, many insurance companies are willing to offer policy discounts for homes with certain smart devices. Some of the smart devices that may quality include:

• Smart security systems
• Smart security cameras
• Smart water sensors

Disadvantages of a Smart Home

Perhaps the biggest disadvantage of smart technology is the price. While the initial costs of individual products usually aren’t too bad, continually adding more products can get expensive fast . 

Installing smart cameras, sensors, and lights is pretty simple, and you can usually do it on your own. But when you get into big-ticket items like smart thermostats and kitchen appliances, which may require professional installation, the costs begin to add up. 

Before you add any smart device to your home, big or small, weigh the cost-saving benefits vs. your total investment to ensure you’re making the right decision.

Compatibility Issues

If you want a fully-automated home, you’ll need to make sure each device you purchase is compatible with what you already own.

Let’s say you prefer Google Assistant over Amazon Alexa. Both devices work similarly, so you don’t see any issue choosing one over the other. 

But then you decide to add a Ring Video Doorbell to your smart home. Great device, only one problem — it’s not compatible with Google Home . 

While there’s nothing wrong with using incompatible devices across your smart home, it complicates the process . If you’re choosing a smart home because of convenience, you’ll need to do your research and find the right products . 

Smart home technology is a bit of a double-edged sword when it comes to security. While it does make our homes more secure in many ways, it can also make it less secure in others.  

It goes without saying that connecting anything to Wi-Fi comes with some sort of security risk, and while it’s usually low, there’s always the potential for your tech to get hacked .

Is Alexa recording what you say ? Can someone hack your Ring account and watch you in your home ? As long as you take the right steps to secure your accounts and use a strong password , you probably have nothing to worry about. 

But, the risk alone is enough to turn some people off of smart technology.  

Companies Can Fail

The worst thing that can happen with your smart device is that the company that makes it goes out of business. While it’s rare, it does happen from time to time . If they take their servers down, your product basically becomes unusable. 

Technology moves fast, and some companies just aren’t built for the competition. Try to go with reputable, tried-and-true brands whenever you can to minimize the risk.

Adapting Smart Tech into Your Daily Routine

Adapting to anything new takes a little time. 

If you’re a tech-savvy person, you should catch on pretty quickly. But it might not be the best idea to introduce your grandmother, who still uses a rotary phone, to the Echo Dot , Ring, Philips Hue smart bulbs , and an ecobee thermostat all at the same time. 

It takes a little time to adjust, but it does get easier for users to control their smart homes with time and practice. Once you form that habit, it’s hard to imagine life without smart technology !

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What Is a Smart Home?

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Smart Home: Definition, How They Work, Pros and Cons

Adam Hayes, Ph.D., CFA, is a financial writer with 15+ years Wall Street experience as a derivatives trader. Besides his extensive derivative trading expertise, Adam is an expert in economics and behavioral finance. Adam received his master's in economics from The New School for Social Research and his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in sociology. He is a CFA charterholder as well as holding FINRA Series 7, 55 & 63 licenses. He currently researches and teaches economic sociology and the social studies of finance at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

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A smart home refers to a convenient home setup where appliances and devices can be controlled automatically or remotely with an internet connection and using a mobile or other networked device.

Devices in a smart home are interconnected through the internet, allowing the user to control functions such as security, access to the home, temperature, lighting, and a home theater.

Key Takeaways

• A smart home allows homeowners to control appliances, thermostats, lights, and other devices remotely through an internet connection using a smartphone or tablet.
• Smart homes can be set up with wireless or hardwired systems.
• Smart home technology provides homeowners with convenience and cost savings.
• Security risks and bugs continue to plague makers and users of smart home technology.
• Though full-scale home automation may cost thousands of dollars, smaller individual products can cost less than $100.

How Smart Homes Work

A smart home’s devices are connected with each other and can be accessed through one central point—a smartphone , tablet, laptop, or game console. Door locks, televisions, thermostats, home monitors, cameras, lights, and appliances such as the refrigerator can be controlled through one home automation system.

The system is installed on a mobile or other networked device, and the user can schedule the performance of tasks and devices.

Smart home appliances come with self-learning skills. They can learn the homeowner’s schedules and make adjustments as needed. Smart homes enabled with lighting control allow homeowners to reduce electricity use and benefit from energy-related cost savings.

Some home automation systems alert the homeowner if any motion is detected in the home when they're away. Others can call the authorities—the police or the fire department—if dangerous situations arise.

Once connected, services such as a smart doorbell, smart security system, and smart appliances become part of the internet of things (IoT) technology, a network of physical objects that can gather and share electronic information.

Security and efficiency are the main reasons for the increase in smart home technology use.

Smart homes can feature either wireless or hardwired systems—or both. Wireless systems are easier to install. Putting in a wireless home automation system with features such as smart lighting, climate control, and security can be limited in cost to several thousand dollars, making it relatively cost-friendly.

The downside to wireless systems is you likely need strong Wi-Fi coverage and broadband service throughout your entire house. This may require you to invest in range extenders or hardwired wireless access points. Wireless smart home systems are generally more appropriate for smaller existing homes or rental properties.

Hardwired systems, on the other hand, are considered more reliable. They are typically more difficult to hack. A hardwired system can increase the resale value of a home. In addition, hardwired smart home systems can be scaled easily. Therefore, it is often the default method when designing a new build or performing a major renovation.

There is a drawback—it's fairly expensive. Installing a luxury and hardwired smart system can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars. In addition, you must have space for network hardware equipment including Ethernet cables.

Components of a Smart Home

Smart home products now allow for greater control over heating devices, including turning products on and off, and controlling settings. Smart products may be armed with temperature or humidity sensors to automatically turn on or off if certain criteria are met. This line of smart home innovations also extends to air conditioners.

Often with the use of a mobile phone, tablet, or custom remote specific to a product, lighting products now offer homeowners enhanced capabilities and convenience. Lights can be switched on and off, placed on a schedule, or set to change based on sunrise or sunset times. Like some more traditional products, lights can often be set to change based on motion. Smart bulbs can communicate over Wi-Fi and display statistics or metrics on your phone.

This lighting category may also contain smart home products that control the degree of light. Automatic blinds may be installed and set to close based on sunrise schedules. Alternatively, electronic curtains allow users to manage their blinds using a handheld device.

Audio/Visual

One of the more appealing aspects of smart homes is the many entertainment products that can be connected to each other and controlled with a single remote. Television and speakers can be played on command using applications. They can be operated according to a schedule or by voice-control.

One of the most important aspects of a smart home is the enhanced security capabilities it offers. Products with cameras track motion, capture video, or allow for live video feeds. These may be installed to sync with a ringing doorbell or set to capture certain areas of your property. Products can facilitate audio as well as video calls with individuals at your door.

Many smart homes are also refit with advanced security kits. These kits includes motion sensor detectors, home monitoring, notifications and alerts concerning suspicious behavior, and the ability to lock doors or windows remotely using a phone.

Smart homes can also include digital assistants or home hubs. People interact with these products using their voice and by issuing commands. They can field questions, organize your calendar, schedule conference calls , or provide alerts.

Smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors not only sound an alarm but can be synced to your phone to alert you should you be away from your property. These devices can often be set up to send emergency notifications to other, specified contacts.

People have been able to program automated irrigation systems for a while. Now, smart irrigation systems can detect climate and environmental conditions and factor them into watering schedules. Smart irrigation systems can also monitor moisture-related conditions and control irrigation to conserve water.

