Self-configuring Home Automation Networks Based on Psychophysical Principles

Home automation networks are designed to meet standards of comfort and energy efficiency. Hence, the interaction between home automation and the inhabitant is based on rudimentary knowledge about the condition and the perception of the human. In order to improve the human-to-automated-home interaction, psychophysical measurements can be helpful to design a human-oriented home automation network. In particular elderly residents and people with impairments may have specific requirements and altered expectations towards comfort as defined in the standard guidelines. In this paper, a the concept of a systematic process model, leading to an improved interaction between human and building environment, is presented. This process model has the purpose to create a self-configuring home automation network by using already existing psychophysical knowledge about the inhabitant.