Why IoT can shape the future of Architecture. A Human-Oriented-Design Standpoint.
To commemorate the International Women’s Day, the organizers of Women Techmakers hosted a virtual event to celebrate the hero inside of every female. I was invited to be one of the speakers and I chose a topic that spoke of my journey as a tech enthusiast referencing my background in architecture.
When I contemplated the topic to discuss for the meetup, I concluded that what better way to communicate the usefulness and importance of technology than in my area of specialization, and in a way that can be relatable.
I’ve always had the fervour to understand why humans behave the way they do, that led me to search for ways it can be applied to Architecture. Recently, I discovered the term human-oriented-design for the AEC industry. It is a method of design that comprises the two aspects of human psychology, namely behaviourism and cognitive psychology.
I learned that the concept of human-oriented design can be applied not just to the design process but also post-occupancy (having been occupied for some time). Before I go ahead to shed some light on how the concept of human-oriented design can be implemented in homes, I’d like to talk about IoT for a bit.
IoT (Internet of things) overview
IoT is simply the network of interconnected things/devices which are embedded with sensors, software, network connectivity and necessary electronics that enables them to collect and exchange data making them responsive (Definition from Wiki). To put it more simply, you have “things” that sense, collect data and communicate over the internet (what one can do with this is incredible).
The Internet of Things technology has the potential to solve a variety of problems in architecture that relates to sustainability, energy efficiency, and user comfort. IoT specifically optimizes user comfort by placing humans right in the middle of the equation, it allows for a deeper level of interaction between humans and the spaces they inhabit. For instance, The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air conditioning) system of buildings can be easily transformed into IoT devices by having sensors embedded in them and connected over the internet.
Just to play with the minds of listeners a bit, I painted a picture of having a space that interacts with its users, such that it becomes aware of the presence of a person, turns on the AC when the temperature of that space is hot and the heater when it is cool. We see this in home automation.
To drive the point home, I shared the result of a survey conducted of psychiatrists across the UK, which revealed that families were experiencing significant tension as a result of staying at home together all the time (The Guardian). It is safe to assume that the same outcome would be discovered if this survey was conducted in Nigeria. Human-oriented-design allows us to study human behaviour and incorporate this phenomenon with a building’s management system with the help of IoT.
Imagine having buildings that become aware when you step into a particular space, building components like wall change colour or pattern based on the mood of its occupants taking into account their mental health . It would be really cool to have your room cheer you up when you’re not happy about something, don’t you think?
Buildings, homes specifically have come to mean more than just a dwelling place but have now been transformed into works spaces, educational institution and even gyms because of the Covid-19 pandemic. During this period, humanity is forced to spend long hours (if not all hours) staying at home and interrelating with architecture in the act of space management and optimization.
I dare to say that, at a time such as this, more attention needs to be paid on not just providing habitable spaces but spaces that interact and respond to human needs. The IoT technology creates the avenue to have buildings responsive to human behaviour and emotions, this is because, now more than ever, technology can be tangibly interacted with.
If this doesn’t speak of the future of architecture, I don’t know what will!
You can find my slides for the meetup here and my website here.
