Research Dossier: Smart Homes

The implementation of smart homes has been a major technological advancement in

recent years, and it has been met with both excitement and skepticism. The idea of a home that
can be controlled remotely and automated to make life easier is certainly appealing, but there are
also concerns about the potential security risks and privacy implications. Overall, how has the
implementation of technology into smart homes impacted people’s living situations.
The answer to this question depends on who you ask. For many people, the convenience
and efficiency of smart homes has been a major benefit. Smart homes can be programmed to
adjust the temperature, lighting, and other settings to suit the user's preferences, and they can be
used to monitor energy usage and save money on utility bills. Smart home technology can also
be used to automate tasks like watering plants, locking doors, and turning off lights, which can
save time and effort. Chris Moon’s “Biometric Locks: What are They and How Do They Impact
Homeowners Insurance?” as well as Sanksshep Mahendra’s “Impact of AI in Smart Homes” and
Riitta Turjamaa’s “How smart homes are used to support older people: An integrative review” all
agree on the main concept that smart homes are a beneficial addition to society and our ways of
living overall.
On the other hand, there are some drawbacks to smart homes. Security is a major
concern, as hackers can potentially gain access to a home's systems and cause disruption or even
steal personal information. Turner Stephen’s article “What Are The Hidden Dangers In Smart
Homes” provides useful information on how smart technology might even be rendered useless
without a stable connection. Additionally, there are privacy concerns, as smart home devices can
collect data about the user's habits and activities. Finally, the cost of setting up and maintaining a
smart home can be prohibitive for some people, which is why articles such as “Are Smart Homes
a Good Idea? 5 Little-Known Downsides to Consider” are important to take into account.
Lastly, it seems as if many around the world are hesitant about upgrading their living
experience by purchasing a smart home or smart devices. Countless articles online such as “A
review on smart home technology” by Shruthi Suresh along with Rasha El-Azab’s “Smart
Homes: potentials and challenges” and even Darras Law, America’s Top Disability Law Firm
have constructed articles displaying the benefits and dangers of smart homes, which displays a
lack of decisiveness when it comes to upgrading your living experience. Smart homes are fairly
new, and maybe it would be more beneficial to remain patient until more information and
statistics are pulled from research.
Overall, the implementation of smart homes has been beneficial for many people, and
their popularity is only increasing. However, we must remember that it is important to consider
the potential risks and drawbacks before making the decision to invest in a smart home. With the
right security measures in place, smart homes can be a great way to make life easier and more
efficient with energy and other tasks. If not fully protected, smart homes can be dangerous and
unsafe. Should you upgrade to a smart home, or wait until their faults are sorted and to see where
the future lies with them.

Research Proposal

Subject: Research Proposal: Will the addition of smart technology in homes be beneficial or
detrimental regarding the safety of the home owners as AI starts to play a larger role in all of our
lives?

Topic description: Over the past decade, a substantial amount of technology has been
introduced into homes across the United States. It is uncertain whether these technological
advancements placed within homes are deemed as useful and/or safe as a homeowner.

Documentation Style: I will be writing my paper in MLA format because that is one of the
formats that is primarily used when writing papers in the Architectural field. APA is also
acceptable within the field, however I chose MLA because I will not be taking scientific
measures into account, which is primarily used in APA.

Purpose: As a future major in the design of architecture, my job would be to create the
blueprints, measurements and layouts of soon to be constructed homes. Architects must interpret
the budget, area of construction, the clients needs, and create a design within those parameters.
While someone in my position does not contribute to the physical labor/construction, the
importance of my expertise is to make sure all goes according to plan while under the constraints
of time, money and the environment. The addition of smart technology in homes would have to
be accounted for in the original plans for the house ideally, however the range of their usefulness
and safety are not fully known.

Intended audience: The intended audience is my English class peers. Since none of my peers
are in the same major as me, I will have to explicitly explain that my job is to design and
overlook, not construct. I will later go into depth that without designing, the future homeowner
will not have a proper voice for their specific wants and needs in terms of their future residency.
My class will benefit from my paper because they will have a broader understanding of whether
technology implemented into the designs of homes will be beneficial in terms of safety and
usefulness.

