The Computerized integrated smart home

The emergence of multiple home computers and the need to network them together are dramatically increasing in our society. At the same time, more and more methods of networking home computers are being developed. As our society becomes more reliant on using digital devices in our everyday lives, the possibility of a smart home can actually become a reality. My thesis will research currently available home automation products, and will propose a complete smart home system using current and possible future technologies. It will also include the various services that can be offered via home networking and automation. There are several component areas that must be considered and combined to create the complete system. Some of these areas include communications, device control, temperature, security, and most important, the user interface. One of the main components of the system will be the concept of a console , which will be the primary interface. My thesis will explore different kinds of consoles using existing and proposed technology, how they can be internetworked together to form a complete communications system, and how they can be connected to the outside world. The feasibility of offering home automation services using these consoles is another area that will be explored. For instance, can a home be considered secure if doors and locks are automated and integrated into the smart home? With the smart home, a user should be able to enter the house without a key, solely by communicating with the system. It could even be possible to lock a door from any console within the house, in case the user forgot. I believe the smart home is becoming a reality, and can propel our society into a new way of life as an advanced civilization. My thesis will attempt to provide various ways of making it a reality using current and possible future technologies. Although it will not provide a concrete example of a complete smart home system, that area of expansion exists for future research. Perhaps one day it will become a standard in new home development, and will change how we perform everyday tasks at home

Automatic Object Tracking

Occasionally objects, especially small objects such as cell phones, keyrings, etc., can be inadvertently misplaced. It can be difficult to locate these objects. As such, a system is disclosed herein that can assist in locating objects

Augmented Reality Interface for Visualizing and Interacting with IoT Devices

As the proliferation of Internet of things (IoT) devices increases, so too does the complexity of interaction models and the need for a clear interface with which a user can interact with the complex coordinated tasks that are taking place. The benefits of a more effective augmented reality interface are especially relevant to the many devices that lack a direct interface of their own

Interactive Menus

Labor is a major source of cost within the food and beverage business. Furthermore, restaurants in certain rapidly gentrifying areas with poor transit are increasingly unable to hire sufficient waitpersons to service their customers to a satisfactory level. Ordering fixed items from a menu is a simple process and, in some scenarios, is only marginally less useful than ordering food items from a person

Method for Real-Time Voice Communication

Traditionally, voice communication is accomplished using a telephone system. The process of placing a call using a telephone system can be inconvenient for a user. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT), it is possible to provide a system utilizing the IoT to provide a better method for voice communication

Health Analyzing Smart Mirror

It can be desirable to monitor an individual’s health over time. For instance, an individual may wish to keep track of his or her weight, percent body fat, caloric intake, heart rate, water percentage, sleep effectiveness, and many other health metrics. A “smart mirror” is disclosed herein that can assist an individual in monitoring these and other health metrics

The few touch digital diabetes diary : user-involved design of mobile self-help tools for peoplewith diabetes

Paper number 2, 4, 5 and 7 are not available in Munin, due to publishers' restrictions: 2. Årsand E, and Demiris G.: "User-Centered Methods for Designing Patient-Centric Self-Help Tools", Informatics for Health and Social Care, 2008 Vol. 33, No. 3, Pages 158-169 (Informa Healthcare). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17538150802457562 4. Årsand E, Olsen OA, Varmedal R, Mortensen W, and Hartvigsen G.: "A System for Monitoring Physical Activity Data Among People with Type 2 Diabetes", pages 173-178 in S.K. Andersen, et.al. (eds.) "eHealth Beyond the Horizon - Get IT There", Proceedings of MIE2008, Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Volume 136, May 2008, ISBN: 978-1-58603-864-9 5. Årsand E, Tufano JT, Ralston J, and Hjortdahl P.: "Designing Mobile Dietary Management Support Technologies for People with Diabetes", Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 2008 Volume 14, Number 7, Pp. 329-332 (Royal Society of Medicine Press). Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1258/jtt.2008.007001 7. Årsand E, Walseth OA, Andersson N, Fernando R, Granberg O, Bellika JG, and Hartvigsen G.: "Using Blood Glucose Data as an Indicator for Epidemic Disease Outbreaks", pages 199-204 in R. Engelbrecht et.al. (eds.): "Connecting Medical Informatics and Bio-Informatics", Proceedings of MIE2005, Studies in Health Technology and Informatics, Volume 116, August 2005, ISBN: 978-1-58603-549-5. Check availabilityParadoxically, the technological revolution that has created a vast health problem due to a drastic change in lifestyle also holds great potential for individuals to take better care of their own health. The first consequence is not addressed in this dissertation, but the second represents the focus of the work presented, namely utilizing ICT to support self-management of individual health challenges. As long as only 35% of the patients in Norway achieve the International Diabetes Federation‟s goal for blood glucose (HbA1c), actions and activities to improve blood glucose control and related factors are needed. The presented work focuses on the development and integration of alternative sensor systems for blood glucose and physical activity, and a fast and effortless method for recording food habits. Various user-interface concepts running on a mobile terminal constitute a digital diabetes diary, and the total concept is referred to as the “Few Touch application”. The overall aim of this PhD project is to generate knowledge about how a mobile tool can be designed for supporting lifestyle changes among people with diabetes. Applying technologies and methods from the informatics field has contributed to improved insight into this issue. Conversely, addressing the concrete use cases for people with diabetes has resulted in the achievement of ICT designs that have been appreciated by the cohorts involved. Cooperation with three different groups of patients with diabetes over several years and various methods and theories founded in computer science, medical informatics, and telemedicine have been combined in design and research on patient-oriented aids. The blood glucose Bluetooth adapter, the step counter, and the nutrition habit registration system that have been developed were all novel and to my knowledge unique designs at the time they were first tested, and this still applies to the latter two. Whether it can be claimed that the total concept presented, the Few Touch application, will increase quality of life, is up to future research and large-scale tests of the system to answer. However, results from the Type 2 diabetes half-year study showed that several of the participants did adjust their medication, food habits and/or physical activity due to use of the application

Proof and Progress: Coping with the Law of Evidence in a Technological Age

This article outlines those rules of evidence that are most likely to be called upon to fit new technologies. It identifies some of the challenges that are presented, and identifies modest techniques or suggestions for coping. Those suggestions include taking the kind of relaxed view as to when expert evidence is being offered illustrated by the Ontario Court of Appeal in R. v. Hamilton; taking a functional approach to judicial notice; ensuring that authentication and the “best evidence” rule for electronic records are not applied in a highly technical fashion; understanding the law of hearsay and remaining familiar with key hearsay exceptions; applying the law of privilege in ways that reflect the new realities that compromise privacy; understanding the limits of character evidence and the opportunities for the exclusionary discretion; and recognizing the utility in the technological presentation of evidence