Loughborough University
Leicestershire, UK
LE11 3TU
+44 (0)1509 263171

Advanced VR Research Centre

Smart Home - Equipment Management Trial

Equipment Management Concept

Services Aggregation Trial has explored the potential for delivering multiple services into the home using broadband and their integration within the modern connected world.  It has created a 20 home trial of users within Leicester, centred on an energy and water efficiency scenario which collects data on a round-the-clock basis and provides access to this via Digital TV - straight to the living room. Additional services are accessible - internet access, email, entertainment, shopping and menu planning. 

 

The trial, programme managed by Homerider, has evaluated the commercial roll-out opportunities and the legal issues involved.  The project has also created a demonstration home encompassing all the learning gained, which will be used for commercial exploitation and further research.  It has also created specific sub-trials exploring the benefits of the TAHI Open Architecture and the use of RF-ID technology and Voice Recognition within the home.  The project has brought together SMEs, corporates and universities to provide innovative research and development.

Interface Development

A user interface style suitable for interaction via a TV and set top box was developed. This required text to be large enough to read at a normal viewing distance, for the information to fit on a TV screen, for links to be identifiable and for selection via a handset arrow keys or coloured keys to be clear and simple. Standardised main navigation buttons or colour keys were proposed. The aim was to develop a level of user interface consistency while not restricting the designer’s creativity in developing a user interface style suitable for the particular service.

The Demonstrator

 

The Demonstrator shows elements that ‘stretch’ the SA concept. Led by Advantica, this is located in a ‘test bed’ house on the Loughborough University site. It is operable within the house and viewable externally via the Web. The user interface comprises a media PC, tablet PC, TV and digital box.

Linguamatics and Loughborough University are playing a key role in the application development and have worked closely together to develop voice recognition demonstrations.

 

De Montfort University investigated the aggregated services delivery infrastructure and how to realise the TAHI Open Architecture (TOA). A demonstrator and associated prototypes have been built to demonstrate the advantages and benefits of TOA. Findings suggest that there is no single “killer service” in the context of services delivered via Broadband.

Trial Activities

The SMART trial presented online services accessible from an Internet portal via the TV and digital Netgem box. Positive user feedback gathered by the Ergonomics and Safety Research Institute (ESRI) has shown the future potential of these aggregated services. The services, re-purposed for TV format by Extrada, include:

SMART meter reading: This service, developed by Severn Trent Water with support from Leicester City Council, reports energy and water usage in the home, based on meter readings collected and transmitted via GSM to a central server. Graphs are displayed on the TV screen to show trends and patterns in water and energy use to help a family save on resources and cut their bills.

Energy saving advice: Special pages have been developed by ESRI to provide guidance on saving water and energy. Much of the advice can be applied without cost or drastic changes to a family’s lifestyle.

Cheffy: An innovative meal planning website from Foodware allowing a user to specify ingredients available at home and to receive a list of possible recipes and ingredients as a basis for their shopping list. It also gives nutritional advice and meal ideas for those on special diets.

Easy2: This entertainment site, developed by Visionradio, contains online games, puzzles, jokes and links to a range of shops and travel reservation sites. New services include seeing film previews, DVD rental, and downloading music from new bands.

Interoperability between various heterogeneous service resources is the key for service aggregation as well as service delivery. Interoperability also promotes resources & infrastructure sharing, which would accelerate the acceptance of services via Broadband.  This requires co-operation and collaboration among industry and academic partners. An open service interoperable architecture is essential for the success of services via Broadband to achieve individual as well aggregated service delivery to the connected homes. TAHI Open Architecture offers a vision and foundation to create this framework.