Technological solutions for smart homes

The combination of ubiquitous computing and wireless communication has provided the opportunities to create novel solutions to realize smart environment. The application of smart environments in the field of health care and assisted living is accelerating at a high pace. These systems can provide cost-effective solutions that will improve the quality of life of humans, particularly those regarded as senior citizens or have some form of disability. The realization of smart environments with real-time monitoring will enable such people to lead independent lives in the comfort of their normal homes. This chapter focuses on highlighting the major components and systems that are currently available to deliver reliable technological solutions for smart homes, health care, and wellbeing. The key sensing devices that form the basis of smart environments are discussed. The integration of these devices into wireless sensor networks (WSNs) that can be spread over an area to build smart health and assisted living environments is investigated. The role of power line communication technologies, which complements wireless communications, and the new reliable solutions is also highlighted. Wireless communication technologies and the various options and standards available are discussed. Target localization plays a key role in many of the services supported by smart environments. The various fundamental localization techniques are investigated. The major security and privacy issues related to WSNs and wearable body area networks (WBANs) and their impact on the trust in using such systems are addressed. A case study that demonstrates the integration of various WSNs elements to deploy a guiding system for blind persons is described.