Tem Project

As an HVAC major, I wanted to choose a project that focuses on this aspect of intelligent buildings. Reading about the Nest thermostat in the building of the term intrigued me to research the capabilities of thermostats. It might seem like a primitive control system but it is the first integration of an “intelligent” system into a building.

After my project partner, David Morrison, and I spoke and brainstormed with my friend from Drexel Smart House, Michael Magee, we finalized the scope of the project as the exploration of the capabilities of integrated thermostats. For this project, we will use an Arduino microprocessor to collect temperature and humidity data from different spaces. Sensors will be placed in each of the four corners of the rooms we will use for this study and temperature and humidity differences will be measured. The data will also be compared in the static thermostat controlling each of the spaces measured. This data will be analyzed to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the thermostat. Location of thermostat, location of diffuser, size of space, and type of air conditioning system in the space will be taken into account.

After the data will be analyzed thoroughly, we will draw conclusions regarding the implications of the study in relation to intelligent buildings. Some implications include actually including multiple thermostats in each space to create an integral system, providing automated diffusers that spread air more evenly, adding automated fans to mix the air better thermally, etc. The project will draw conclusions to help provide a more even thermal comfort throughout spaces and give suggestions as to how to integrate it into intelligent buildings.

Week 2: Future of Computer Hardware Technology

The future of Computer Hardware Technology I believe is going to be focused on the way users interact with their computer. I believe this will include advancements in both the interface and in new methods of input. Some of these advancements will include 3D displays, hologram displays, further advances in touchscreen technology, augmented displays, voice controlled computers, and other computer hardware advancements that will make using a computer feel more natural for the user. The future of computer hardware is looking to create a more intuitive experience for the user where little to no training on using the computer is needed. The goal is for the user to be able to do whatever they feel and for the computer to be able to pick up the user’s instinctive actions and interpret it as a logical input that the computer will comprehend and perform a task according to that user’s action. In addition to a more user-friendly atmosphere, the future of computer hardware technology I believe is looking to be able to cross from platform to platform and work in uniform with most other forms of technology. In essence, I agree with an article from Computerworld “Future shock: The PC of 2019” where in the near future data on a main computer at home can be transferred to a smaller, portable version of a computer (similar to a smartphone) and this device can then unlock your car, have access to personal information on the go like checking bank accounts or stock portfolios, and then this same device can be plugged into a station at work for a business meeting and display your presentation to your clients. With the increasing amount of devices that use software similar to what they call a “cloud” or online place to store information that can be accessed on the go by mobile devices, I believe that we are very close to a future where we can access any and all information on the go and control them in ways similar to floating visual touch displays that we thought we’d only see in sci-fi, secret agent type movies.

I am in agreement with my classmate M Lorena Alvarado’s post on the future of computer hardware technology where she describes how the “better” and “improved” products of the future will be smaller, lighter, and more portable to act as a commodity for the user. However, I believe that new smartphones and such to come are done being marketed as being smaller than its predecessor, but will rather focus on being more productive and efficient than ever before.

Sources:

http://www.infoworld.com/t/computer-hardware/the-future-computer-user-interfaces-178762

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/334799/Future_shock_The_PC_of_2019

http://www.phoenix.edu/colleges_divisions/technology/articles/2011/02/anticipating-the-future-when-will-all-computer-hardware-become-obsolete.html

http://kangaroojase.hubpages.com/hub/The-Future-Of-Computers-Hardware-Roadmap-To-2015

Computer Hardware Technology in the Future

Computer history and development has continued to change significantly since the 1930s when the first programmable computer was first invented.  From that point on, computer technology has increased in advancements.  This includes improvements in programming, software and hardware.  Considering how fast new technology is surfacing, and how we constantly require updating our computers to be leveled with the latest developments, we can only expect greater and better technology to surface in the next 10 years.

For certain types of market, people associate the word “better” or “improved” with bigger products, but in the computer market, “better” and “improved” usually relates to technology that is smaller, more compact, lighter, and yet more efficient.  In the past couple of years, the tablet world has exploded and the world seems to be replacing computers with tablets, as these serve as a slimmer and more practical replacement.  And now with the smartphone surge, advertisements are convincing the audience that smartphones are all you need as it can basically do everything and anything that a computer can.  Smaller products that have the same functions of a computer are in high demand now.  In the article “Future shock: The PC of 2019”, Mary K. Pratt talks about the dramatic changes that will come in the next decade by saying “the PC [will] evolve past the standard desktop and laptop units to amalgamations of computer devices and their peripherals.”  It seems as this has slowly but surely started happening and looking into the future we can be certain this influence will be stronger.

Technology that is more compact and that serves as a greater commodity to the user are in high demand and we can expect that in the future we will see greater things.  The development of the SixthSense wearable gestural interface by Pranav Mistry in the MIT Media Lab has been a great sensation since it first surfaced in 2009.  With the technological advancements happening now and that we anticipate in the future, I believe it is safe to say that we can expect this type of technology will be available to the public in the next five to ten years future and will replace the computer hardware technology that we use now.