When budgeting for smart home products, remember to consider the costs related to necessary labor/installation work.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Smart Homes

• Smart home technology systems offer homeowners convenience. Rather than controlling appliances, thermostats, lighting, and other features individually themselves or by using different devices, homeowners can control them all using one device—usually a smartphone or tablet.
• Security may be enhanced because users can get notifications and updates on issues in their homes when they're away. For instance, smart doorbells allow homeowners to see and communicate with people who come to their doors when they're not at home.
• Despite the cost of installing a smart system, homeowners can benefit from significant cost savings over time. Appliances and electronics can be used more efficiently, lowering energy costs.

Disadvantages

• Security risks and bugs continue to plague makers and users of smart home technology. Adept hackers, for example, can gain access to a smart home's internet-enabled appliances. For example, in October 2016, a botnet called Mirai infiltrated interconnected devices of DVRs, cameras, and routers to bring down major websites through a denial of service attack , also known as a DDoS attack.
• Risk mitigation involves the added effort of maintaining and periodically changing strong passwords, using encryption when available, and only connecting trusted devices to one's network.
• The costs of installing smart technology can run anywhere from a few thousand dollars for a wireless system to tens of thousands of dollars for a hardwired system.
• Learning to use the home system may involve a steep learning curve.

Smart Homes

Are often more convenient than traditional methods of scheduling, controlling, or accessing products

May enhance security due to notifications or alerts

Offers multiple ways of performing a certain task (e.g., lights can be turned on manually, automatically, remotely)

May result in long-term cost savings due to efficient energy consumption

May pose security risk as products are connected to networks that can be hacked

May require additional work for homeowner related to tracking additional passwords and monitoring product security

Are often more expensive than their less- or non-smart counterparts

May involve a steep learning curve, especially for those not tech-savvy

According to HomeAdvisor, it may cost up to $15,000 to fully automate an average four-bedroom, three-bath home. Fully-connected luxury homes may run into the six figures.

Home Much Does a Smart Home Cost?

As more and more smart home products are brought to market, pressure to lower prices will be put on manufacturers and their competition. On the other hand, innovations are continually expanding what smart home products can do. As a result, prices for the latest technology may remain high.

When contemplating smart home products, consider performing a cost-benefit analysis to determine whether the product price exceeds the benefits it offers you.

In general, you can start by focusing on a specific product or room. This strategy allows individuals to invest in smart technology for minimal capital. Consider the following options priced at less than $100 as of April 2024:

• Google Nest Mini, the home audio and assistant device
• Amazon Smart Plug, a method of automating appliances
• Ring Smart Doorbell, a video-enabled camera for home security
• Wyze Thermostat, a digital, wireless, programmable heating device

What Is In a Smart Home?

Smart homes can have smart speakers, lights, thermostats, doorbells, or home hubs. Smart technology can also extend to kitchen appliances and outdoor or landscaping equipment. New innovations are continually evolving what is in a smart home.

Why Is a Smart Home Important?

A smart home is important because it allows a household to become more energy efficient. In addition, it allows people to save time and perform tasks more easily and efficiently. A smart home also offers a level of convenience that's absent with the manual method of performing tasks (e.g., turning on lights yourself).

Can a Smart Home Be Hacked?

Yes. Because smart home systems often require a live network connection, they can be hacked if the security protocol is inadequate. In addition, individuals must be careful about sharing sensitive login information, such as passwords.

Is a Smart Home Worth It?

It can be. You must do the research to determine whether the potential convenience, added security, and cost savings over time outweigh the cost to install a full home system. Consider using individual smart home products first to learn how well they fit your lifestyle and budget.

Leveraging innovation and technology, smart homes simplify the daily tasks faced by homeowners and add new capabilities that may enhance their security. The smart home will continue to evolve.

Whether you control home products remotely using your phone or schedule the performance of tasks for certain times, smart homes have revolutionized the way people control the products they live with.

Stolojescu-Crisan, Cristina and et al. " An IoT-Based Smart Home Automation System ." Sensors (Basel) , vol. 21, no. 11, June 2021.

Setayeshfar, Omid and et al. " Privacy Invasion via Smart-Home Hub in Personal Area Networks ." Pervasive and Mobile Computing , vol. 85, September 2022.

Antonakakis, Manos and et al. " Understanding the Mirai Botnet ." Proceedings of the 26th USENIX Security Symposium, August 2017, pp. 1093-1110.

HomeAdvisor. " How Much Does a Smart Home Cost? " Scroll down.

Google. " Nest Mini ."

Amazon. " Amazon Smart Plug | Works with Alexa ."

Ring. " Battery Doorbell Pro ."

Wyze. " Wyze Thermostat ."

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You've probably heard the term "smart home" a lot recently. But what exactly is a smart home? What makes it "smart" and why would someone be interested in converting their home?

We're going to walk you through the ins and outs of a smart home so that you know whether the technology is for you.

What Is a Smart Home?

A smart home is any home that uses some form of electronic device to control or automate everyday tasks. These homes often consolidate around a central hub that allows communication between all of the devices located in the house.

These devices can range from temperature sensors, smart thermostats, wall switches, smart plugs, water sensors, door and window sensors, motion sensors, and many other integrated devices. Like your smartphone—which does more than just allow you to make phone calls—a smart home can allow you to automate many of your home tasks.

For example, let's say you wanted to have your thermostat automatically decrease the temperature when you left for work in the morning. A smart home with an integrated thermostat could allow you to do that. Or, if you wanted to unlock your front door for guests, but you were stuck at the office, a well-equipped smart home would allow you to.

Finally, what if you wanted to turn off your Christmas lights at precisely 9 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday? A smart home with the proper setup could also allow you to automate this task. Some smart home devices can even vacuum your house or mow your lawn.

Smart homes save time, increase security, improve comfort, and make life more enjoyable for homeowners.

Related: What is a Smart Home Hub?

How Do Smart Homes Work?

The easiest way to describe how a smart home works is to think of the home like the human body. In most smart homes, there is a brain, which is often an app or a set of apps on a mobile device. This central device is known as a hub.

The hub directs all activity to the smart devices on the network. If the home is like a body, these devices are its limbs. Using the power of the internet and integrated connectivity, these devices get instructions from the hub and then perform certain mechanical behaviors based on those instructions.

The behaviors—called automations—can range from sending a text to a family member to turning on all of the lights in the house and engaging a security alarm.

Many people have built smart homes that perform complex tasks, and companies like Apple and SmartThings have included programming tools in their software to make creating these automations easier.

Related: The Best Smart Doorbells for Your Home

Smart Home Communication Protocols

To communicate with devices, smart home hubs need some sort of communication language that both the device and the hub understand. Because many smart home products exist on the market, several manufacturers have standardized these communication protocols. Rather than using several hundred protocols that don't work together, the smart home industry has narrowed it down to just a few: Zigbee, Z-Wave, Thread, KNX, Control4, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

The most prominent protocols currently in use are Zigbee and Z-Wave. However, many manufacturers have begun to move more toward Thread as it offers some unique benefits over the other, more popular, protocols. Additionally, some Bluetooth devices don't need internet connectivity to function, which appeals to some people.

Related: What's the Difference Between Zigbee and Z-Wave?

Smart Home Benefits

What are some of the most significant benefits of a smart home? The most considerable benefit is convenience. Smart homes allow you to do things like control HVAC in your home from anywhere in the world (including your couch), turn lighting on or off, control external sprinkler systems, and even view guests arriving at your front door.

Most of these tasks can be completed using a mobile device or the smart home hub. You can even set up certain tasks to happen at specific times or on particular days. Setting a smart thermostat optimally or setting an irrigation system to stay off when it's raining are ways that smart homes can also save money.

Smart homes can also eliminate some of the hassles of access that plague some homeowners. If you have a dog-walker or a landscaping service, you can give those people access to your home even if you are away at work or on vacation.

Customization is also a significant benefit of smart homes. Because there are so many products available, you can tailor your home to your personal preference. Every smart home is as unique as its owner, and the possibilities are only as limited as your imagination.

