Smart Furniture as a Component of a Smart City—Definition Based on Key Technologies Specification

Abstract

There are dozens of definitions of smart furniture with meanings that vary greatly. Thus, the aim of this paper is to provide an exact definition of the phrase ''smart furniture'' based on literature and patent analysis. Why a definition? Because by providing a good definition, we have a statement that captures the meaning, the use, the function, and the essence of a term or a concept and allows the impacts on stakeholders to be described. A literature search was undertaken between 20 July 2018 and 31 August 2018, and the databases searched included SCOPUS, Web of Science, and IEEE Xplore (1998-2017), which were searched by keywords that included the phrase ''smart furniture.'' Patent searching was performed in the ESPACENET database, where 226 articles from scientific databases and 737 patent applications were examined. After the application of strict criteria, we obtained 23 articles and six patents containing meaningful definitions of smart furniture. Based on the results, smart furniture should be defined as designed, networked furniture that is equipped with an intelligent system or is controller operated with the user's data and energy sources. Smart furniture needs to have the ability to communicate and anticipate a user's needs using a plurality of sensors and actuators inside the user's environment, resulting in user-adapted furniture. The research results and discussion presented in this paper are based on the recognition that the smart furniture research has great policymaking, technological, and economy potential while contributing to the user's wellbeing and Quality of Life (QoL). This paper indicates that the collaboration between the ICT and social-economic research has to be initiated and consolidated in a sustainable way or in an environment that satisfies the needs expressed by the user.

Commercial ICT Smart Solutions for the Elderly: State of the Art and Future Challenges in the Smart Furniture Sector

“…Over time, an extensive literature has developed on patenting, but nevertheless, only one study has focused on smart furniture patent application and assignment. In fact, [3,47] are two of the most recent Over time, an extensive literature has developed on patenting, but nevertheless, only one study has focused on smart furniture patent application and assignment. In fact, [3,47] are two of the most recent studies that have discussed patents and patenting, particularly in relation to smart furniture and smart homes, respectively.…”

“…First, it is important to carefully examine some smart furniture patents. Given very few forgone/related studies, we focus on the systematic review of Krejcar et al (2019) [3], to select a few patents and analyse them accordingly. Additionally, patenting ideas described by Carsten Guderian, also in 2019 [47], are used as the basis for creating an argument for future needs in this regard.…”

“…The way how to transform a non-smart object of everyday use into a Smart one and even into Smart Furniture is possible by several ways [3], while the aspect of Smart Entity presence needs to be taken into account every time to fulfil the real transformation of a non-smart object into a Smart one [109]. Smart Entity is entity with sensors and/or actuators [3,109] with their own energy sources, they are reconfigurable, able to communicate with other Smart Devices or the Smart Environment and interoperate in the Ubiquitous environment. Smart Entity can be also embedded into other technological devices and non-smart devices which are turned into Smart once by this upgrade [110].…”

“…There is no universal definition for smart furniture. Nevertheless, the most recent definition was proposed by Reference [3]. This research group defined smart furniture as well-crafted and networked furniture comprising an intelligent or remote-controlled system that is able to manage users' data, and which works based on some form of an energy source.…”

“…This research group defined smart furniture as well-crafted and networked furniture comprising an intelligent or remote-controlled system that is able to manage users' data, and which works based on some form of an energy source. According to Reference [3], smart furniture has the ability to interact with and predict the needs of users as a result of inbuilt and programmed actuators and sensors within the user's surroundings, thereby providing ease of living for the individual. Other definitions have explained smart furniture as a specialized furniture that gathers information from its immediate vicinity to provide ease of functionality for users.…”