Internet of Things and Data Analytics Handbook

37SMART HOME SERVICES USING THE INTERNET OF THINGS

GENE WANG¹ AND DANIELLE SONG²

¹People Power Company, Redwood City, CA, USA

²University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA

37.1 INTRODUCTION

Smartphones are the most popular consumer electronics device on the planet. We carry little supercomputers around in our pockets or purses every day. And we use them for all kinds of purposes, not just making calls. In fact, when you talk to your friends about something you’re trying to do, they’re likely to say, “Well, there’s an app for that.” At People Power, we have been researching how smartphone control can extend to the Internet of Things (IoT). There are infinite possibilities, but we are targeting the areas in your life where you’ll get the most out of connected devices. We are building smart home services running on smartphones that connect users to the people and things they love most.

The service starts free. You can download our app Presence to turn your old smartphone into a free webcam or security camera with motion detection and video alerts. In addition to this, you can scale up and begin forming an ecosystem of connected and cooperating devices in your home.

37.2 WHAT MATTERS?

Homes are expensive, and people want to protect them.

As IoT has taken off, people have come up with all kinds of new innovations, from remote‐controlled home appliances and smart baby monitors to smart wristbands that track your activity level. The tech world as we know it is expanding to reach ...