Integration of sensors in the smart homes of tomorrow - possibilities and limitations

Abstract

It is estimated that in 2020 there will be more than 20 billion connected devices
around the world. Hardware keeps getting smaller and microprocessors and
communications modules can be found in all manner of products. On the software
side, voice assistants are getting more intelligent by the day, with smart speakers
being promoted as a natural part of people’s future homes. However, for these
products to really become intelligent, they need to be aware of their surroundings.
This is solved by implementing sensors.
Bringing sensors inside people’s homes might seem trivial, but how do people react
to bringing this kind of technology inside their homes? Why should they have it and
what issues might exist in incorporating sensor technology in household items?
By performing qualitative user studies comprised of interviews and observations,
insights about how sensors should be implemented were gathered. Interviewees
were also asked about some of their everyday problems and needs, which was used
to provide examples of what household needs could be solved through sensor
implementation. In combination with expert consultation and literature studies
regarding technological limitations, this gave an understanding regarding how and
why sensors will be a natural part in the smart home of tomorrow.
Apart from examples of sensor implementation in product concepts, key findings

regarding subjects such as personal privacy, big data handling and product life-
cycles are presented and guidelines for how these issues can be handled are

proposed.
Keywords: Internet of Things, Smart Home, Sensors, Human-Machine-Interaction,
Smart Devices, IKEA TRÅDFRI, IKEA Home Smart

Abstract (Swedish)

Uppskattningsvis kommer det år 2020 att finnas fler än 20 miljarder uppkopplade
produkter runt om i världen. Hårdvarukomponenter blir allt mindre och
mikroprocessorer och kommunikationsmoduler kan hittas i alla möjliga produkter.
Inom mjukvaruutvecklingen blir röstassistenter mer intelligenta för var dag som går
och smarta högtalare presenteras som en naturlig del av människors framtida smarta
hem. För att dessa produkter verkligen ska bli intelligenta så måste de vara medvetna
om sin omgivning, något som sensorer kan lösa.
Att introducera sensorer i människors hem kan ses som en trivial sak, men hur
reagerar folk på den här typen av teknologi i sina hem? Vad ska de ha den till och
vilka problem kan uppstå när man inkorporerar sensorteknologi i
hushållsprodukter?
Genom kvalitativa användarundersökningar, bestående av intervjuer och
observationer, samlades insikter kring hur sensorer bör implementeras.
Intervjuobjekten frågades även ut om problem och behov i vardagen, vilket
användes för att exemplifiera vilka vardagsbehov som kan lösas genom
sensorimplementering. I kombination med expertkonsultationer och litteraturstudier
kring teknologiska begränsningar gav det en förståelse för hur och varför sensorer
kommer vara en naturlig del av framtidens smarta hem.
Utöver exempel för sensorimplementering i produktkoncept presenteras även
huvudinsikter kring ämnen som personlig integritet, hantering av big data och
produktlivscykler samt riktlinjer för hur dessa problem kan hanteras.

Nyckelord: Sakernas internet, Smarta hem, Sensorer, Människa-Maskin-
Interaktion, Smarta enheter, IKEA TRÅDFRI, IKEA Home Smart

Popular Abstract

Establishing sensors in the smart homes of tomorrow

In the last few years, households items connected to the internet has become a phenomenon which we are met with everyday. The concept of a smart home where your products communicate with one another, bringing convenience to the next level, is not science fiction anymore but a reality. For these homes to become truly intelligent they need to be aware of their surroundings. This is the goal of sensors. A seemingly innocent component - but for every opening that appears with the implementation of sensors there exists a possible problem which needs to be taken into account.

There exists sensors for almost every physical concept known to man, from the basic thermometers to the ones which function like synthetic noses, able to register what smells are present in the air. There are even ones which can register our sleeping patterns. By incorporating sensors into our homes, it is possible to live our lives safer, healthier, more sustainable and more convenient.

But what these sensors do are akin to what security cameras do - they monitor us. In the studies done throughout the project, people state that being surveilled inside their homes is heavily infringing on their feeling of personal privacy. For companies responsible for these products, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the data from these sensors is safe and unable to be accessed by unauthorized persons. It might seem harmless if somebody is able to know when you have opened your fridge or turned on the coffee maker, but by examining these patterns it is possible to deduce when people are home or away, possibly using this information with malicious intent.

All this sensor data can be utilized by companies to further improve their products and services, creating value both for the user and the company. But as seen with the recent backlash against companies such as Facebook for the data gathering, it is important for the companies to ensure that the user is aware about what they are sharing about themselves and allowing them to influence what statistics the company is allowed to gather about them.

Another area which is on the move is voice assistants, such as Amazon’s Alexa, and artificial intelligence - a central part of the future of smart homes. Being able to have full control over your home from anywhere you are and to have the home automate tasks all by itself is also things that become possible when combining the sensors with the recent progress in software development. By taking the topics put forward in the thesis into account when designing products and services, it will let the evolution of people’s homes go smoothly and allow them to feel that they are in charge of their homes and their lives.

The presented topics are only a part of the possibilities and limitations that exist when trying to bring sensors into the homes of the many people, but if done properly it can create much value for both the customer and the company.

• author: Lindberg, Jesper and Karud, Erik
• supervisor: Per-Erik Andersson
• organization: Innovation
• course: MMKM10 20181
• year: 2018
• type: H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
• subject: Technology and Engineering
• keywords: Internet of Things (IoT), Smart Home, Sensors, Human-Machine-Interaction, Smart Devices, IKEA TRÅDFRI, IKEA Home Smart
• language: English
• id: 8951643
• date added to LUP: 2018-06-20 13:49:50
• date last changed: 2018-06-20 13:49:50