Lastly, smart homes offer upgraded security benefits over a typical home. In-home cameras and doorbell cameras can make thieves think twice about trying to break in. Motion sensors and door/window sensors can also keep rambunctious teenagers from leaving the house without you knowing about it.

Smart Home Downsides

There are only a few minor issues that can come up with a smart home, and they all have to do with connectivity.

When a device malfunctions or loses its connection, it can create havoc. Because networks fail frequently, you may want to consider what alternative methods of control you have if a smart item stops working. Fortunately, these connectivity issues are usually only temporary.

Related: How to Reconnect a Smart Light Switch That Has Lost Connection

Getting Started With Your Smart Home

There are some great products available if you are interested in setting up a smart home. Though, it's best to plan out your installation before you go buying random tech. For many people, a smart home starter kit is an excellent place to begin the journey. These kits offer many standard devices, such as motion sensors and smart plugs, that you can experiment with before diving in deep.

You might also want to check out some of the most common products, such as smart bulbs or thermostats. Also, there are many uses for inexpensive smart plugs to get your creativity started. It's recommended that you brainstorm some ideas about how you might use these items before buying, though, just to make sure you're not wasting your money.

A Smarter Home Starts Here

Building your own smart home doesn't have to be complicated or expensive. Adding a few products at first and doing some experimentation can open the door to a home that offers much higher levels of convenience and comfort. By building a smart home, you're upgrading your security, customization, flexibility, and satisfaction.

You also don't need to buy a lot of products to consider your home smart. One or two is enough. Just know, if you really want to customize your space to its fullest potential, then the option is also available.

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Smart House System Technology Explained

Introduction, energy management, security system, lighting system, smart appliances, entertainment, emergency management.

Smart House is a term used to describe a house that has Computer Controlled Automation System that controls various functions in a house such as appliances and lighting. This system employs smart technology allowing for networking of appliances hence enabling access and operation of the appliances from any part of the network. The system can be used in monitoring, warning and carrying out various functions according to selected criteria. The smart technology enables automatic communication via the mobiles phones, the internet and the fixed telephones.

Smart technology makes use of different electronics components, performing different functions. These components are divided into the following general groups:

• Sensors: for monitoring and submitting any changes, examples are humidity sensor, smoke detectors, movement and heat sensors, thermometers etc.
• Actuators: These components perform physical actions; examples are automatic light switches, relays and door and window openers.
• Controllers: these components make choice based on occurrences and programmed rules.
• Central units: Used in programming and making changes to a system, a good example is a computer.
• Interface: These are components which help user to communicate with the system.

The most important aspects to be taken care of for a house to be considered smart are:

• Energy management
• Emergency management
• Smart appliances.

Smart houses are considered very efficient in energy management.Electronics devices are installed in the house to monitor the usage of the energy and the number of people in the house at a particular time for energy regulation. When there is no one in the house, the temperatures settings are lowered automatically and all the appliances and lights that are not in use are turned off. The energy management system also controls heating system, fans and air conditioners in a way that will save energy. The smart house energy system also automatically turns off energy from an outlet that is not being used.

Smart house energy management system helps in saving energy cost by up to 65% compared to a house where energy usage is controlled manually.

A smart house is far much secure as it is easy to protect making it hard to break in than the current house. Alarm systems, similar in application to car alarm are installed in a smart house. The security system put the house in security mode, automatically shutting all windows and doors.

The smart house security system is programmed for a single day use or for a long time when the owner of the house is in a long trip or vacation. In this case, the security system is set to open the curtains and turn on and off the lights, making it look like there is a person in the house.

As part of the security system, surveillance cameras are installed and hidden around the house. These camera are monitored over the internet and the house owner can check at all aspects of the house include burglars and other unusual happening around and inside the house.

Smart house employs lighting system that makes the house safe and easier to live in by use of programmable lights or remotely accessed lighting system. With programmable lighting system, the house owner programs the lights to come on of off at a specific time and even dim depending with the mood. A central computer is used to turn specific lights at a specific time during the night. This helps in deterring criminals, hence improving security. With remote access, lights can be controlled remotely from any where inside or outside the house using mobile phones or PDAs.

For a house to be considered smart, smart appliances are installed to make use of the smart technology. The appliances are networked in the system to perform specific task at a given time.

Examples of smart appliances include remote controlled coffee maker which brews coffee just before the house owner wakes up. The coffee maker is linked to an alarm to wake up the house owner when the coffee is ready. A smart refrigerator automatically adjusts the temperatures inside based on the temperature of food inside. These smart appliances are connected to a computer which automatically turns the appliances on and off.

Smart appliances make the life of people calmer and better structured as the technology make planning of the day easier. This tranquility help people to concentrate on a specific task as other tasks are being carried on without a lot of monitoring and intervention.

Smart entertainment systems are designed to controls the way home entertainment system including the TV and Home theatre system functions. Smart TV user have the ability to change channels by either speaking or accessing the TV via the internet, instructing it on what to record and at what time. Ultra Thin rear projections TVs have been developed using Digital Light Technology (DLP), they have massive screen sizes, and they are slim and light enough to hang on the wall.

Smart internet enabled home theatres system stream music from multiple computers on the internet and store in an internal hard drives. This home theatre can be accessed remotely over the internet to control almost all aspects of the system.

A smart house emergency system is designed in a way that it will inform house occupant where there is an emergency and at the same time contact the relevant authority on the emergency for a quick response. If there is fire for example, the fire detector sends a signal to the central computer which triggers the alarm and at the same time make a call to the fire department.

Another example is when there is a gas leakage in the house; the emergency control system will shut down the main gas supply and turn off all electrical appliances to prevent any fire out break. The system will then turn on the alarm and send a signal to the house owner informing them on the gas leak though the mobile phone or through the internet to a personal computer.

Smart houses are the choice for most people as they improve the lives of people in a great way making it easier to live because of the convenience and safety they offer. With automatic smart appliances, people are able to plan their time and concentrate on important tasks in their lives.

Chris D. Nugent (2006) Smart Home and Beyond, IOS Publishers, United States.

David Heckman (2008) A Small World: Smart Houses and the Dream of the Perfect Day, Duke University Press, United Kingdom.

Richard Harper (2003) Inside the Smart Home, Springer Publishers, New York.

Smart House: Your wish is Their command, Web.

Smart House: The so called Sci-Fi Life, Web.

Smart House Designs, Web.

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Smart Home Devices

Introduction.

Smart home devices have transformed home life. It has become essential to examine them from an ethical perspective, leading to the promotion of independent living with support from devices such as Amazon Echo reshaping the current life. In line with using the devices to maintain and improve functional capabilities, they have become tools whereby personal data can be used. Challenges within the smart home device use have been the ethical design and development. Understandable is the usage of devices that present various problems in promoting autonomy, privacy, and data security. Ethical concerns about smart home devices, such as the infringement of personal data, hacking, and irresponsible data sharing, require an in-depth evaluation. Hence, this paper examines that though these devices can create convenience for homeowners, knowing the risk challenges and many ethical concerns can help us address and mitigate these challenges in the future.

Background information about smart home devices and ethical issues

Smart home devices have taken a central position in contemporary society. With their adoption taking root more than a decade ago, the devices are geared toward improving home living. The devices rely on a network society for a better quality of life. Hassan et al. (2020) recognize that tools used in computer systems are integrated into smart home systems and play an essential part in improving daily life. Advancements within the field of smart home devices are not an isolated case. Firstly, the developments that occur are within the purview of the society that has been shaped by various trends (Stip & Rialle, 2005). Acknowledgment of the added value of the devices entails an intelligent setting shaped by the internet, Wi-Fi, smartphones, smart audio, visual devices, and interconnected computer systems (Stip & Rialle, 2005). On the other hand, smart devices such as smart speakers, home control, and thermal stat systems are deemed complex systems influencing daily life.

