Part
01
of ten
Part
01
Additional Smart Tech- Home
The required additional five home care smart technologies were found and listed in the attached spreadsheet under the tab “Home Care”, in rows 12-16, columns B-E. The five smart technologies identified are vacuum robots, smart speakers for device control, smart thermostats, smart curtains, shades or blinds, and smart washing machine. All information regarding the technologies’ name, how it works, the companies that make them, and how the technology helps disabled people to be more independent has been documented in the attached spreadsheet.
Findings
— Vacuum Robots: This is a home-cleaning robotic device that vacuums dirt off any flat surface. Various models work effectively on carpets and can maneuver themselves to avoid obstacles by using motion sensors and detectors. The latest models are designed to learn the area of the house, so as to avoid cleaning the same spot more than once. Vacuum robots can also be programmed to work on a certain schedule along with features that allow the user to customize cleaning options.
— Smart Speakers for Appliance Control: Smart speakers help users to give commands and control various appliances and smart devices in the house using their voice. For some smart speakers like Amazon Echo, users would have to download an app for their smartphones. With the help of the accompanying app, users would be able to control their devices when not at home. These devices have an array of microphones that are designed with high sensitivity to detect the lowest sound of the user's voice, this includes external disturbance like environmental noise and music.
— Smart Thermostat: The smart thermostat allows a user to control the temperatures of the house remotely using an app on the smartphone, tablet, or PC. The device lets a user have full control over in changing the central heating system. In case of a thermostat for a water heater or boiler, the smart device can be connected via WiFi and an accompanying app which allows the user to not only control the temperature but can also send signals to switch it on and off after the water is heated to the customized value.
— Smart Curtains, Shades or Blinds: Smart curtains, shades, and window blinds are designed to open and close according to their programmed schedule based on the changes in the environmental temperature or light. These devices can also be controlled with an accompanying app that can be downloaded on the user's smartphone. This allows the user to control the window blinds of their house even when they are not at home.
— Smart Washing Machines: Smart washing machines are now being designed with WiFi features that enable the user to connect the machine's interface with their smart device (smartphone, tablet, desktop) by using a smart washing machine app. With the help of the internet, users will be able to control the different cycles/washes using the app when at home or away.
Conclusion
To wrap up, the five additional home care smart technologies have been identified and documented along with their details in the attached spreadsheet, in rows 12-16, columns B-E.