The concept of smart homes actually originated a long time ago, and many cases have emerged. In 1984, when United Technologies Building System applied the concept of information integration of building equipment in CityPlace Building in Hartford, Connecticut, the first [smart building] appeared, thus opening the curtain for the world to compete in building smart homes.
The most famous smart home is Bill Gates’ mansion. In his book “The Road Ahead,” Bill Gates extensively describes his private mansion being built on Lake Washington. He describes his residence as “built with silicon chips and software” and designed to “adopt ever-changing cutting-edge technology.” After 7 years of construction, in 1997, Bill Gates’ mansion was finally completed. This mansion was built entirely according to the concept of smart homes, not only equipped with a dedicated high-speed internet line, but all doors, windows, lighting, and appliances could be controlled via a computer, and it had a high-performance server to manage the entire system. Smart homes are the inevitable result of the penetration of IT technology (especially computer technology), network technology, and control technology into the traditional home appliance industry. From a social background perspective, the rapid advancement of information technology in recent years, the liberalization and high-level communication, the rapid increase in business volume, and the growing demands for safety, comfort, and efficiency in work environments have greatly increased the demand for home automation; in addition, in terms of scientific and technological aspects, the development of computer control technology and the growth of electronic information communication technology have also contributed to the birth of smart homes.
In the early 1980s, with the launch of a large number of home appliances adopting electronic technology, home electronics emerged. By the mid-1980s, the concept of home automation was formed by integrating the independent functions of home appliances, communication devices, and security devices. By the late 1980s, with the development of communication and information technology, commercial systems emerged that monitored and managed various communication, home appliance, and security devices in homes through bus technology, known in the United States as Smart Home, which is the prototype of today’s smart homes. The initial definition of smart homes was: “To connect various information-related communication devices, home appliances, and home security devices in the family to a home intelligent system through home bus technology (HBS) for centralized or remote monitoring, control, and management of household affairs, while maintaining the harmony and coordination of these family facilities with the residential environment.” HBS is the basic unit of smart homes and the core of smart residences.
The world’s first smart building appeared in Connecticut, USA, in 1984, where a certain degree of renovation was made to an old building, using a computer system to monitor and control the building’s air conditioning, elevators, lighting, etc., and providing information services in areas such as voice communication, email, and intelligence data. Smart homes were originally referred to by the English term Smart Home, but earlier terms were more associated with Home Automation, as the products involved were related to home automation products and accessories, with automation and intelligence being important characteristics. A few years ago, economically developed countries such as the United States, Europe, and Southeast Asia successively proposed the concept of “smart homes” (that is, smart homes) with the goal of: “To connect various information-related communication devices, home appliances, and home security devices in the family to a home intelligent system through home bus technology (HBS) for centralized or remote monitoring, control, and management of household affairs, while maintaining the harmony and coordination of these family facilities with the residential environment.”
Smart homes (Smart Home) frequently appear in major media and have become a well-known term. Currently, there are many different names for smart homes, such as: Electronic Home, e-Home, Digital Family, Home Automation, Home Networks, Network Home, Intelligent Home, etc., with dozens of variations. Although the names are varied, their meanings and intended functions are generally the same.
Currently, smart homes are typically defined as a system that utilizes computers, networks, and integrated wiring technology to organically combine various subsystems related to home life through a home information management platform. In other words, first, they must establish a communication network within a home to provide necessary pathways for family information. Under the control of the operating system of the home network, they achieve control and monitoring of all home appliances and devices on the home network through corresponding hardware and execution mechanisms. Secondly, they must establish a communication channel with the outside world through a certain medium platform to achieve communication with the world outside the home, meeting the needs for remote control/monitoring and information exchange. Finally, their ultimate goal is to meet people’s demands for safety, comfort, convenience, and compliance with green environmental protection.