Reliance on smart home devices translates into an integrated home that can realize the interactive process between the user and technology. Obtaining information and establishing the parameter for an easy life translate into activities such as interconnected computers, television, and smartphones that can ease communication (Gerber et al., 2018). Further, smart home devices enhance comfort, safety, and interactivity by optimizing various activities. The facets of concern include ease at controlling the thermostat to one’s specification to orders from Amazon and control of information services at home (Hassan et al., 2020). Establishing a real-time platform whereby the devices improve the purchase and cross-interaction has a paradigm shift in operations.

Further, home appliance interactive control is also a feature of smart home devices that translates into ease of operations (Chan et al., 2009). Hosting services and automatic rational management of home appliances are evident through the internet. Further, home electricity management is also at ease which is positively influential.

Nonetheless, problems arise in the ethical setting, especially in data management. Critics such as Umbrello (2020) assert that privacy is a primary moral concern. The interactive process of devices highlights significant data collection. For example, Amazon Echo regularly collects personal data when sales are made, and questions arise on how the data is used by the organizations (Umbrello, 2020). Raised concerns on the interactive process of data from the smartphone to television in making outside interaction is equally a concern. The execution of normative ethics highlights that privacy shapes the tenets of evaluation. Emphasis on monitoring personal data comprises respect in its assessment (Wolf et al., 2019). Proper practices in data collection and access to the third party are equally essential to examine, which can lead to an assessment of the interests of multiple parties. Autonomy is an essential dimension in reviewing the drastic adoption of smart home devices. Awareness of the shared data highlights that the customers need help determining what is undertaken to safeguard their data. Examination of the ethical setting denotes establishing the standards for informed consent in the specificity of using smart home devices (Sánchez et al., 2017). Thus, the in-depth assessment of the parameters of smart home devices and ethics should align with examining the existent challenges. Acceptance that these devices can create convenience for homeowners and knowing the risk challenges and many ethical concerns can help us address and mitigate these challenges in the future.

Ethical issues in smart home devices

Acm code of ethics applies to smart home devices..

Computing devices and actions have led to considerable changes in the world. Thus, acting responsibly should reflect on the work’s and products’ broader impacts while promoting the public good. Sánchez et al. (2017) emphasize that the ACM code of ethics encourages the profession’s conscience and device used as the way forward. The code is construed towards designing, inspiring, and guiding the ethical code of conduct, especially for all computing professionals. Inclusive of current and aspiring professionals, the need to affirm principles of behavior can lead to positive outcomes (Sánchez et al., 2017).

An essential principle of ACM relatable to smart home devices is the need to contribute to societal well-being and acknowledge that people have vested interests in computing. People are critical to upholding the values and expectations of an effective decision-making platform (Nelson & Allen, 2018). The concerns of quality of life of all individuals should be within the use of computer products. The technology should also be adopted from an individual and collective setting to benefit society, workers, and the surrounding environment. People’s obligation is based on the promotion of fundamental human rights and conformity to the values of autonomy (Maalsen, 2020). Computing professionals aim to reduce negatable consequences of computing, such as safety, security, and privacy (Birchley et al., 2017). With multiple stakeholders’ interests, the users’ attention and priority should be geared toward autonomy, upholding human rights, and conformity to value-centric operations.

Therefore, it is fundamental to consider that computing tools should respect diversity while ensuring socially responsible initiatives. Meeting the citizen’s needs and being socially accessible is an influential parameters of technology use (Ehrenberg & Keinonen, 2021). Consequently, the basis for technological implementation is upholding the principles of a social environment that promotes human well-being.

On the other hand, respect should be geared toward the devices that can be the foundation for producing new ideas and promoting ease in the execution of multiple works (Erica, 2022). In technology use, it is crucial to respect copyrights and patents while ensuring that the protection of results prevails (Purkayastha, 2022). From custom and copyrights, the ACM code emphasizes that public and private computing goods should be within the paradigm of accessibility. Technology should be eared at helping society (Maalsen, 2020). From computer professionals to the computing process, it is essential to promote the principles of the ethical use and improvement of life. Equally central to the use of technology, the following values should be upheld.

Respect privacy

The ACM code is set on establishing responsible computing professionals who respect privacy. Arguably, technology is a tool that rapidly collects, monitors, and exchanges personal information. Privacy is vital with smart home devices showing extensive knowledge exchange (Sánchez et al., 2017). Therefore, the focus on conversing in the various definitions and forms of privacy can be the basis for understanding the rights and responsibilities. The collection and usage of personal information is a specific technology feature whose value can be examined extensively (Birchley et al., 2017). Technology should be used effectively to ascertain legitimate ends without violating the rights of individuals and groups. Consequently, precautions should be taken to prevent the re-identification of the anonymized data or unauthorized data collection.

Promoting the accuracy of data, ensuring understanding of the provenance of the data while promoting unauthorized access or accidental disclosure. Promoting transparent policies and steps that allow for comprehension of which data is being collected or used should be within the parameters of giving informed consent. Data collection should promote personal data’s value (Sánchez et al., 2017). For smart home devices, the amount of important personal information is usually collected in a system. Thus, it is vital for the retention and disposal periods of the information should be clearly stated, enforced, and communicated to the existent data subjects (Sánchez et al., 2017). Personal information from the devices should not be used for other purposes without one’s consent. Taking special care of privacy using devices should emerge when data collection.

Adequate privacy protection minimizes the level at which identifiable personal data is shared. Smart home devices, from television to smart speakers, phones, and computing systems at home, must maintain a balance against the need for data from users (Sánchez et al., 2017). Data usage should require particular attention to unauthorized access to in-home store data. Examining the viability of the security measures implemented to safeguard personal data should be the basis for decision-making.

Promotion of confidentiality in the use of data

Despite the ACM code focusing on computing professionals called upon to promote a confidential management process, ripple effects must prevail in the technology use. The developers of smart home devices should focus on privileged information, such as client data and financial information, to be protected confidentially (Grant, 2022). The code’s ethics requires assessing the nature of contents and the implications for disclosure. Thoughtful consideration of personal data should be consistent with managing sensitive information (Maalsen, 2020). Efforts should be geared at safeguarding high-quality and sensitive information effectively. Smart home devices, through their developers, should be geared toward promoting the dignity of customer data (Umbrello, 2020). Deviating from the ethically unacceptable ways of sharing data should shape access to smart home devices. Opportunities for inclusivity in assessing the devices should be aligned with confidentiality.

Ethical Analysis Framework

Beauchamp and childress’ principles model in analyzing smart home devices.

The principle of ethical autonomy plays an integral role in understanding the use of smart home devices. Accordingly, it is essential to respect the data of individuals the home devices collect. Application to the technology is within the purview of valuing people’s data and should not be viewed merely as good. Companies should deviate from the view of personal data as a way to earn money and share it with others (Maalsen, 2020). Focus on the ethical justification for the use of smart home devices should be based on acceptance of individual consent in the data use. The intersection between confidentiality protection and respect for autonomy should be the purview of decision-making (Purkayastha, 2022). Explicit personal consent in accessing data from smart home devices should be within the purview of operations. Reduction of data accessibility among the organizations should establish an enabling platform for the involvement of the devices in decision-making.

Non-maleficence

The principle is essential in examining smart home devices since it can be used to establish the parameter of not inflicting harm on others based on access to personal data (Maalsen, 2020). Addressing the principle denotes sensitization on the use of the technologies and how data accessibility can emerge. From hacking and sharing personal data on the dark web to governments using data obtained from unscrupulous sellers of intelligent home devices, it is crucial to examine the implications. Privacy-related harms to personal data should emerge from aspects such as stalking (Purkayastha, 2022). Therefore, the social and reputational harm of data sharing should form the basis of awareness for the customers or family members. Consideration of the non-maleficence principle should shift the burden in the data review (Wolf et al., 2019). Potentially harmful effects of data sharing should be examined as the basis for smart home device usage.

