Who
Who are they?
Tinkers, DIYers,
those who are not satisfied with the need of pushing a switch with their fingers
As I passed the motion sensor in the stairs, my good morning automation kicks on. Stairwell light turns on dimmed to 5%, the holiday decoration lights turn on over the fireplace, the morning room fan kicks on, the kitchen can lights turn on, the aquarium lights flip on… [3]
Techies,
those who want home to be secure and energy efficient with no manual operation
Parents,
those who want a toddler-friendly home, and get notified when attention is needed
Summary
Everyone doing home automation is having their unique problem to solve. However, although there are more and more "smart" home appliances, the technological barrier of building a truly harmonic and automated home still isn't low enough to be accessible to everyone.
What
What is the problem?
Platform lockdown
Just the tip of the iceberg.
Image source: Google Image Search
Every smart appliance manufacture is building their own system, using their own app, and speaking their own "language" between devices. If the user wants a single place to access all their smart home devices, they can:
1. Build/use an integration system, which needs technological skills.
2. Hire an integrator, which has a high cost.
3. Only buy devices inside a single ecosystem, like Apple Homekit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa.
All three options have a knowledge barrier stopping regular people from deploying a truly automated home system.
1. Build/use an integration system, which needs technological skills.
2. Hire an integrator, which has a high cost.
3. Only buy devices inside a single ecosystem, like Apple Homekit, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa.
All three options have a knowledge barrier stopping regular people from deploying a truly automated home system.
Security & Privacy
Every smart home device is an entry to your home network and also your life. Some smart home devices are running outdated software that can be easily compromised. Companies are also gathering many data that can be used to make a detailed profile of your life.
Support & Waste
Lowe's shut down its home automation platform Iris on March 31, 2019
A smart alarm system, for example, is just bits of plastic and wire if the servers go down. In either case, you’re left wondering if you’ve been ripped off. Until manufacturers start guaranteeing a minimum level of offline functionality, the smart home feels like a neverending exercise in cost-benefit analysis. [6]
After the end of support of a product line, whether it is because of bankruptcy, cooperate decision, or simply time, working smart home devices will be either completely dysfunctional, or no longer secure, due to security patches no longer accessible.
Home appliances are usually having a longer lifespan than typical portable electronics, like phones or tablets. However, given the nature of electronics, many smart home appliances have perfectly functional hardware when they reach the end of life. This forces the user to make a choice between less waste and less security, or put them in a position where they spent a considerable amount of money to create e-waste.
Home appliances are usually having a longer lifespan than typical portable electronics, like phones or tablets. However, given the nature of electronics, many smart home appliances have perfectly functional hardware when they reach the end of life. This forces the user to make a choice between less waste and less security, or put them in a position where they spent a considerable amount of money to create e-waste.
Summary
Control
Many smart home devices require being connected to operate, which means the manufacture can force brick the smart device [7], or the device will be useless if the company is gone. Companies gather every little bit of data from the user, which also gives hackers many great targets, both the cloud and the device itself. Users should be in control of both the operation of their home appliance, and the data generated from the operation.
How
How to fix it?
Base on the importance of reaching the operable state of a single appliance, we can split a "smart" appliance into four parts:
Operation driver and action mechanism maintain the core function of the appliance.
Physical user interface lets the user use and control the appliance, some of the "smart" appliances are not including this part, such devices rely on some degree of connection to operate.
Physical user interface lets the user use and control the appliance, some of the "smart" appliances are not including this part, such devices rely on some degree of connection to operate.
Connected interface is the part in the appliance which handles connection, as well as the processing of the command and data. This is also where "smart" appliances pose a security risk.
Split & Shift
By shifting the connected interface to a dedicated module, ensures that the appliance will be fully functional locally, the user can choose to operate the appliance completely locally without any connection.
Using a standard connector and protocol, the user could choose to use or build their integration platform without compatibility concerns.
Companies can still have the connected function by shipping with a first-party module. Also, this enables companies to provide integration services to make their system more flexible and user friendly. At the same time, this approach allows the user to pick the entity handling their data.
Using a standard connector and protocol, the user could choose to use or build their integration platform without compatibility concerns.
Companies can still have the connected function by shipping with a first-party module. Also, this enables companies to provide integration services to make their system more flexible and user friendly. At the same time, this approach allows the user to pick the entity handling their data.
Philosophy
Dumb appliances make smart home
Shift the "smart"!
Build your appliances dumbly, keep full control inside the home, let people smartify them.
Misc.
Method
This project is part of the 2020 Design Issues class instructed by professor Philip Otto. The class went through the process of select and understood an audience, identify the current and future status of the audience, and compose a set of principles or guidelines for such an audience.
The process was done mainly through desk research, combined with some personal experience of the author.
The process was done mainly through desk research, combined with some personal experience of the author.
Future research
This project only proposes one possible approach to future connected home appliance design, the viability of this approach, and the appropriate business model behind it still need to be further assessed.
Sources
[1] Twitter @zhuowei
