Procurement of 'smart homes' for people with physical disability

• Main Author: Chapman, G. Keith
• Published: University of Portsmouth 2008
• Subjects: 363.5
• Online Access: http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.496002

Few Smart Homes for severely physical disabled persons have been constructed in the UK except for those developed in the late 1990s, which were constructed as demonstration or exhibition projects and not for permanent residence. This study acknowledges the resulting dearth of user consultation data as one of the gaps and addresses it through utilising a wide user consultation exercise to direct and inform the research and development of Smart Homes. Users stress that the role of technology is to complement and enhance existing living arrangements and cannot act as a substitute to the care and support received from other people, either informally from family and friends or formally from service providers. A technology and design review informed design exercises culminating in the design of smart homes capable of being constructed for disabled persons and those requiring lifetime homes. Internal and external doors, locks and all windows are motorised and a system of sensors and devices share data in order to act, react and interact in an appropriate way. Post-occupancy studies identified that radio frequency remote controllers appear to have performed better than infrared alternatives and that motorised doors are the most frequently used elements in the system, particularly front doors, doors to the garden, and kitchen doors. There have been difficulties experiences in the successful implementation of Smart Homes research and in the successful provision of Smart Homes when using some methods of procurement. These issues are addressed through a survey of the actual procurement methods utilised and their impact on the success of a number of smart home projects across the UK. It was found that the majority of survey respondents would select a Traditional procurement method if involved in a future Smart Home project.