Real-life examples

From an ACM code of ethics perspective, the collective responsibilities of the organizations, professional computing stakeholders, and the public have assumed real-life examples. Arguably, notions of ethical data usage, privacy, and confidentiality have not been upheld (Sánchez et al., 2017). Companies have remained unwilling to strive to engage in professional communication on the implications of smart home devices.

For Nelson & Allen (2018), using routers at home requires tight security or encryption to ensure that the interconnected devices are not subject to data hacks. Numerous families have had to grapple with hacking incidents with detrimental outcomes. From posting their photos on public sites to stalking incidents, smart home devices are prone to unscrupulous or unwarranted access (Purkayastha, 2022). Arguably, the challenge for most families is developing simple to complex encryption processes that can ensure that even their children’s phones or personal computers may not be intruded upon.

Further, Sani (2022) emphasizes that a primary ethical dilemma of a smart home is the misuse of personal information. The Dark web has become a trove of illegal activities, such as selling credit card information to photos of children. In a technologically empowered home, it is unsurprising that credit card purchases are undertaken, which establish the foundation for hacks (Pirzada et al., 2022). Technologically empowered houses revolve around how businesses can use personal information. From browsing internet sites to making online purchases, information becomes open. Engaging equally with multiple online businesses translates into companies often sharing the info (Sánchez et al., 2017). Companies gather personal data to hyper-personalize online experiences (Purkayastha, 2022). Consequently, information sharing among businesses translates into individualized marketing. The accessibility to multiple sites the moment people browse often highlights the prospect of sharing information without consent.

Sánchez et al. (2017) assert that personal information is deemed the new gold traded across the online platform. Attempting to reach the customer base through accurate data is a facet of concern that raises concerns about privacy and confidentiality. Valuable data points are exploited for businesses to make money or advance their marketing agender (Ehrenberg & Keinonen, 2021). Amazon and Facebook, at times, have come under fire for the sale of personal data they gather from multiple platforms. The wide-reaching effects of personal data sales were evident, especially in the Cambridge Analytica scandal, whose information ranged from various platforms (Purkayastha, 2022). The recognition of privacy invasion and the implications of manipulating people from multiple platforms raises ethical concerns.

Lack of oversight and organizational acceptance of responsibility in sharing personal information is an ethical area. Fowler (2022) acknowledges that companies operate with impunity in sharing personal data. Comprising a blend of third-party to own smart home devices, gathering your information is expected. As a result, confusion and dilemma are apparent regarding data governance and responsibility. Using big data within the operational setting sheds light on the engagement of information-sharing and processing systems without consultation (Pirzada et al., 2022). Businesses must adopt a perspective in their data collection process and third-party selling. Despite many experts lobbying for corporate governance and local policies on data sharing, its widespread mismanagement is rife in big data companies.

Lessons learned

Personal data is easily accessible, and most importantly, with the devices interconnected through Wi-Fi, it is crucial to promote good security management. Creating a secure home should commence with the router, the foundation for efficient operations (Sani, 2022). What connects all devices is valuable and should denote an integrated operation dimension. Furthermore, setting unique passwords can lead to a daunting prospect of outside hacks (Chan et al., 2009). Additionally, emphasizing the highest degree of encryption is crucial and recommends the WPA2 as an effective platform that requires establishing an enabling platform to ensure third-party access does not emerge (Zhu et al., 2022).

Further, at-home mobile applications should use super-strong passwords. The devices are accessible for family members who need passwords for decision-making. Devices associated with mobile apps call for login credentials to establish a parameter for family engagement in their management (Ehrenberg & Keinonen, 2021). Creating a unique credential from each smart device and an account is the framework for safeguarding from infringement.

Future projections

Ai (artificial intelligence) to control homes.

AI will become a prominent feature in the management of homes. Its potential to establish systems that will control various facets of the house will lead to an ethical line requiring new evaluation (Nancy, 2022). Accordingly, establishing a dangerous territory in the management of homes will emanate from the ease at which people relinquish control to the systems. For example, the ethics of confidentiality will arise from the data management and tracking process that will be left to the AI. Encouraging intelligent systems to be a standard fixture in homes will raise concerns about their decision-making process. Since technology is flawed, it is crucial to examine informed consent and the parameters that should enable it to be independent in data management (Pirzada et al., 2022). The AI will be based on training and coding of data, which may be tainted by human bias. An AI that solely responds to historical, social inequalities may emerge, which may be detrimental to effective home systems management and privacy concerns. For example, a male-centric AI may assume the role of women in the homes and not engage in confidentiality or privacy management of data or monitoring of the home members.

Recommendations

Policies for smart home device providers.

Organizations should be held accountable for personal data. The way forward is to establish parameters for the data and coordinate with the members. The development of a firm moral sense, especially for customer data protection, is within the parameter of operations for the organization (Nancy, 2022). Data is valuable and undoubtedly continues to influence the contemporary customer targeting process. Organizations should liaise with customers to develop ethical data management.

Encourage a moral sense of data management.

Communication with the public should be an essential dimension of operations for organizations on the ethical value of preserving their data. Emphasis on instruction and an information-centric approach to the importance of data and ways to protect it should align with ethical expectations (Chung et al., 2016). Data protection measures and compliance procedures being open to the customers in their use of devices should prevail to ensure security and not leak or be misused.

Conclusions

Smart home devices are a trend that continues to shape contemporary society. Ease in daily life at home is a crucial transition to reshape the technical landscape. Accordingly, the devices can create convenience for homeowners, and knowing the risk challenges and many ethical concerns can help us address and mitigate these challenges in the future. Data management is an essential component that requires an in-depth analysis from privacy to confidentiality and informed consent; it is fundamental for people to examine the underlying issues. Smart home device owners should be aware of the ethical concerns associated with the use, and it is paramount to maintain awareness for positive outcomes is paramount.

Birchley, G., Huxtable, R., Murtagh, M., Ter Meulen, R., Flach, P., & Gooberman-Hill, R. (2017). Smart homes, private homes? An empirical study of technology researchers’ perceptions of ethical issues in developing smart-home health technologies.  BMC medical ethics ,  18 (1), 1-13.

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Gerber, N., Reinheimer, B., & Volkamer, M. (2018, August). Home sweet home? Investigating users’ awareness of innovative home privacy threats. In Proceedings of An Interactive Workshop on the Human Aspects of Smarthome Security and Privacy (WSSP)  (p. 2018).

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Potential and Challenges of DIY Smart Homes with an ML-intensive Camera Sensor

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Information & Contributors

Bibliometrics & citations, supplementary material.

• Lee Y Lim Y (2024) How We Use Together: Coordinating Individual Preferences for Using Shared Devices at Home Proceedings of the 2024 ACM Designing Interactive Systems Conference 10.1145/3643834.3661634 (3407-3418) Online publication date: 1-Jul-2024 https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/3643834.3661634

Index Terms

Human-centered computing

Ubiquitous and mobile computing

Empirical studies in ubiquitous and mobile computing

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LMU Munich, Germany60028717

Tampere University, Finland60011170

Google Research, USA60006191

University of Cambridge, UK60031101

University of Namibia, Namibia60072704

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA60022195

University of Glasgow, UK60001490

University of Nottingham, UK60015138

• SIGCHI: ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction

Association for Computing Machinery

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Development of a Smart Home Using AI and IoT Technologies

Hey there. I am Dhaval Sarvaiya, one of the Founders of Intelivita. Intelivita is a mobile app development company that helps companies achieve the goal…

Personalization and automation remain the main directions for improving the quality of the user experience. They also help make the lives of millions of people safer, more convenient, and more comfortable.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) have become the main tools in recent years. It is with their help that a symbiosis of functional automation and well-tuned personalization is created. How exactly technologies affect the development of a smart home, we will analyze in the article.