Research Question / Preliminary Thesis / Argument: Main Question: To what extent does the
addition of smart technology such as AI in homes affect the owner? Does the addition of smart
technology in homes increase overall safety? Overall, is the implementation of this technology
useful, or is it just another addition to those who can afford it? Are intruders more likely to be
less successful when breaking and entering into homes?
Types of research areas: Out of the three types of research, I will be implementing the scholar
and internet research areas. For the scholarly research, I will be sure to look for articles/journals
from professionals with an expertise in the field of design. For the internet research, I will be
using general sites such as google.

Keywords: Technology, Smart Homes, Security, Safety, AI, and IoT

Annotated Bibliography

What Are the Hidden Dangers in Smart Homes? - Linkedin.

www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-hidden-dangers-smart-homes-stephen-schenck.
Content: This article speaks about how smart technology has snuck into homes making
many homes simple versions of smart homes. It also goes into detail on how they can be
dangerous as the home owners are for the most part unaware on how to make their homes
secure from online criminals.
Author: Written by Turner Stephens. No further information provided.
BEAM: This source discusses the perspective on how smart homes can be dangerous and
unsafe for the homeowner. There is a bias because the author says for the most part smart
homes are safer than normal homes, however owners of smart homes do not understand
how to keep their home safe, which in turn leads them to living in an unsafe abode.

Doreen. “How Can a Smart Home Be Hacked?” Show Me the Green, 5 Apr. 2022,
showmethegreen.ca/smart-home/how-can-a-smart-home-be-hacked/.
Content: This source discusses the ways smart homes are vulnerable, and shows many
ways hackers can hack into the home or devices. It also provides many steps in order to
keep your smart home safe, such as installing security software.
Author: No information on author.
BEAM: This source shows the many ways smart homes can be dangerous and unsafe, as
well as a rebuttal from the other side of the spectrum where it provides some solutions to
the problems listed.

‘Architectural Literacy’: Functions of Architectural Drawing.

www.researchgate.net/publication/351842423_%27Architectural_literacy%27_Functions_
of_architectural_drawing.
Content: This article connects literacy and architecture.

Author: Robin Schaeverbeke and Helene Aarts worked together for the article.
BEAM: Architects use their own distinct language/way of communication to process and
design, which could be useful to a broader community.

Mahendra, Sanksshep. “Impact of AI in Smart Homes.” Artificial Intelligence +, 8 Feb.

2023, www.aiplusinfo.com/blog/impact-of-ai-in-smart-homes/.
Content: This article goes over many of the ways AI has been implemented into homes in
order to make the lives of the homeowners easier.
Author: Sanksshep Mahendra is a technology executive with most of his success in the
strategy, design and execution of software engineering on the web.
BEAM: This article speaks on the positive outcomes of AI and other technology being
implemented into homes.

Published by Statista Research Department, and Jul 27. “U.S.: Number of Smart Homes
2017-2025.” Statista, 27 July 2021,
www.statista.com/forecasts/887611/number-of-smart-homes-in-the-smart-home-market-in-
the-united-states.
Content: This website shows the overall growth in numbers of smart homes around the
U.S. which increases yearly.
Author: Published by the Statista Research Department.
BEAM: Since they are displaying an increase of the amount of smart homes per year, this
article supports the implementation of these homes.

How Smart Homes Are Used to Support Older People ... - Wiley Online Library.
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/opn.12260.
Content: This website demonstrates how smart technology in homes can aid the elderly.
Author: Riitta Turjamaa PhD
BEAM: The focus of this website is to prove that technology can allow the elderly to live
at home longer.

A Review on Smart Home Technology | IEEE Conference Publication | IEEE ...

ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/7453832.
Content: Deciding whether smart technology in homes has been beneficial or not overall.
Author: Shruthi Suresh and P V Sruthi both work in the Department of Computer Science
in Cochin College of Engineering and Technology.
BEAM: Smart technology in homes has its advantages and disadvantages, however it
needs to reach a higher level of maturity to live up to the expectations of buyers. They also
outlined the limitations of the technology.

Academic.oup.com, academic.oup.com/ce/article/5/2/302/6294582.
Content: This website breaks down smart homes to their potentials and challenges.

