2013 it prefects team - st. mary's canossian college prefects 2013-2014 newsletter 1.pdf ·...
TRANSCRIPT
2013‐2014 IT Prefects Team Newsletter Volume One
Temperature control
Still confused? Think of all the
high‐tech homes you have seen in
movies before, for example Iron
Man!!!
Since the quality of our lives increasingly ameliorates, we demand more while being able to afford
something novel and sophisticated. As Information Technology keeps on improving, it takes us onto a
whole new level. The idea that the refrigerator suggests menus, recommends healthy alternatives, and
orders groceries now becomes possible.
Hmm… Maybe something like this?
X10 allows compatible products to talk to each other with the existing electrical wires of a
home. All the appliances and devices are the receivers, and the means of controlling the
system, such as remote controls or keypads, are transmitters. But, communicating over
electrical lines is not always reliable because the lines get “confused” by other devices.
Name of Appliance Description
Whole House Audio System With a whole house audio system, you can easily
store your favorite music and songs inside a
multiplayer. You can also play the music according
to ambiance to set the mood you love! It is a very
useful device to those who are music lovers and
those who like to hold parties in the house.
Automatic Curtain and Blind Controls
With an automatic blind and curtain control
system, you can close and open your curtains
merely by a remote control or a switch which is
very convenient and you don’t need to do it
manually! This enables us to save the time and
energy from adjusting curtains by ourselves.
The Smart Security System
With this smart security system being installed in
the house, you can control the time to activate the
alarm by your mobile device which is connected to
the system. This device helps you to detect
whenever someone enters your house and send
you an alert when needed. With just one press,
you can decide how to respond with the alarm. It
also enables you to check your home from
anywhere you are so that you can know who is at
home waiting for you!
Programmed Action Control all scheduled tasks, such as outdoor
lighting, with a simple computer program. You can
therefore set a series of events for your morning
routine, have lights gradually increase intensity,
ensure the coffee begins brewing and the TV
turned on.
Smart Thermostat
Adjust the thermostat while you lie in bed, or from
a cell phone on your way home from work, so that
comfy hot bath water would be ready the moment
you arrive home from a long tiring day.
Movie: Iron Man In the movie, Iron Man, we can find that Tony Stark's
workspace and home are Smart Homes.
Apart from the expensive cars, there are a lot of new
technologies inside such as the 3D projection, the conceptual
keyboard and the 3D interface he uses while interacting with
his computer or digital life assistant.
Let’s now focus on the real live technology that you can buy one for yourself too.
1) 3D Projection and Gesture Control System
2) Laser Projection Keyboard
3) Speech Recognition with Artificial Intelligence (AI) Software
Customization
As long as you understand the program language, you can customize and operate your Smart Home
technology easily because operating the Smart Home program does not require any learning or training so
you can have limitless application at any situations at your home.
Easy installation
Smart Home technology can be installed with minimum tools because most of them are wireless. In case
there is any problem, you can fix it by yourself because it does not require a very professional checking.
Cooling and heating your home in a smart way
It helps you control and monitor your energy usage with thermostats. It connects to a Wi‐Fi connection
which enables homeowners to control settings from any Internet‐enabled smart device under any
condition.
Water savings made easy with smart home technology
Instead of dreading your water usage each month, you can take advantage of smart water fixtures that use
less water. Other faucets can turn on and off automatically by motion and the temperature of the water
can be seen by a color LED light indicator before putting your hands under the water. These smart
technologies ensure a better and safer user experience and less water will be wasted.
Frequent upgrade needed Smart Home technology will have to be upgraded frequently along with the smartphone. Such technologies
are unable to function if not updated or upgraded.
High expense
The cost of hardware is high. The wireless cameras, light sensors, sound sensors, and all kinds of automatic
systems etc., make up most of the costs as these technologies are relatively new. Also, maintenance and
repairing of hardware can be quite expensive.
Low reliability
The wireless signals for Smart Home technology can often be interrupted by complex electronic devices
such as smart phones and computers, and this leads to phantom and weak signals and unreliable operation.
Hacking
According to the 2011 DefCon hacker conference, research found that home security systems are
frequently hacked, especially when they operate on power lines. Since such systems send unencrypted
signals and use devices that don’t require authentication, hackers could use sniffer devices to monitor all
security sensors, like lights, alarms and cameras. In this way, privacy of Smart Home owners is invaded.
‐THE END‐
Molly Edmonds and Nathan Chandler. How Smart Homes Work. Available:
http://home.howstuffworks.com/smart‐home.htm (last accessed 20 November 2013)
Indiegogo. Canary, the first smart home security device for everyone. Available:
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/canary‐the‐first‐smart‐home‐security‐device‐for‐everyone
(last accessed 28 November 2013)
Loxone. Get the most out of your curtains. Available:
http://www.loxone.com/enuk/smart‐home/curtains‐and‐blinds/curtains.html
(last accessed 28 November 2013)
Savant. Whole House Audio. Available:
http://www.savantsystems.com/whole_house_audio.aspx (last accessed 28 November 2013)
Alexis Writing, eHow Contributor. Pros & Cons of Smart Home Technology. Available:
http://www.ehow.com/info_8154817_pros‐cons‐smart‐home‐technology.html
(last accessed 29 November 2013)
Freshome. 10 Awesome Ways to Take Advantage of Smart Home Technology. Available:
http://freshome.com/2013/08/09/10‐awesome‐ways‐to‐take‐advantage‐of‐smart‐home‐technology/
(last accessed 29 November 2013)
Scott Ledet. The Pros and Cons of Smart Home Security Systems. Available:
http://www.blogappeal.com/the‐pros‐and‐cons‐of‐smart‐home‐security‐systems‐1342
(last accessed 29 November 2013)
Alarm Company System. The Pros And Cons Of Smart Home Technology. Available:
http://www.alarmcompanysystem.com/2013/02/the‐pros‐and‐cons‐of‐smart‐home‐technology.html
(last accessed 29 November 2013)
Special thanks to the stated sources of information that substantiated this newsletter!