The Complexity of Simple Goals: Case Study of a User-Centred Thermoregulation System for Smart Living and Optimal Energy Use

Abstract

There are currently several systems for home automation and energy management available on the market. These systems are intended to reduce the use of energy, while ensuring optimal and customizable comfort conditions. The advances in technology (Internet of Things, sensors, cloud computing, data processing and thermal modelling) and in the design of interfaces should facilitate the adoption of convenient behaviours by final users, thereby producing more sustainable use of energy at home. Conversely, the effectiveness and efficiency of smart home systems for thermo-regulation is a complex activity, requiring the collaboration of multiple stakeholders and experts. In this paper, the authors report a case study about the design of a system for thermal regulation at home developed in a multidisciplinary research team for research and industrial purposes. The paper reports results including: a discussion on a number of issues involved in the design of smart home solutions for sustainability and on the importance of developing an integrated approach to their design; the needs analysis of users and of their functional requirements based on investigation with residents and profiling; final remarks about the role of User Experience Design methods and tools in the development of smart home solutions, understood as socio-technical systems.

Constructing an Evaluation Model for User Experience in an Unmanned Store

“…Pillan et al [12] discussed a series of problems that are involved in the sustainable smart household solutions and determined the importance of developing design comprehensive approaches. User demands and functional demands were analyzed based on the investigation and analysis on residents.…”

Association between the benefits and barriers perceived by the users in smart home services implementation

“…Many studies address more than one type of smart home service simultaneously and report more than one type of benefit or barrier. The adoption of smart homes is not restricted to a specific characteristic, demonstrating a multidisciplinary, holistic, and integrated approach to technologies that meet the various needs of users (Pillan et al. , 2019).…”

Rancangan Sistem Smart Home Untuk Mengendalikan Peralatan Rumah Tangga Yang Terintegrasi Website

“…Kebutuhan smart home pada kasus ini yaitu alat yang dapat mengendalikan peralatan listrik di luar maupun di dalam rumah antara lain yaitu lampu di dalam rumah, lampu di luar rumah, memantau/monitoring suhu dan kelembaban, dan juga kendali pompa untuk menyiram tanaman [11] [12]. Hal tersebut menjadi dasar perlunya suatu solusi karena banyak orang yang bekerja di kantor sering lupa mematikan atau menyalakan lampu saat meninggalkan rumah dan sering meninggalkan tanaman karena terlalu lama berkegiatan seperti bekerja atau keluar kota.…”