Author: Rasha El-Azab, Electrical Power and Machines Department, Faculty of

Engineering at Helwan University, Cairo, Egypt
BEAM: This website discusses what a smart home is, the infrastructure, appliances, and
other types of technology smart homes bring in, as well as costs. Overall described to be
beneficial.
Darras. “The Pros and Cons of Having a Smart Home.” DarrasLaw, 14 Dec. 2017,
www.longtermdisabilitylawyer.com/2015/08/pros-cons-smart-home/.
Content: Discusses pros and cons of having a smart home.
Author: No information on author.
BEAM: This website discusses great advantages, and some disadvantages. The
disadvantages are only costs and security, and the article provides solutions for the security
problems they mentioned.

Malowney, Patty. “8 Reasons Why Smart Homes Are Safer & More Secure than
Traditional Homes.” Intuitive AV Blog, Intuitive AV Blog, 14 Dec. 2021,
www.intuavblog.com/blog/8-reasons-why-smart-homes-are-safer-and-more-secure#:~:text
=Smart%20homes%20are%20not%20only,invest%20in%20smart%20home%20technolog
y.
Content: Discusses the pros to having a smart home.
Author: No information on the author.
BEAM: This website shows all the benefits towards owning a smart home, from
something as little as lighting to something as big as checking on your loved ones remotely.
Overall, the feedback was great regarding the homes.

Ramula, Pekka. “What AI and IOT Can Do for Smart Homes.” LinkedIn,
www.linkedin.com/pulse/httpswwwonpassivecomreg5f3lanprn4obqpvqidkkzw3d3d-peter-r
amula?trk=articles_directory#:~:text=Smart%20Homes%20use%20artificial%20intelligen
ce,life%20easier%20and%20more%20efficient.
Content: Talks about the future of smart homes.
Author: Pekka Ramula. No information on the author.
BEAM: Focuses on the growth and implementation of AI and IoT into homes and all the
benefits that may come of it.

Brant, Tom. “Americans: Smart Homes Are Cool, but Too Expensive.” PCMAG, PCMag, 4
Apr. 2017, www.pcmag.com/news/americans-smart-homes-are-cool-but-too-expensive.
Content: Smart Homes are very expensive for the most part.
Author: Tom Brant. Deputy managing editor of a hardware team.
BEAM: Dives into detail over the costs of smart homes, and shows alternative ways to get
technology in your home.

“What to Know about Home Automation for Architects.” What to Know About Home
Automation for Architects | ITA,
integratedtechnologiesaustralia.com.au/resource-centre/what-to-know-about-home-automat
ion-for-architects#:~:text=The%20primary%20reason%20that%20architects,home%20auto
mation%20consultant%20comes%20in.
Content: Connects smart technology and home automation to architects.
Author: No information on the author.
BEAM: Home automation used to me more scarce/rare. Recently however, they believe
those who work in home automation must begin to work alongside architects as this
technology is being implemented into almost every home.

FinSMEs. “Are Smart Homes a Good Idea? 5 Little-Known Downsides to Consider.”

FinSMEs, 10 June 2022,
www.finsmes.com/2022/06/are-smart-homes-a-good-idea-5-little-known-downsides-to-con
sider.html.
Content: Discusses the downsides to buying and owning a smart home.
Author: No information on author.
BEAM: This website is leaned towards the side that smart homes are not worth it.

Person. “10 Ways AI Can Used in Homes.” AI Magazine, 27 Oct. 2021,

aimagazine.com/top10/10-ways-ai-can-used-homes.
Content: Discusses many ways technology (AI) can be used in our homes.
Author: India Berry. No information on the author.
BEAM: This website is on the side for smart homes as it backs up the side with great
qualities technology brings.

“Crime Prevention.” A.I. Home Solutions,

aihomesolutions.com/crime#:~:text=3)%2090%25%20of%20all%20home%20invasions%
20can%20be%20prevented&text=home%20robbery%20statistic.-,A.I.,will%20have%20th
e%20most%20impact.
Content: Speaks about crime prevention, specifically on why robbers target some homes
and avoid others.
Author: No information on the author.
BEAM: This website is for smart homes, as it says things like smart locks, garage door
sensors, and more is what can help prevent break ins.