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6.7 The Internet of Things and M-Commerce 187

• Ford. Users can connect to apps by voice. Coming up: Smart Homes and Appliances
autopay for gas and preorder at Starbucks.
• Tesla. Tesla’s software autonomously schedules a valet to In a smart home, the home appliances such as computers,
pick up a car and drives it to Tesla’s facility when a need refrigerators, washers, dryers, televisions, and security sys-
for repair arises. tems are interconnected and can be controlled remotely by
• Johnnie Walker. The Whiskey company connected 100,000 smartphone or via the Internet. For an overview, see smart-
whiskey bottles to the Internet for Brazil’s Father’s day. homeenergy.co.uk/what-smart-home and Miller (2015).
Using smart labeling, buyers can create a personalized video. In the United States, thousands of homes are connected
Fathers can share the videos on social networks. Fathers already to such systems and other countries are warming to
get promotions to buy the whiskey if they like it. the idea. Currently, smart home systems support a number of
• Apple. Enable users of iPhone, Apple watch, and Homekit different tasks:
with Apple Pay to streamline shopping.
• Starbucks Clover Net in the Cloud. This system connects • Lighting. Users can manage their home lighting from
coffee brewers to customers’ preferences. The system also wherever they are.
monitors employee’s performance, improves recipes, tracks • Energy management. A remote home heating and cool-
consumption patterns, and more. ing system can be controlled via remote to adjust the ther-
mostat in the house (e.g., Nest-a).
A large number of consumer applications of IoT is • Water control. WaterCop (watercop.com) is a system
reported by Jamthe (2015) and Miller (2015). Here are more that reduces water damage by monitoring leaking water
applications: via a sensor, which sends a signal to the valve, causing the
valve to close.
Example: Nest-a Google Company • Home and senior communities security and safety. Home
A leading manufacturer of IoT applications is Google’s Nest. security and safety systems can be programmed to alert you
The company is a producer of programmable self-learning, to a security-related event on your property. Home security
sensor-driven, Wi-Fi-enabled products. In spring 2016, the can also be supported by cameras, so you can remotely view
company had three products: your property in real time. Sensors can be used at home to
detect intruders, keep an eye on working appliances, and
• The learning thermostat. The device learns what tem- much more.
perature and humidity level people like and controls the Security measures are common in assisted living facili-
air conditioner/heater accordingly. The company claims it ties and in senior communities, and for seniors who live
has an average savings of 13% of energy, which is good independently. For example, the iHealthHome Touchscreen
enough to pay for the device in 2 years; see nest.com/ system collects data and communicates with the compa-
thermostat/meet-nest-thermostat/?alt=3. ny’s software. According to their website, it is a com-
• Smoke detector and alarm. This device tests itself auto- prehensive monitoring and communication system for
matically and lasts for about a decade. It is controlled professional caregivers and independent living communi-
from a smartphone. For details, see nest.com/smoke-co- ties. Family caregivers and physicians are given remote
alarm/meet-nest-protect. access to the patient’s health data. Using this technology,
• Nest.com. It is a Webcam-based system that enables you the iHealthHome program reminds seniors of their daily
to see what is going on in your home when you are away, appointments, makes the Internet useful, keeps their mind
from your smartphone or desktop computer. The system occupied, and much more. iHealthHome also reminds
turns itself on automatically when nobody is at home. You seniors to take their medicine, monitor their blood pres-
can monitor your pets, babies, etc. There is a recorder that sure, and stay in touch with their caregiver.
allows you to go back in time. For details, see nest.com/ • Home entertainment. Audio and video equipment can
camera/meet-nest-cam. be programmed to respond to a remote control device. For
instance, the remote control for a stereo system located in
Many companies are experimenting with IoT products for the family room can command the system to play on
retailing (B2C), for B2B operations, for transportation, logis- speakers installed anywhere else in the house. Home
tics, factory warehousing, and more. For details, see Miller automation performs for the user all from one remote and
(2015) and Jamthe (2015). all from one button.
Of all the consumer-related products, three are of utmost • Smart appliances. According to smartgrid.gov, a smart
importance: smart homes, smart cars, and smart cities. appliance is “an appliance that includes the intelligence