Essay

Technology is embedding itself everywhere. Within environments, it is becoming smaller and can be found in more and more everyday objects as well as in the fabric that makes up the environment itself. So, the main question becomes: what should we do with all of the information that such technology gathers?

Within smart environments such everywhere technology might be in the form of sensors and actuators that gather important data that feedsback into a system to optimize a particular environmental function. Such sensors and actuators could live within everyday occupant objects or within the environment itself — again, to use the information gathered toward a given purpose. But, for what?

The following are:

7 Ways Ubiquitous Technology Can Be Used Within Smart Environments

1. Measure individual or collective occupant temperature through clothing to automatically adjust climate controlled building zones.

2. Measure individual or collective occupant stress (heart rate, perspiration, blood pressure) through clothing or wrist-worn devices to trigger environmental stimuli to reduce occupant stress points.

3. Gather data about green occupant behaviors within a given environment to then have environment feedback more green behavior change interventions.

4. Use data to observe excersice and mobility of occupants to then feedback interventions targeting better health toward exercise and mobility.

5. Gather information from social media sites (occupants often carry mobile phones) and feedback this information into environment to further engage occupants with their space and with each other.

6. Gather work pattern behavior data to feedback into system for environmental interventions that help occupants with productivity and/or creativity.

7. Pull data beteen multiple buildings to allow occupants to be more aware and to be in more control of their environments. For instance, pulling data about an occupant’s home and transmitting that data to them at work, at the hospital, or to their hotel would give them a new type of connectedness.

The latter 7 examples of what to do with data that is collected from ubiquitous technologywithin environments serves to get you thinking about how you might use such information to make your architectural design projects better.

To do this, simply think about what change or improvement you would like to make for your occupants in real-time. Then, think about what information you would need to gather in order to make that change a reality.

Ubiquitous technology is becoming more widespread. Perhaps you can take advantage of what it can do.

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