Ecological Design of Smart Home Networks

Technologies, Social Impact and Sustainability

N. Saito, D Menga

• Publisher: Woodhead Publishing
• Year: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781782421245
• Topic: Computer Science
• Subtopic: Computer Networking
• Index: Computer Science

This book provides an authoritative guide for postgraduate students and academic researchers in electronics, computer and network engineering, telecommunications, energy technology and home automation, as well as R&D managers in industrial sectors such as wireless technology, consumer electronics, telecommunications and networking, information technology, energy technology and home automation.

Part One outlines the key principles and technologies needed for ecological smart home networks. Beginning with a thorough overview of the concept behind ecological smart home network design, the book reviews such important areas as power line communications, hybrid systems and middleware platforms. Part Two then goes on to discuss some important applications of this technology, with wireless smart sensor networks for home and telecare, and smart home networking for content and energy management (including the intelligent Zero Emission Urban System), all explored in detail.

• More systematic and comprehensive coverage: the book covers ecological design and technology requirements, performance and applications for smart home networks
• Better focus on industry needs: the book covers current and emerging smart home networking technologies. It explains how the technologies work, how they have developed, their capabilities and the markets that they target
• Better coverage of the best international research: the book is multi-contributor and brings together the leading researchers from around the world

Part One

Principles and technologies

Outline

1. The concept of an ecological smart home network

2. Power line communications and hybrid systems for home networks

3. Middleware platform for smart home networks

1

The concept of an ecological smart home network

N. Saito Keio University, Minato, Tokyo, Japan

Abstract

This chapter describes the fundamental concepts and technologies that support the ecological smart home network. First, it considers the relationships among human societies, natural environments, and smart intelligence. If these three components can be harmonized in a smart and moderate manner, sustainable development is possible. This chapter also surveys the relevant information and communications technologies that support the realization of the ecological smart home and its network. Smart home networks not only need internet-related technologies, but also low-level sensor networks, which may communicate to each other without user interference. Several integrated applications in a smart home are also discussed. Some design considerations are given in this chapter for improved implementation of the smart home and its network. Ecological and sustainable design are the most important issues for the future.

Keywords

Ecological design; Home gateway; Home network; Natural environment; Sensor network; Technology development

1.1. Introduction

In this age of science and technology, the global economy has developed so much that our lifestyles are now extremely modernized and developed. In some ways, modern society seems to have reached the utmost state of advancement in various areas, including economic development, science and technology pursuit, and the utilization of the given natural environment. However, it is important to consider approaches that may allow human beings to stay longer on the Earth while enjoying fulfilling and peaceful daily lives.

In this chapter, the historical transition of the surroundings of human beings is first described, and some considerations for the problems of this development are discussed. Then, the design approaches to the smart home are listed, along with the problematic components for these designs. The technological components to achieve a smart home design are then discussed, and the difficulties of their implementation are analyzed. Sustainability is necessary for humans to enjoy modern advanced lives because the Earth’s resources are limited, particularly with regard to physical materials. Because it is very important for humans to achieve sustainability, related issues are also discussed.

1.2. Historical transitions

1.2.1. Ancient times

The history of humans on Earth started 400,000 years ago, whereas modern human beings started 40,000 years ago. Throughout history, nature supported the lives of human beings. There were a lot of interactions between human beings and the surrounding nature. Our ancestors got food and energy from the environment for the purpose of supporting their lives.

Compared to other animals living on Earth, our ancestors had some level of intelligence. They manufactured tools to make their lives fruitful and convenient. They also made use of language to facilitate useful communication with other humans. It has been stated that the major difference between human beings and other animals is the ability of language use.

Our ancestors started to have families, resulting in their descendants. They then started to organize a number of families into villages or other living spaces. The larger their organizations were, the stronger they behaved. If there was a struggle between organizations, the stronger one could conquer the weaker one.

Our ancestors started to cultivate the Earth, growing a variety of plants to provide a reliable source of food. They also systematically hunted wild animals for their food or raised useful domesticated animals for various purposes. Our ancestors invented various kinds of tools and devices for food preparation, animal hunting, and plant cultivation and harvesting. Although some animals can make devices using stones and wood branches, humans invented sophisticated tools and machines, even devices that are used to make other tools (i.e., meta tools).

Approximately 10,000 years ago, our ancestors started to form countries and splendid cultures in Egypt and surrounding areas. Ancient Egypt’s population became larger and larger, with the culture and civilization developing accordingly. There were powerful kings to govern these countries and their people. By this point, the intelligence of humans had advanced significantly, and many technologies had been developed. The Egyptian technologies included the survey of lands, the observation of sun and stars, building construction (including the pyramids), the management of rivers, making paper, publishing books, and so on.

The so-called Western culture started in Greece and Rome approximately 2500 years ago. The Ancient Greeks were good at philosophy and developed ways of thinking, whereas the Roman people were good at technology. These characteristics were the central points of successive Western culture and society, and they have been influencing the entire course of human history.

There was not much progress in human intelligence and knowledge in the Middle Ages. However, a sudden change occurred in the middle of the eighteenth century in the Western world – the “Industrial Revolution,” which greatly impacted the status and behavior of humans. The global population was 800 million in the middle of the eighteenth century, increasing to more than 2 billion by 1945. Another industrial revolution occurred around 1930 with motorization. Human intelligence was then concentrated to invent many new mechanisms – so-called “modern technology.” This technology was the base of many new businesses and industries, where great profits were gained.

Figure 1.1 shows the relationship among three important components in history: human beings, nature, and intelligence. The interrelationship among these three components is very vague and shallow, and each of these components has historically operated rather independently, without considering the mutually dependent relationships and interactions.

Figure 1.1 Fundamental components of the Earth (acting independently).

1.2.2. Modern times

After the end of World War II, information and communications technology (ICT) started to become practical and even widely used in some areas. Computers essentially are meant to simulate the human brain, although the reality has been much further from an actual human brain’s abilities. Nonetheless, ICT was a new and innovative field of technology, as shown in Figure 1.2. Materials science and energy technology were some of the first fields to be developed, even before World War II.

At the beginning, computers were mainly used to calculate numerical data; even so, they were useful for complex mathematical data handling, such as census data. Computers were also used to store and retrieve large amounts of data in business activities, and large-scale business management systems were developed (and prevailed). These computer systems were called electronic data processors.

One important advancement in particular brought about the current state of information technology: semiconductor technology development. The transistor was invented by Shockley and colleagues in the 1950s; this element was key in the development of microsized, portable, and customized computer systems. Another critical development was network technology, which led to the creation of the Internet and web systems.

Other technological developments occurred after World War II. Automobile technology advanced, with vehicles becoming much faster and more comfortable. The number of automobiles now manufactured annually exceeds 15 million. The future of the automobile industry is focused on electric vehicles and automatic...

Table of contents

• Cover image
• Title page
• Table of Contents
• Related titles
• Copyright
• List of contributors
• Woodhead Publishing Series in Electronic and Optical Materials
• Part One. Principles and technologies
• Part Two. Applications
• Index