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For this module you are asked to design an intuitive, inclusive, and engaging solution for managing a future smart home ecosystem. Your project should consider the challenges of multi-device control, user privacy, and personalisation. The goal is to create a seamless experience that enhances daily living while addressing potential painpoints.

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What is a Smart House?

A smart home is a home that users can control different appliances, such as, lights, security, temperatures and over devices through an internet connection using a smart device such as a phone or tablet. Rather than smart devices such as Alexa, that can control things such as music, a smart home can control home appliances. A smart home can also be referred to as home automation and aims to provide the owners convenience, security and comfort.

Smart Homes can become interconnected and the devices can interact with each other if they are all apart of IoT network. The systems can share data with each other and be automated to complete tasks or actions that will seamlessly work while connected

Smart Home Pros

It is important to ask yourself why would you need the product or service you are working on during the product, to understand what you are doing it for and why you might need it. Smart homes are not a necessity, however can provide lots of benefits and conveniences for users. Below are some of the goals of Smart Home technology

• Convenience - Participate in completing daily tasks such as turning lights on/off, adjusting heating, check on pets, turning on kitchen appliances all from your phone.
• Security - Monitor home with security cameras or motion sensors and smart locks to check on property, even when you are not at home, to keep a peace of mind.
• Accessibility - Can help people with disabilities, for example voice control of devices or automated routines.
• Customisation - adjust smart home to specific preferences, creating a personalised environment to feel comfortable.
• Energy Efficiency - Smart heating and lighting systems can learn automated routine and adjust at specific times, potentially lowering energy bills.
• Entertainment - Smart TVs and voice assistant, audio sync across the smart home to make entertainment seamless.
• Remote Access - Let packages in, check on pet or let pets out, and Water plants when not in the house.

Smart Home: Definition, How They Work, Pros and Cons

I really like the idea of how it can help those with accessibility issues. At first I wasn't exactly sure about this project as my first thought of smart devices was that only people who are extremely well off or rich could access one, so I wasn’t really interested and motivated to look into it. However, making a smart home to actually help those in need and make living easier may be something to look at.