What is AI?

Britannica AI is interpreted as the ability of a computer/robot to perform tasks set by a person.

The use of artificial intelligence in everyday life allows technology to reproduce some of the user’s tasks at an automatic level. Ability is determined by a program that is pre-programmed with a set of machine learning or deep learning algorithms.

AI works 24 hours a day, seven days a week; it does not need rest. It allows devices to perform various functions, make rational decisions, and avoid critical errors.

What is IoT?

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the ability of devices to transmit data to each other over the Internet. Both household appliances and industrial installations can have this property. In addition, the technology allows devices to assess the situation and draw conclusions without human consent.

Integration of assistants

When technologies are introduced into the “ Smart Home ” system, all the necessary information from the Internet of Things goes to the artificial intelligence base, which already carries out a prepared algorithm of actions.

AI transforms the received data into commands, which, subsequently, are formed into a model of behavior that fully meets human needs. This is due to the ability of technology to analyze the results obtained after contact with a person and predict further options for the development of events.

Assistant integration is ubiquitous, and even giants like Apple, Google, and Amazon adopt them for automation. With their help, users can issue commands to their devices from a distance and ensure that everything will be done without errors.

Similar actions are carried out from applications. It should be convenient and usable and not contain grammatical errors. If you want to develop one of these solutions, you must approach the question as cleverly as possible. Every detail is essential, from the interface to typos. By the way, tools like Fresh Essays, Grammarly, etc., will help to avoid this.

Digital assistants

Today, there are AI and IoT-based automated security systems and devices with voice control from a distance. For example, millions of people use Alexa, Siri, and Google Assistant in their daily lives. Through advances in technology, researchers are expanding voice recognition capabilities, which increases the functionality and value of the technology.

Today, users can control devices hands-free, as well as change programs on TV using Bluetooth speakers. But so far the system needs to be improved, since, from the safety side, the results are not satisfactory. Fraudsters have learned how to hack voice-controlled devices.

Benefits of AI and IoT

The main advantages of AI and IoT in the Smart Home system:

• the user can turn off / turn on all devices in the house connected to the AI, even being in another country in the world;
• all data on the work of smart technology goes to the application on the smartphone, which guarantees complete control over them;
• if desired, after the user leaves the home, all smart devices will be automatically turned off.

Also, if a person returns home from work, he can turn on the heating system, kettle, or another device to return to an already warm home and, for example, immediately brew tea for himself.

Examples of automated devices

Virtual assistants can find information on the Internet, call specific subscribers and even synchronize with other devices only thanks to voice control. Technologies can be presented in the form of applications installed on a smartphone or embedded in a device using the software.

Let’s take a look at several devices that can be used in the “Smart Home” system, equipped with AI and IoT technologies, their capabilities, and functions.

Washing machines

The use of technologies in the washing machine allows them to adjust the amount of used washing powder or other detergents, set the operating mode, and turn on the device at a particular time. Also, the regulation process can be programmed based on a load of laundry in the drum and the type of fabric.

The s ystem will automatically notify you when the detergent has run out and will send an appropriate notification. Thanks to this, you can save on washing and electricity, while the machine itself will increase/decrease the operating power depending on the needs.

Machine learning technology allows you to study in detail a person’s daily routine, analyze it, and adjust. For example, if a person goes to the gym every three days and marks it on the calendar, the machine will automatically turn on the desired mode for washing after the user puts dirty clothes in it.

The device will automatically determine the weight of the laundry and select the optimal amount of water for it, which will also save money.

Smart speakers

Smart speakers were one of the earliest devices to incorporate AI and IoT technologies. Many models are equipped with voice recognition software. They can also be controlled using a mobile app. Voice commands create playlists and grocery lists, trigger notifications and reminders, and search the web.

Refrigerators

Refrigeration devices using artificial intelligence can automatically diagnose the system, which will prevent premature failure of parts and save money. In addition, the device itself will regulate the consumption of electricity and power depending on the load on the shelves.

Deep learning allows you to control the number of products and identify them. So, the application will display the amount of food remaining, even if the user is at work, which will allow replenishing stocks in a timely manner. Then, based on the analysis, AI will suggest specific recipes, focusing on various products.

The user can remotely get a snapshot of the refrigerator shelves, make a list of products and control the temperature in the refrigerator and freezer chambers.

When a person selects a recipe from the list, the refrigerator can signal an additionally synchronized oven, which will start the heating process at the right time.

Cleaning robots

Thousands of people suffer from dust allergies worldwide, and millions complain about the constant appearance of dust in their homes, which interferes with their comfortable life. But, unfortunately, few people will clean it after a hard day’s work, even from the floor covering, and many cannot afford cleaning services. The robot cleaner allows you to solve the problem with dust and dirt, even in hard-to-reach places.

The main unresolved problem of the technology is the lack of precise synchronization with the home ecosystem, which reduces its effectiveness. But researchers continue to solve it, so universal cleaning robots should appear that can cope with any obstacles in the form of furniture and equipment in the near future.

Door lock system

Thanks to the smart door lock, the user can control whether the door is closed and send a signal about the result to his family members. Also included is the function of receiving a notification when other people open doors, which increases the level of security.

Baby watching

Even if the mother cooks lunch in the kitchen, and the child remains in the nursery, she can always control him using a monitoring system – a baby monitor. Thanks to sound and video recording, the user can always track any movements of the baby on the screen. In addition, most models support Wi-Fi, 3G, and 4G to ensure smooth signal transmission.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT) can make the Smart Home system more useful for humans and minimize their contact with devices. And if earlier technologies were a luxury item, today, a much more significant percentage of the population can afford them.

They will help make everyday life convenient not only for those who understand technology; any user will be able to intuitively figure out how to set up devices and automate their work processes.

Everyone can appreciate the  increased level of security , reduced energy costs, complete automation, and autonomy of devices. AI and IoT are improving, and over time their capabilities in the “Smart Home” system will become limitless.

Image Credit: Vlada Karpovich; Pexels; Thank you!

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• Connected Devices

Dhaval Sarvaiya I help Startup and Enterprise with their Digital Transformation

Hey there. I am Dhaval Sarvaiya, one of the Founders of Intelivita. Intelivita is a mobile app development company that helps companies achieve the goal of Digital Transformation. I help Enterprises and Startups overcome their Digital Transformation and Mobility challenges with the might of on-demand solutions powered by cutting-edge technologies such as Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, IoT, and Native Mobile Apps.

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How-To Geek

Moving smart homes here are the decisions to make and steps to take.

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Gemini Isn't Replacing Google Assistant After All

6 easy tasks to improve the security of your linux computer, here’s a look at real google chrome running on iphone, key takeaways.

• The attitude of the buyer is crucial in deciding whether to include smart home devices in the sale. Consider the cost and effort of relocating different smart home devices.
• If you're leaving smart home devices behind, remember to create new smart home users, leave factory resets to the new owner, and create a video guide for a smooth handover.
• If you're taking smart home devices with you, remove them digitally from your accounts before boxing them up, remember to replace fixtures and fittings with dumb equivalents, and double check you haven't left any smart plugs behind.

When you have a smart home, moving out has an added element of complexity. There are two decisions to make, and nine steps you should take to ensure the smoothest possible handover to the new owner.

Decisions to Make

Moving house is stressful at the best of times, let alone when you're trying to decide how to handle a smart home setup that you've tailored to your residence. Here are some questions you might want to ask.

