Research Paper
Smart Home Technology; Technology supporting independent living - does it have an impact on health?
Toril Laberg The Delta Centre Directorate for Health and Social Affairs PO Box 7000 St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo E-mail: toril.laberg@shdir.no Phone: + 47 24 16 35 26
Abstract Smart home technology has proved to contribute to increased independence and safety. Two surveys has been conducted in Norway to collate experience on smart home technology as part of home care services. We found that the technology is installed in newly built residential flats, aiming at old residents in need of care. The findings inspired us to further investigate the implications of installing smart home technology in existing houses and flats. The paper presents the findings from all three projects, and will discuss the technologies impact on health and some financial aspects.
Definition Smart Home Technology is a collective term for information and communication-technology in homes, where the components are communicating through a local network. The technology may be used for monitoring, alarming and executing actions, according to the programmed criteria. The local network communicates with the external world by telephone or through the Internet, sending messages or alarms to one or more recipients. These may be the resident of the house, his family, a private security-company or the community-team. This communication makes it possible to program the smart home from inside or outside the house. In a smart home one may integrate: • Safety (for example alarms) • Environmental control systems (for example remote control or programmed control of doors, windows and lights) • Communication (linked to the telephone or the Internet) • Energy-control-systems (for example adjusting the heating at all hours) • Entertainment (for example television, film and music) None of these devices are new inventions; they have all been available for a long time. The smart aspect is the integrated
Toril Laberg The Delta Centre Directorate for Health and Social Affairs PO Box 7000 St. Olavs plass, N-0130 Oslo E-mail: toril.laberg@shdir.no Phone: + 47 24 16 35 26
Abstract Smart home technology has proved to contribute to increased independence and safety. Two surveys has been conducted in Norway to collate experience on smart home technology as part of home care services. We found that the technology is installed in newly built residential flats, aiming at old residents in need of care. The findings inspired us to further investigate the implications of installing smart home technology in existing houses and flats. The paper presents the findings from all three projects, and will discuss the technologies impact on health and some financial aspects.
Definition Smart Home Technology is a collective term for information and communication-technology in homes, where the components are communicating through a local network. The technology may be used for monitoring, alarming and executing actions, according to the programmed criteria. The local network communicates with the external world by telephone or through the Internet, sending messages or alarms to one or more recipients. These may be the resident of the house, his family, a private security-company or the community-team. This communication makes it possible to program the smart home from inside or outside the house. In a smart home one may integrate: • Safety (for example alarms) • Environmental control systems (for example remote control or programmed control of doors, windows and lights) • Communication (linked to the telephone or the Internet) • Energy-control-systems (for example adjusting the heating at all hours) • Entertainment (for example television, film and music) None of these devices are new inventions; they have all been available for a long time. The smart aspect is the integrated
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