The idea of "wearable computers" that Ryan Krall discussed in his post is something that I can also see in the future.  Nowadays people like products that can be easily implemented in their life and having a computer that is "wearable", handy, and on-the-go is going to in high demand in the future and it might only take about five years to get there.  Also, hologram displays, like the ones that we have seen in futuristic movies, will definitely take a part in the future.  Like Ryan Krall and Evan Rosario discussed in their posts, things that we all saw in the science fiction movies will be the next thing and replace the products we have now.

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/334799/Future_shock_The_PC_of_2019

http://www.pranavmistry.com/projects/sixthsense/

http://www.infoworld.com/t/computer-hardware/the-future-computer-user-interfaces-178762

Sensors - the Future

Thermostats are one of the first examples of intelligent systems in buildings. As simple of a device as temperature controlling unit have evolved throughout the years and today the Nest Thermostat is seen as the future of thermostats.

To read and watch more about the Nest, you can use this link:

http://mobile.theverge.com/2011/11/14/2559567/tony-fadell-nest-learning-thermostat

It exemplifies the different capabilities of former Apple employee Tony Fadell’s thermostat, as well as the technological evolution of the industry.

More important than the neat design and touch screen, the Nest has multitude of sensors to help maintain thermal comfort, as well as save energy in the building. This thermostat does not only have a thermometer like old thermostats; it also has a humidity sensor, light sensor and even an activity sensor. The touch screen has a touch sensor and the wifi receiver is also a sensor. This tiny device includes all of these sensors for a relatively cheap price. Just like an iPhone, that is sold for $200 and includes many sensors (and selling the smart device is not even what the phone companies make their money off of, but the plan), the Nest is small, cheap, and very intelligent is term of its sensor capabilities. It is unbelievable how some houses built in the US a few years ago still did not have a central air system or a thermostat, and now this simple device has expanded to be able to sense activity in the room, adjust itself, and save energy accordingly.

Looking to the future, sensors are just going to evolve more. A study that was done five years ago by Kim Fowler (see link below) asked people what they think about sensor and network development in the next five years. The study shows how different people think sensors are developing in a variety of areas. Expectedly, academics who work with sensors predicted the most drastic increase in sensor use and advancement. Some people don’t even realize how fast this technology is moving and it is hard to predict how the future will look like with even more, better, smaller, and cheaper sensors. Factors like dependability, size, ease of diagnosis, security of data, power consumption, etc. are some of the areas in which sensors seem to improve dramatically.

It is funny to think how eight years ago we used to think the ultra thin Motorola phone was the most advanced piece of technology out there, and touchscreens, wifi, voice command and other features that exist in every smartphone today were only science fiction. And this development is all thanks to sensors.

Sources:

http://mobile.theverge.com/2011/11/14/2559567/tony-fadell-nest-learning-thermostat

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/stamp/stamp.jsp?arnumber=04801766

Computer Hardware

I think the definition of future is relative to what you are talking about. Such as if a new operating system is going to be released in the future you are probably going to be talking about three years, or if you are talking about prosthetic arms being controlled by a human's brain you could be talking about a decade, or if you talking about intergalactic space travel then you are probably talking about hundreds of years.
As for my topic of computer hardware technology future pretty much means every year since hardware companies are finding ways of making their products more powerful.
According to CNET which covered the CES 2013 computer hardware is "rarely the top category". If this is the case I would find it hard to believe that hardware has any significant impact on the building industry. It would seem that companies such as Intel are working to make their processors more powerful by the year but only to improve personal computer such as through tablets. We are pretty much taking our old technology and making it better to suit our needs as users. Intel for example is working on a technology in which can tract eye movement and motion in order to play an interactive game.  Intel is also working improving battery life and table top computers. The interactive gaming could probably have an impact on the building industry. If the motion control technology from Intel is any good you could probably see them develop a system where they could incorporate a whole room and the person can use the room as a field that is projected on the screen. Of course if Intel can master motion control then it could probably make the video of the automated construction more viable. A person from a room with motion control technology can control the robots with his hands or his eyes. After reading the posts from my group members we all pretty much came up with the same conclusion. I did like one specific thing from what Evan said in which he said that "The future of computer hardware is looking to create a more intuitive experience for the user". van I think this is definitely true. Aside from young children picking up an iphone and knowing how to use it very easily a lot of elderly people can start easily using these devices even though they never grew up having to be around them or use.


http://ces.cnet.com/8301-34439_1-57563543/wrapping-up-computers-tablets-and-hardware-at-ces-2013/
http://ces.cnet.com/8301-34435_1-57562560/pcs-of-the-near-future-intel-lays-out-next-gen-plans/

Common Topic Labels for the Course

Below are topics that we'll address in the course.  This post also creates those topics as Labels for use when you're putting in your own blog posts.

TOPIC

AI

BIM

Building

Civil

Computer

Database

Design

Electrical

Environmental

Future

Hardware

HVAC

Manufacturing

Robotics

Sensor

Software

Structures

System

Term Project