Page 237 - Handbook of Electronic Assistive Technology

226 HANDBOOK OF ELECTRONIC ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Smart Homes in the United Kingdom

INTEGER

Intelligent and Green (INTEGER) was a consortium of over 150 companies promoting
intelligent technology for managing the systems within the home and for communica-
tions to and from the home. It was formed in 1996, and following the development of a
strategy in 1997, the INTEGER house was built at the Buildings Research Establishment
(BRE) Garston site for the BBC ‘Dream House’ series.
The INTEGER house incorporated a variety of smart house systems:
1� KNX – lighting.
2� Echelon – heating and access control.
3� EHS – white goods.

The ideas encapsulated in this original design have been developed and incorporated
into a number of projects. These ideas have continued to be developed and a number of
these projects have been reported, only one of which has significant health and well-being
(Nicholl and Perry, 2008). BRE published guidelines relating to smart house systems in
2003 and 2008, and completely refurbished the INTEGER house in 2013 (Bromley et al.,
2003).
The first UK-based smart home project to look specifically at the requirements of peo-
ple with disabilities was cosponsored by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Scottish
Homes and ran from 1996 to 1999. This led to the development of two exemplars: the KNX-
based Assisted Interactive Dwelling (AID) house in Edinburgh, and the LonWorks-based
Smart Flat in York, their development being fully documented in the book Digital Futures
(Gann et al., 1999).

The AID House

The AID house included a full range of sensors: heat, gas, smoke, thermostats, light level,
light/mains switches, doors, doorbell, windows, motion, pressure pads, cooker and taps;
and control: lights, mains, blinds, windows, windows, radiators, keyless entry and touch-
screen (Bonner, 1998). It was established initially as a demonstrator and was influential in
catalysing various stakeholder groups’ involvement with technology. The demonstration
site was handed over to a disabled couple in 2001 who made significant use of the technol-
ogy within the property (Gann et al., 1999). The property remained fully operational over a
decade after opening. This project led directly to commissions for two further projects: the
Paisley Smart Flat and Lilybank.
As part of ‘Glasgow 1999 – Year of Architecture and Design’, Edinvar were commis-
sioned to install a KNX system into a ground floor flat belonging to Glasgow City Council.
The flat layout was designed with dementia sufferers in mind and was remodelled to meet
the needs of such individuals, which included the design of doorways, bathroom and gar-
dens. The general design requirements were specified by Professor Mary Marshall and her