Smart Houses Project Using Smart Houses Project Using Currently Available Currently Available

TechnologyTechnologyPart 3: Problems and Part 3: Problems and

SolutionsSolutions

Sources of ProblemsSources of Problems

Person Computer

X-10 productsHouse

Problems - A PersonProblems - A PersonProblem

1. Too many downloaded programs – nonfunctioning computer.

2. Not updating/did not download patches – nonfunctioning computer.

Solution

Clean any unused programs or add additional memory to accommodate Active Home program.

Update virus

protection/ Microsoft updates regularly.

Problems - A PersonProblems - A Person

Problem

3. Opened too many files.

Solution

Reduce number of programs running in background.

Problems- A ComputerProblems- A ComputerProblem

1. Hidden applications were running leading to less resource.

2. Virus affected the PC.

3. Bad hardware component.

Solution

Reduce program running at

startup.

Run anti-virus software.

Replace the component.

Problems- A ComputerProblems- A ComputerProblem

4. PC had trouble connecting to the Internet.

5. PC cannot open applications such as Outlook.

6. Computer locked up when using ActiveHome.

Solution

Change user account status.

Update the software

and restart the PC.

Restart the computer, upgrade the OS if necessary.

Problems: X-10 ProductsProblems: X-10 Products

Problem

1. ActiveHome software needed downloading.

2. Timer for lighting off.

Solution

Active home updates from X-10 website.

Reset light timers.

Problems: X-10 Problems: X-10 ProductsProducts

Problem

3. Time/date were incorrect.

4. Motion detector was too sensitive and did not work with fluorescent lights.

Solution

Interface active home and computer clock.

Put wide tape on side of

motion detector ormove to another wall.Use different light.

Problems: X-10 ProductsProblems: X-10 Products

Problem

5. Remote control was not working.

6. Chime did not work.

Solution

Change batteries and reset. Instead of a 5-in-

1 remote, a key chain remote was used.

Same as above. If still doesn’t work, replace chime.

Problems: X-10 Problems: X-10 ProductsProducts

Problem

7. A door jam was offset.

8. Door sensor was affected by temperature and moisture change.

Solution

Use a lightweightshim to fit properly.

(For apartment, permanent fixture was not used)

Permanently install sensors.

Problems: X-10 Problems: X-10 ProductsProducts

Problem

9. Wiring and tape coming loose affected by the environment.

10. Radio interference was found when the light timer is on.

11. Door chime went off in case of power outage.

Solution

Use indoor/outdoor tape orpermanently install

Sensors.

Change the house code – may be getting signalfrom other X-10 sources or in/outside house interference.Reset chimes.

Problems: X-10 ProductsProblems: X-10 ProductsProblem

12. Light was turned off manually and needs to be reset.

13. Light came on at time not set – interference.

Solution

Manually turn on light and then turn off by the X-10 program in order to turn on again at the scheduled time.

Change the house code - may be getting signal from other X-10 sources or in/out side of house interference.

Problems – A HouseProblems – A HouseProblem

1. Old houses or apartments have old phone lines and old electricity lines that interfere with the use of a computer.

Solution

“Noise” on the power line. Plug the appliance into a noise filter such as Filtering.

A simple plug-in phase called SignaLink was a solution.

4. Impact of a smart house 4. Impact of a smart house among frail elders: among frail elders: Results of one- Results of one-

year interventionyear intervention

Computer and Smart House systems were provided. Computer use is monitored by Boss Everyware.

Computer use includes Internet, e-mail, ActiveHome, word processing, games, modem access, computer browsing and miscellaneous programs.

Boss EverywareBoss Everyware Collects information

such as application file name, active window and duration and saves them to a dbase III+ log file.

Has the ability to filter data and export them to other programs such as Microsoft Excel and text editors.

Boss Everyware and PrivacyBoss Everyware and Privacy

Boss Everyware has a key logger but this option is always turned off.

This is in accordance to HIPAA and to maintain security.

Boss Everyware ProcedureBoss Everyware Procedure

The software is installed in every consumer’s computer.

Every 6 months, their log files are copied and transferred to the investigator’s computer.

Some of the data is filtered in dbase and then converted to XLS to sort.

Time spent in a particular category of application is reported for each consumer.

Example of a ReportExample of a Report

Results of one- year interventionResults of one- year intervention

Initial Data

Treatment : 46Control: 67

One-year Follow-up

Treatment : 39 (-15%)Control: 50 (-25%)

Reasons of attrition:8 died ( 2T, 6C)5 moved out of town ( 3T, 2 C)5 nursing home placement (1T, 4C)3 disconnected phones (1T. 2C)3 quit (1T, 2C)

Satisfaction toward life Satisfaction toward life with a computer among with a computer among

smart house userssmart house users Very Satisfied 52.8% Somewhat Satisfied 33.3% Neither 5.6% Somewhat Dissatisfied 8.3% Very Dissatisfied 0%

One-Sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov testZ = 3.167, p = .001

UsefulnessUsefulnessof Smart Houseof Smart House

UsefulnessVery Useful 82.9%

Somewhat Useful 28.6% Not So Useful 8.6% Not Useful At All 8.6%

Operation Operation of Smart Houseof Smart House

Ease or DifficultyVery Easy 37.8%

Somewhat Easy 29.8% Somewhat Difficult 10.8% Very Difficult 5.4% Doesn’t Apply 16.2% (don’t operate SH via computer)

Subjective OutcomeSubjective Outcomeof Smart Houseof Smart House

“Do you recommend Smart House for any age group?”Yes (n=28) 77.8% No (n=8) 22.2% for Elderly 32.1%

for Young ones 0 for Any one 52.8%

Reasons for Reasons for RecommendationRecommendation

(N=30)(N=30)Safety and Security (53.6%)

Utilitarian Value (32.1%) Lights turning on/off by itself is useful

for persons who use assistive devices Overall Satisfaction ( 14.3%)

Reasons for Not Reasons for Not RecommendingRecommending

(N=8)(N=8)System is erratic (62.5%)

– The system sometimes works but sometimes doesn't work.

Bad experience (25.0%)Difficulty in operation (12.5%)

Subjective OutcomeSubjective Outcomeof Smart Houseof Smart House

“Has using a computer including Smart House changed the following?”

Mental health 70.6%Socializing 64.0%Security 56.0%Health 40.5%Wellness 40.5%

Difference in AttitudeDifference in AttitudeAttitude toward life with computer use

A computer is for older adults. Computer use would be fun. F=6.317 p=.003

C (Non users) 50.8 (13.6) least positive T (Light users)* 57.8 (4.9) very positive (Heavy users) 59.7 (4.5) most positive

Non users are different from two levels of users. * Less than 10 hours/week

Difference in AttitudeDifference in AttitudePerceived physical /psychosocial health

I would manage my health easier via computer use.

Computer use would increase my independence as a person.

F=7.244 p=.002C (Non users) 51.1 (14.2) Least positive

T (Light users) 54.8 (7.5) In the middle (Heavy users) 63.1 (6.8) Most positive

Non users are different from high users.

Difference in AttitudeDifference in Attitude Attitude toward future computer-based technology

Computer-based technologies would increase my independence so that I do not always need help from someone.

In the future, computer-based technology will not threaten older adult’s privacy.

F=5.793 p=.005C (Non users) 42.9 (10.1)

T (Light users) 44.4 (4.2) (Heavy users) 50.1 (6.1)

Non users are different from two levels of users.

““I like Smart House and only I like Smart House and only wish this place was large so that wish this place was large so that I could take more advantage of I could take more advantage of

it.”it.”