Home Automation
Research
Home Automation is using a computerised system to control your home environment, making your life easier while saving energy! Systems range from dimming lights with a remote control to integrating thermostat, security system, lighting and household appliances (vacuum cleaner, washing machine, oven, fridge). A sophisticated system could be controlled by an app on your phone from anywhere in the world. It is a good opportunity to save a lot of energy and make easy life for the house owner .
Advantages
Just need one central control panel, can be connected to any home device.
Extra comfort that costs less due to efficiency savings
Allows detailed control over lighting, heating, cooling.
Reacts to changes intelligently.
Risks
Expensive to install, also needs reliable electricity supply.
People get lazier from it and lose touch with real work.
Risk of cybercriminals hacking into control system.
The disruption in installing a wired system.
Media
Application for Solving World Hunger
Automated systems can control comfortable temperature for the vegetables and fruits on a large scale in greenhouses.
Save energy providing optimum temperature - more fossil fuels available for making fertilisers.
Automatic watering and feeding of plants in home garden/windowbox - efficient use of home space to grow more food.
Sources
http://techcrunch.com/video/smartthings-demo-new-home-automation/518074858/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9C06y2ooZYI