An API for smart objects and multimodal user interfaces for the smart home and office

Abstract

As more people move to cities, space is becoming more limited and expensive. Robotic furniture can increase functionality and optimize space, allowing spaces to feel as if they were three times the size. These mechatronic systems need capable electronics and connected microcontrollers to bring furniture to the Internet of Things (IoT). We present these electronics and firmware for three smart robotic spaces. These smart spaces need powerful software and computing systems to enable the transformations and give magic to the space. We present software written for three smart robotic spaces. The right user interfaces are vital for rich user experience. User studies with different smart home user interfaces show that although tactile interfaces are the most reliable and easiest to work with, people are hopeful for sufficiently robust gestural and speech interfaces in future smart homes. The urban homes and offices of the future are smart, customizable, and robotic.