Should You Include Smart Home Kit in a Sale?

Attitudes to smart homes can vary tremendously, and the most important factor here may be that of your buyer.

For some, it can be a key part of the appeal, and they will expect most or all of the devices to remain installed. Others may be ambivalent, not too concerned whether things stay or go with you. Others may actively dislike smart homes, seeing it as an unwanted complexity—and will want to ensure it's all removed and replaced with dumb equivalents before they move in.

If the buyer isn't concerned one way or the other, and you intend to make your new home smart, then it will of course make sense to take most of it with you. Even if you can't use all of it in your new home, selling unwanted kit can help with the often substantial expenses involved in moving home.

What to Leave, What to Take?

If the buyer is ambivalent, it may be worth thinking about the relative costs and effort involved in relocating different types of smart home kit.

At one end of the scale are completely standalone devices like robot vacuum cleaners. Few buyers would expect this sort of thing to be included in the sale, and there's very little setup effort on your part once you reach your new home: plug it in and leave it to learn the new layout.

The same is true of smart speakers, smart plugs, and smart bulbs—which are trivial to swap over to dumb ones.

At the other end of the scale are things like wired-in smart switches. If you don't have the DIY skills (or legal capacity) to do the job yourself, you may be better off leaving them in place. The combined parts and labor cost of having someone remove and replace with dumb switches may well exceed the cost of a replacement. Besides, there may be even better ones available now .

Something I would always recommend removing, even if you do have to pay someone else to do it, are smart locks. In that way, the buyer is assured that nobody else can unlock their home, and you're not left with any potential liability if anything goes wrong. Plus a lock is a lock, and you can probably find a use for it in your new place.

Steps to Take for Smart Home Kit Left in Place

Let's say you've decided it's easier to leave your smart home equipment in situ, and the buyer prefers (or is willing to pay extra for) this outcome. Here are some tips to make that process easier.

Create a New Smart Home User

If you're leaving any smart home kit in place, the new owner will expect it to be functional. The easiest way to achieve this is to create a new smart home user, and to give that user access to the home. This is as simple as creating a new account and passing the login details to the new owner.

If you simply add that owner to the home , then everything which stays will remain fully functional. Taking this approach does mean that you continue to have control also, which brings us to the next point ...

Leave Factory Resets to the New Owner

You may hear people advise doing a full factory reset of all the devices remaining in the home, and then deleting the home. In that way, everything is left for the new owner to set up from scratch, and they have the reassurance of knowing nobody else has control.

However, the downside of that is nothing will work when the new owner moves in. This doesn't create a great first impression, and potentially creates a lot of work for them on day one just to do things like control the lights.

Worse, they may view you as a tech support person for their new setup. You may find yourself trying to do remote troubleshooting and IT support just when you need to be getting on with unpacking and configuring your own home.

For this reason, I strongly recommend leaving factory resets to the new owner. Sure, offer them the option of doing this before you leave, but make sure they understand the downsides, and that you're clear that you'll likely be too busy to help.

Create a Video Guide (You’ll Be Glad You Did!)

Assuming you leave the new owners with a working smart home, I strongly recommend creating a quick video guide—again to ensure you don't end up on the wrong end of tech support calls.

It needn't be anything complex or time-consuming. Just take your smartphone camera on a walk through the home, operating all the smart switches and control panels so that they know where they all are and what they do. In that way, they'll have something to consult without bothering you.

Schedule a Run-Through for the New Owner

Ideally, supplement the video with an in-person run-through for the new owner, where you walk around the home with them and have them operate all the controls themselves. There's no substitute for hands-on experience.

Steps to Take for Smart Home Devices Coming With You

Alternatively, you've decided to box up your smart home gadgets and use them in your next property. Here are some things you should keep in mind.

Remove Devices Digitally First, Physically Second

There are two steps to removing a smart home device. One, removing it from smart home apps (for example, removing it from HomeKit ). Two, physically removing the accessory. If you do the latter but not the former, the apps will be left with error messages for unresponsive devices.

For that reason, I recommend a systematic approach. Remove the device from the app, and immediately afterward physically remove the hardware. This approach also guards against anything being forgotten.

Replace Smart Lights and Bulbs With Dumb Ones

It's usually a legal requirement to leave a new owner with standard light fixtures, so if you remove any smart lights, then you'll need to replace them with at least a basic fixture—which in some cases can be as simple as a hanging bulb-holder.

Leaving light bulbs may not be a legal requirement, but it would be a pretty unfriendly thing to leave the new owner without any lights, so just replace smart bulbs with dumb equivalents.

Remove Smart Switches, Replacing Where Required

As mentioned, it won't always make sense to remove wired-in smart switches, but where it does, then these need to be replaced with dumb ones.

Of course, if you've used things like Philips Hue Switches, with the original hard-wired switches still in place, then all you have to do is remove these. The same is true of smart switch enclosures that simply snap over the top of the wired ones.

Ensure Locks Remain Functional

If you're removing smart locks, then you naturally need to ensure that the locks remain functional using keys.

Many modern smart locks make this easy, as the exterior remains untouched, and you simply fit a motorized unit over the existing interior latch. But if you had to remove any lock hardware to fit a smart lock, then this will need to be replaced.

Take Special Care With Smart Plugs

Finally, it's really easy to forget to remove smart plugs! These may have been permanently plugged into an outlet for years, and are often out of sight. If you've followed my advice to remove devices digitally first, and physically second, then you'll have an automatic reminder to unplug them.

The above approach should ensure a trouble-free handover to the new owner, leaving you free to focus on creating your new (smart) home.

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• Home Security

The Facts Behind Smart Home Hacking (and How to Stop Worrying)

Forget scary headlines: We have real-world info about smart home hacking, who tries to do it and why careful homeowners don't need to worry.

Smart home hacking sounds like a disaster scenario, but the truth (and a little vigilance) is far less alarming.

When you're looking up home security advice on Reddit or other parts of the web, it's easy to run into fears or stories about (often expensive) smart home technology getting hacked or jammed, from routers to security systems .

Smart device hacking can be a hot-button topic, filled with worries and a lot of misinformation. We're going to clear the air with real-world facts about why smart homes may be hacked, what it looks like and why your smart home is a lot safer than you think -- especially with a few good habits.

How smart homes can -- and can't -- be hacked

Abode's compact home security kit.

First, "hackers" or to be specific, cybercriminals are not likely driving around scanning for vulnerable smart homes using nefarious gadgets. Wi-Fi ranges don't usually reach far enough for this to be effective and it would take a lot of effort for slim and spotty returns. There are some reports of major companies like casinos being hacked via smart devices, but very few of someone trying to Ocean's 11 residential homes.

Likewise, burglars interested in breaking into your house don't appear to be investing in the software or equipment needed to hack a smart lock first. There are very few reported cases of smart home security systems being hacked or electronically disarmed for petty theft. A low-tech approach is easier and more realistic. Most attempt to break unguarded windows or check for unlocked doors. Some may spy on homes first , but that's as high-tech as they get. So how do smart homes get hacked? Here are potential avenues of attack and how they work (or don't).

1. Widespread automated online attacks

These automatic online attacks from around the world that scan test nearly everything hooked up to the internet to see if accounts can be broken into, usually with brute-force password guesses  that bombard devices with billions of various login attempts hoping one makes it through. Then the attack infects the device, adding it to a botnet for future cyberattacks or generalized data theft. A human cybercriminal rarely tries to seize control of your device. These mass online attacks are what created the often-cited Which? study about smart homes facing up to 12,000 hacking attempts per week (one succeeded, for an ieGeek camera).

This is an important reason to protect your account with updated passwords, but it doesn't mean anyone is purposefully targeting your smart home or that device security is weak. Bots are only fishing for whatever basic login vulnerabilities they can find on any available online system or account.

