Building a smart home given some technologies (Essay Sample)

SMART HOMES
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Introduction
It is widely anticipated that the future networking of the home will experience numerous devices connected to each other and to the internet. With the introduction of many such new sophisticated technologies as tablets and smart phones, the demand for connectivity in consumer electronic devices is proliferating. However, these devices are, in total, are becoming part of our homes. This sets in the need to use the same devices alongside the existing devices in homes. For instance, one would wonder whether the smart phone (with its powerful functionality)in his hand can increase or reduce the volume of the TV set in front of him or her. The rapid supercharge of wireless communication and information technology increases the possibility of embedding smartness in homes.
Once configured, smart homes intelligently interact with inhibitors providing safe and comfort living. These smart homes literally communicate with their inhibitors and responds to their needs. On the other hand, the users can as well control certain aspects of their homes from wherever. For instance, one could turn off lights from the comfort of an office’s chair. This is achieved through automation of the entire devices at home. An automated smart home enables centralized appliances, lighting, security locks of doors and gates and automated control of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).
Automation of the smart homes is enabled by technologies both wired and wireless even though the use of wireless is much easy, efficient and hence preferred. This paper thus explores the wireless technologies that are expected to be integrated into the future smart homes. It also outlines how these technologies can be integrated into a future home of a family of two parents, two teenagers, one dog and one cat. Wireless Technologies
Functionality of automated devices in smart homes depends on communication through wireless networks and sensors. The developing computing technologies must communicate with each other. Wireless networks, which include Bluetooth, Zigbee, WiFi, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), and cellular technologies among others (Mahmoud &Jeedella, 2010, p.17) enable this. All devices and technologies in the smart home employ a combination of these technologies for their functioning. Without these wireless technologies, the devices however sophisticated, cannot communicate with each other. For instance, a TV set gives us an option to watch different channels. Its control depends on another device, the remote control. In this case, the remote control can only successfully control the TV set if they can communicate. This communication for instance is enabled by a wireless technology, infrared in this case. Similarly, all devices dependent upon each other must communicate using these technologies. The following is a discussion of key wireless technologies used smart phones.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a wireless interface that allows electronic devices to exchange data. The devices communicate through radio connection in short range. Through this technology, the connectivity process of devices is eased as it overcomes the problems of synchronization. Bluetooth devices use the Industrial-Scientific-Medical (ISM), license-free band enabling other wireless device to use it. There are different Bluetooth classes that determine the range of communication, ranging from 1 meter to 100 meters for classes 3 and 1 respectively (Mahmoud &Jeedella, 2010, p.18). A Bluetooth network has small subnets, which are formed by two or many devices connected. A blue tooth can be either a master (one that initiates connection) or a slave even though they can switch roles. Bluetooth technology can be employed in smart homes. For instance, a home server can be set to communicate with Bluetooth radio transceivers. This allows control and monitoring devices by a user. In this regard, Bluetooth devices in homes can be to control temperature, household appliances, temperature, and window and door locks among others.
To set up a future smart home for the family in question based on Bluetooth, a Smartphone, a laptop or a tablet, (Bluetooth-enabled) is required alongside home devices with Bluetooth technology. This is a home whose lighting system is Bluetooth enabled. This will enhance convenience. I am looking at these two teenagers in their rooms, and in bed, and lights are on. They cannot sleep with lights on but they cannot wake up and walk to the switch. It is undemanding; they grab their Smartphone, open the Bluetooth application and by a finger-touch, the lights are off. Similarly, the same applies to the mother, who is forced to let the baby fall asleep before switching off lights. With her tablet in her bedroom, the lights on the baby’s bed are a finger touch away from her.
Bluetooth enabled speakers will be placed in all rooms so that audio can be distributed to certain room (Jillian, 2013, n. pag). A teenager in this home can put on music in the living room, and when he moves to his/her bedroom, send it over to speakers in the bedroom.
ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4)
ZigBee is a smart home wireless technology that utilizes the Near Field Communication (NFC) standard IEEE 802.15.4. It is a low cost communication technology which makes more suitable for monitoring applications and remote control (Rosslin & Tai-Hoon, 2010, p.40). Devices using ZigBee transmit data over lonf distances and do not necessarily need a centralized control. Running of the network can be tasked to any ZigBee device. ZigBee technology can be applied in wire-less controls (light and remote), electrical meters, security and patient monitoring among others (Mahmoud &Jeedella, 2010, p.20).
Our future smart home is equipped with ZigBee-enabled devices whose control is done wirelessly via other devices. For instance, smart thermostats with ZigBee technology can be used to control room temperature automatically, hence saving on power. These thermostats are installed in all rooms from they automatically control the temperature depending on the room’s user preference. In every room, heating and cooling is stopped once the inhibitor leaves. For instance, no energy will be wasted in the teenager’s room when they are out to school or elsewhere while the baby’s room will always at optimal temperatures.
Sensors will be used alongside ZigBee devices in this smart home to achieve automation. For security purposes, sensors will be installed around the compound to detect intruders for which alarm will be sent to the users phones (Mahmoud &Jeedella, 2010, p.28). These sensors on the door will take guests (knocking) and sends to a family member’s phone. While sitting in the bedroom, one can tell who is knocking and still issue an open command form the phone.
The sensor-equipped devices will as well be installed in every room so that parents can monitor the teenagers. From her bedroom, the mother can monitor the baby while the teenagers cannot lie to be reading when they are sleeping.
Doorknobs will be fitted with fingerprint scanners in order to sense family members’ fingerprints. No keys will be used, and no outsiders, but for the family members can open the door. (Jillian, 2013, n.pag).
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
Radio Frequency Identification is the use of radio waves to transfer data. Its purpose is to identify and track tags on objects automatically. This technology uses RFID readers to give information about an object on to which a tag is attached. Passive tags do not power sources and are powered by magnetic fields. Active tags use a local power source to emit radio waves that can be identified from a distance of several meters. Whether you are using active or passive tags, RFID systems if used in homes can be useful in identifying and tracking objects and even pets (Mahmoud &Jeedella, 2010, p.21).
For our future smart home, tags will be placed on every family member, pets, the dog and cat and several objects. RFID readers will then be deployed to different places in the home. In this case, parents will nev...