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Lack of affordable, adequate housing has reached critical levels worldwide. According to the World Economic Forum, we’re facing a “global housing crisis” that can’t be ignored[1]. Meaningful change will take commitment from authorities and advocacy groups everywhere, but innovative wireless solutions could offer hope for communities in need of greater support.
A global shortage of adequate housing and services
A staggering 1.6 billion people—one-fifth of the world’s population—lack access to adequate housing and basic services, according to a United Nations (UN) report[2]. UN experts predict this figure could rise to 3 billion by 2030. To accommodate this future reality, 96,000 new affordable and accessible homes would need to be built every day, says UN-Habitat[3].
While the shortage of available housing is alarming, the quality of life for low-income households and elderly populations is also a major concern. So how can society address this enormous challenge?
Technology key to low-cost smart housing initiatives
One way to tip the supply-versus-demand scales, and just as importantly help more vulnerable people, regardless of their age, live independently in safe and secure environments is by increasing the amount of ‘smart’ social housing that integrates a range of automated healthcare and welfare services.
One real-world example of technology improving the everyday lives of residents can be seen in an affordable housing initiative aiming to solve California’s low-cost housing shortage crisis. Developed through an ambitious partnership between NousLogic, an IoT Cloud technology company, and AIA (AI-transformative Accommodation) LLC, a smart affordable housing firm that uses panelized construction technologies, the advanced residential design project forms part of a collaborative program with the UCI (University of California, Irvine) Center for Real Estate at the Paul Merage Business School. The program’s goal is to develop business plans in the ‘Golden State’ for low-cost smart housing using automated essential services.
A smart home health and aging-in-place platform
The NousLogic smart home health platform—comprising a suite of connected solutions for ‘aging-in-place’/assisted living services—employs the NousLogic Smart Hub which serves as a bridge to upload data from local Bluetooth LE/NFC devices to associated Cloud servers where data analytics and AI-based algorithms offer automated remote patient monitoring (RPM) services and recommendations.
With Amazon Sidewalk long-range support, this platform is particularly useful for providing RPM services to households that do not have access to or are unable to afford a monthly home Internet service or cellular service charges.
According to its creators, the RPM platform is designed to enhance the quality of life for elderly individuals by enabling proactive remote health, vitals monitoring, automatic medication compliance tracking (via a smart pill counter with high accuracy pill weight sensing), and preventive healthcare measures.
Besides health, other benefits include safe and independent living via other NousLogic accessories such as an SOS emergency button, a room occupancy radar detector, a fall detection sensor, and a smart door lock/video doorbell.
Bluetooth LE connectivity and Amazon Sidewalk support
The NousLogic solution is based on Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840 SoC, which supervises each device’s integrated sensors and provides powerful and reliable Bluetooth LE connectivity for short-range wireless communication and device commissioning.
In addition, the ultra-low power nRF52840 and Nordic’s nRF Connect SDK [Software Development Kit] support the rapid integration and use of Amazon Sidewalk’s long range CSS/LoRa – a low-data rate, wireless communication protocol designed to provide connectivity to devices outside the range of a home Wi-Fi network, or that depend on a nearby mobile phone or proprietary gateway for a Cloud connection.
As Hoang Nhu, CEO of NousLogic explains, unlike other wireless standards, an Amazon Sidewalk-based product offers a true plug-and-play solution for users, with no monthly wireless service charge.
There’s a long way to go, but wireless solutions are playing their part to improve the lives of people in social housing – and the world is a better place for it.
References
1. 4 practical solutions to the world's spiraling housing crisis, World Economic Forum
2. UN expert urges action to end global affordable housing crisis, United Nations Human Rights
3. https://unhabitat.org/topic/housing, UN-Habitat