2. Phishing messages

Password data phishing, hacker attack prevention vector concept. Fraud with login and password illustration

It's not as common as other types of phishing, but some phishing emails or texts may pretend to come from your smart home security company. Giving them personal information like account logins or clicking their fake links (to malware designed to take over) may give cybercriminals access to devices they wouldn't otherwise be able to reach. And even generalized phishing attempts may lead criminals to your Wi-Fi network, through which they may be able to find and control connected home security devices.

3. Company-based data breaches

In this case, cybercriminals use brute force and similar attacks to target servers and networks where IoT companies keep information about smart home users in databases, including account login details, personal info about location and addresses, and camera footage stored in the cloud. It's a frequent target because data thieves could seize so much data at once, which is why you see headlines about major data breaches on a painfully frequent basis.

It's unlikely that the stolen data will lead to smart home device hacking, but it can put your accounts at risk and some cybercriminals may try to use that data however they can, which we'll get into more below.

Read more :  A Record $12.5 Billion Lost to Internet Crime in 2023

4. Monitoring smart home data communications

As recently as the early 2020s, Internet of Things/smart home devices were found vulnerable to man-in-the-middle type attacks where criminals could spy on the data packets that smart devices were sending back to the internet. Smart devices send all kinds of data about their current settings and receive data back in return. With the right malware, a cybercriminal could potentially monitor this data and try to change or block it.

In practice, this simply doesn't happen. Criminals aren't in a position to do this to a smart home. Even if they were, today's smart home tech uses encryption practices and  advanced protocols like Thread  that make it useless. It's an example of how scary-sounding vulnerabilities don't actually make it into the real world.

5. Bluetooth malware

This type of malware,  like the BlueBorne attacks , enters through a poorly secured internet connection and use Bluetooth capabilities to hack other devices, including phones and smart speakers. When these vulnerabilities became infamous in the late 2010s, companies quickly updated their security and Bluetooth encryption practices. We don't currently see many Bluetooth-based vulnerabilities ( although some briefly crop up) , and like man-in-the-middle attacks, they don't lead to smart home problems.

Who's trying to hack your smart home?

Smart home hackers aren't always random people: They can be security employees and often someone you know personally.

If burglars use the physical kind of brute force and black hat hackers are usually busy elsewhere, who exactly is trying to hack smart homes these days? Let's narrow it down to common culprits.

• A relation or acquaintance : Lots of troublesome smart home "hacking" comes from relations, exes, estranged roommates and others that already know the smart device logins or otherwise had access. They use that previous access to spy or cause trouble on purpose. That's a sign to update all login passwords and possibly file a police report.
• An untrustworthy company employee : Many home security data breaches come right from the company itself, usually in the form of an employee who's snooping through camera feeds like this ADT technician . As with interference from past acquaintances, little real hacking is required and the objective is usually more malicious or pervy than monetary.
• Data thieves looking to sell : These thieves are trying to scoop up as much personal data as possible, anything from addresses to login info, so they can sell those lists in the shadier parts of the internet. This data can be passed along to others who may try to use this data for select hacking attempts or resell it. This is why it's important to update your passwords when you're notified of a security breach.
• Potential blackmailers : The story goes that persistent cybercriminals attempt to seize control of smart home cameras and then threaten to do something unless you pay them. They may try to lock you out of your security system or claim they have compromising video footage of you. This is something of an urban myth: In most cases, people spam lies about a hack and hope someone will fall for it.
• Foreign governments : Government-backed entities aren't interested in spying on you personally, but they may want to collect as much information about other nations and their citizens' behavior as possible. That can sometimes lead to hacking attempts or security backdoors: Fortunately, the FCC currently keeps a list of companies that are prohibited from selling security devices in the US because of this risk (other countries have similar lists), including Huawei, Dahua and ZTE. Check these lists before buying foreign home tech products.

iOS 17 has a new feature that allows you to create a group to safely share passwords and passkeys with across their devices.

How do you protect against potential home security hacks?

• Set strong passwords : Long, complicated passwords for your smart device app accounts and especially your Wi-Fi router are your best move against botnets and other online attackers. That doesn't have to be a headache these days, especially if you enlist a good password manager that generates strong passwords and save them for you for quick access.
• Enable two-factor authentication (TFA) whenever possible : More and more brands, like Ring and Blink, automatically use TFA to secure accounts during setup, which is a great step in the right direction.
• But trusted brands that use strong encryption : End-to-end encryption will go a long way toward protecting your data. Review security and privacy policies before making a final choice about a home security product. Arlo, a popular manufacturer of DIY home security devices, has healthy signs like penetration testing, third-party research, membership in the Connectivity Standards Alliance and details on their encryption practices.
• Store your data locally : If you're worried about wide-scale data theft, look for security devices that allow you to keep data off the cloud and company servers, including security cams from Lorex, Eufy and TP-Link Tapo cameras. On that note, consider keeping security cameras away from more private areas like your bedroom .
• Update your smart devices : Keep your apps and firmware consistently updated to patch any problems. Enable automatic updates if you can so you don't have to think about it. If you have a smart device that's several years old or older, it may be time to consider replacing it with a new model that's compatible with the latest protocols like Matter and Thread.
• Update your smart devices : Pay attention to your smart home security brands and if they face any security breaches, vulnerabilities or data theft. Stick with high-quality products from companies with a good track record. 

We'll keep you updated at CNET Home Security if we find serious problems with brand security and if any of our recommended companies have issues, like Wyze's repeated security mishaps  that gave strangers a view into other people's homes.

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The Mystery of JD Vance Is Unraveling

By Thomas B. Edsall

Mr. Edsall contributes a weekly column from Washington, D.C., on politics, demographics and inequality.

JD Vance embodies the pros and cons of political competition in a divided America. He helps, and he hurts.

GZero Media broke this out neatly in a piece it posted on his “pluses and minuses” during the Republican National Convention:

Vance strengthens Donald Trump’s “champion of the working man” message — a Republican rebranding away from its strongly pro-business past. We also saw that emphasis in the striking first-night convention speech from Sean O’Brien, president of the Teamsters, a labor union with 1.3 million members, who accused business and corporate lobbyists of “waging a war against American workers.” That’s not a speech you would have heard at any Republican National Convention of the past century. Vance’s reputation as defender of the globalization-battered working class can help Trump in the electorally crucial Midwest industrial belt states of Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan. But Vance is also an absolutist on restricting abortion, the Republican’s biggest current weakness, according to polls. He has adopted Trump’s line that abortion rules should be left to the states, but his voting record is striking. He favors banning abortions, even if the mother is a victim of rape or incest , as well as laws that allow police to track women who have crossed state lines for an abortion. He has opposed legislation that would protect in vitro fertilization. A poll earlier this month showed that 61 percent of U.S. adults want their state to allow abortion for any reason, and 62 percent support protections for access to IVF.

During the 2022 Ohio Republican Senate primary race, the Republican pollster Tony Fabrizio warned Vance that many Republican voters hold “the perception that he is anti-Trump” because, up until that time, he had been willing to describe the 2020 contest only as “unfair.”

“I think the election was stolen from Trump,” Vance declared in a Republican Senate debate two months later.

In an interview with The Youngstown Vindicator, an Ohio newspaper, Vance contended that there was extensive fraud in 2020, including a “big tech” conspiracy directed by Mark Zuckerberg, the chief executive of Facebook.

Vance told The Vindicator that Zuckerberg spent $420 million “buying up local boards of elections in battleground states of mostly Democratic areas” to “tilt” the vote in Biden’s favor.

Vance didn’t stop there. “We have a fake country right now,” he said. “If a billionaire can go and buy up votes in our biggest geographies and tilt an election, transform who can be president, it’s really, really dangerous stuff.”

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