Business Case for Smart Homes

Abstract

The application of domotics in what is often referred to as “smart homes” has encountered an odd obstacle. Many people agree that domotics are a highly promising development. They make life easier, can help the elderly continue living at home for a longer period of time, and can reduce the involvement of professional care providers and case managers, causing healthcare costs to go down. You’d expect to see massive growth in domotics applications. However, that is not the case as of yet, particularly not in extramural healthcare in the Netherlands (Nivel 2011). Applications in intramural institutions regularly involve infrared sensors, noise-level sensors, bed mats, door locks, cameras, speaker-microphone systems, alarm buttons, and chips in clothing. Figures on the amount of extramural application of domotics do not appear to be available in the Netherlands. Applications in the extramural setting appear to primarily involve the personal alarm button (RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment 2013).