Student project at Chalmers
Tools: Sketch3, Photoshop
HomeIQ is a company that delivers advanced settings-systems for homes and office buildings. It consists of sensors measuring indoor and outdoor temperature, outdoor lighting conditions and a burglar alarm that basically keeps track of if someone is in the house. Using the data from these sensors, plus system data (time, day etc) the system can control certain components of the home, such as lamps, outdoor lights, blinds and the temperature. Users can create rules for this using a software on their regular computer, which communicates with the system too.
Interaction framework
The system is to run on a desktop computer using a mouse and a keyboard. Users will likely interact with the program a lot in the beginning, and then very seldom once the desired settings are created as the system will "just work".
The users
The Lundgren family consists of 2 adults and three children (2-7 years old). They live in Sweden. The family is very focused on saving energy and thus wants to make elaborate settings regarding indoor temperature, for example they want it to be colder during the night, and when no one is at home, but warmer when they are home. They also want to save both energy (and in this case also lots of money) by keeping the indoor temperature slightly lower in the winter time when it is really cold outside. They also don’t want their lights being on if unnecessary even if they have a symbolic light on in the hallway and in the kitchen to greet whoever comes home first. One of the children is very scared of the dark, so to help him get up in the mornings, they want the hallways and the bathroom to be lit (if it’s dark outside!) when it’s time to get up.
The concept
The HomeIQ smart home system default settings mean that you can immediately start saving energy (and money). The system also allows you to create your own intricate settings for heating/cooling, window blinds and lights.
Switching from overview screen to editing settings
Tools: Sketch3, Photoshop
HomeIQ is a company that delivers advanced settings-systems for homes and office buildings. It consists of sensors measuring indoor and outdoor temperature, outdoor lighting conditions and a burglar alarm that basically keeps track of if someone is in the house. Using the data from these sensors, plus system data (time, day etc) the system can control certain components of the home, such as lamps, outdoor lights, blinds and the temperature. Users can create rules for this using a software on their regular computer, which communicates with the system too.
Interaction framework
The system is to run on a desktop computer using a mouse and a keyboard. Users will likely interact with the program a lot in the beginning, and then very seldom once the desired settings are created as the system will "just work".
The users
The Lundgren family consists of 2 adults and three children (2-7 years old). They live in Sweden. The family is very focused on saving energy and thus wants to make elaborate settings regarding indoor temperature, for example they want it to be colder during the night, and when no one is at home, but warmer when they are home. They also want to save both energy (and in this case also lots of money) by keeping the indoor temperature slightly lower in the winter time when it is really cold outside. They also don’t want their lights being on if unnecessary even if they have a symbolic light on in the hallway and in the kitchen to greet whoever comes home first. One of the children is very scared of the dark, so to help him get up in the mornings, they want the hallways and the bathroom to be lit (if it’s dark outside!) when it’s time to get up.
The concept
The HomeIQ smart home system default settings mean that you can immediately start saving energy (and money). The system also allows you to create your own intricate settings for heating/cooling, window blinds and lights.
Switching from overview screen to editing settings
Overview screen with all setting
Hovering over event nodes displays information about parameters that determine the current settings.
Heating/cooling programs save energy while you are sleeping, away from home or when the temperature outdoors is extremely cold or hot.
Blinds suggest energy saving options to further reduce heating and cooling costs, in addition to creating custom programs such as being awaken by light through your bedroom window or closing the blinds for privacy when it is dark outside.
Rules can be ranked by dragging and droppin
Lights can be programmed to turn on according to time of day, sunrise/sunset, or tied to the home alarm status. Since there is the possibility to create endless custom lighting programs, filtering by room helps you to get an overview of settings created.
