Beyond the Smart Home

Due to progress in wired and wireless home networking, sensor networks, networked appliances, mechanical and control engineering, and computers, we can build smart homes, and many smart home projects are currently proceeding throughout the world. However, we have to be careful not to repeat the same mistake that was made with home automation technologies that were booming in the 1970s. That is, [total?] automation should not be a goal of smart home technologies. I believe the following points are important in construction of smart homes from users?? viewpoints: development of interface technologies between humans and systems for detection of human intensions, feelings, and situations; improvement of system knowledge; and extension of human activity support outside homes to the scopes of communities, towns, and cities.