Temperature Control | Supporting Occupatio

Windows

Automated windows involve motorising a window to open and close automatically this enhances the convenience by eliminating manual operation and improves energy efficiency.

A motorised system attached to the window and may be controlled by:

Voice command: The system may be integrated with a hub (I.e. Siri, Google, Alexa)
Remote controlled via interface,
Wall-mounted switch,
Sensors that detect environmental conditions such as rain or temperature,
Programable via time setting on command (semi-autonomous),
a part of a larger system command word i.e. “Goodnight”.
- Systems may be linked with existing assistive technology such as eye gaze, joystick control and/or sip and puff depending on the users’ needs (check with an integrator about the viability if this is appropriate for the service user.

Fatigue management: Having automated appliances can help with energy conservation for service users, allowing room to expend their energy for other tasks (Moroz et al., 2017).

Independence: accessible environments utilising home automation reduces the reliance of carer support increases and increases autonomy for the service user (Hutchinson et al., 2024; Mun & Kim, 2024).

Health: Automated windows can improve indoor air quality and support respiratory health by monitoring outdoor conditions and automatically opening or closing to maintain a healthy environment (Wang et al., 2022).

Household energy efficiency: Through smart scheduling, occupancy detection, and real-time energy management automated temperature regulation can improve household energy efficiency (Fakhar et al., 2022).

Fakhar, M. Z., Yalcin, E., & Bilge, A. (2022). A survey of smart home energy conservation techniques. Expert Systems with Applications, 213, 118–974. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eswa.2022.118974
Hutchinson, C., Cleland, J., Williams, P. A. H., Manuel, K., & Laver, K. (2024). Calculating the social impact of home automation for people with disability: A social return on investment study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(6), 956-966. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12977
Moroz, A., Flanagan, S. R., & Zaretsky, H. H. (Eds.). (2017). (Fifth edition.). Springer Publishing Company, LLC.
Mun, K., & Kim, J. (2024). Development of a smart home modification program: A delphi survey of multidisciplinary health care experts. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(5). https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050651
Wang, Y., Cooper, E., F Tahmasebi, Taylor, J., Stamp, S., Symonds, P., Burman, E., & Dejan Mumovic. (2022). Improving indoor air quality and occupant health through smart control of windows and portable air purifiers in residential buildings. Building Services Engineering Research and Technology, 43(5), 571–588. https://doi.org/10.1177/01436244221099482

Air Conditioning (AC) / Fan / Thermostat

Any system that controls the home’s temperature environment. With home automation the systems can be programmed to adjust based on schedules, motion, or remote commands.

Home automation links a smart thermostat to an AC system to control temperature via sensors and network communication. The system can be controlled by:

Voice command: The system may be integrated with a hub (I.e. Siri, Google, Alexa)
Remote controlled via interface,
Wall-mounted switch,
Programable via time setting on command (semi-autonomous),
a part of a larger system command word i.e. “Goodnight”, AC set to a specific temperature,
Motion sensors: Some smart thermostats can use motion sensors to detect if a room is occupied and adjust the temperature accordingly.
Geofencing: automatically adjust settings, ensuring the house is comfortable when you're approaching home.
- Systems may be linked with existing assistive technology such as eye gaze, joystick control and/or sip and puff depending on the users’ needs (check with an integrator about the viability if this is appropriate for the service user.

Household energy conservation: Improves energy consumption in a house (Zhang et al., 2018). Automating climate control can lead to cost savings by ensuring heating or cooling is only active when needed, which can be particularly beneficial for those on a fixed income.

Comfort: Increased thermal comfort for individuals with disabilities (Brik et al., 2021).

Independence: accessible environments utilising home automation reduces the reliance of carer support and increases autonomy for the service user (Hutchinson et al., 2024).

Accessibility: Automated systems promote an accessible environment that positively support the service user (Varriale et al., 2020).

Brik, B., Esseghir, M., Merghem-Boulahia, L., & Snoussi, H. (2021). An IoT-based deep learning approach to analyse indoor thermal comfort of disabled people. Building and Environment, 203, 108056. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2021.108056
Hutchinson, C., Cleland, J., Williams, P. A. H., Manuel, K., & Laver, K. (2024). Calculating the social impact of home automation for people with disability: A social return on investment study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 71(6), 956-966. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12977
Varriale, L., Briganti, P., & Mele, S. (2020). Disability and home automation: Insights and challenges within organizational settings. In A. Lazazzara, F. Ricciardi, & S. Za (Eds.), Exploring Digital Ecosystems (Lecture Notes in Information Systems and Organisation, Vol. 33, pp. 47–66). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23665-6_5
Zhang, H., Yang, R., You, S., Zheng, W., Zheng, X., & Ye, T. (2018). The CPMV index for evaluating indoor thermal comfort in buildings with solar radiation. Building and Environment, 134, 1–9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2018.02.037