Smart home technology as part of municipalities` public health service

SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY AS PART OF MUNICIPALITIES` PUBLIC HEALTH SERVICE

 

Falao, Kai Vidar, Chartered Engineer, Norwegian Centre for Telemedicine

 

Through the 1990's and into the 21st century a small number of Norwegian municipalities have initiated projects in implementing smart home technology, mainly by using the European Installation Bus (EIB) system, into their apartment sharing based housing, sheltered housing and nursing homes. A project carried out by the Norwegian Center for Telemedicine in cooperation with the Deltacentre in 2001/2002 ("Smart Home Technology in Norwegian home-based Health and Social Services") revealed several challenges in implementing smart home technology into such housings and it seemed as though some of the municipalities hadn't been able to take full advantage of the technology.

Based on a succeeding and ongoing project, "Smart homes - higher municipal propagation and increased communication", carried out by the same parties, this talk will discuss the challenges and key factors that future projects on smart home technology in municipalities should be aware of. The talk will focus on bureaucratic processes prior to initiating such projects, experiences so far - benefits and problems, organizational and administrative changes due to technology and the practical use of technology. Finally we will focus on integration between smart homes and the rest of the public health service.