Whether used in the workplace or home, smart devices are revolutionizing how we manage our lives. They can be controlled with just a click or voice command, giving us back precious time for other activities. For example, a smart refrigerator can automatically turn off when you leave home, and it can even be programmed to dim the lights at night to cut energy use. This saves money in the long run and makes you more environmentally friendly.
The term “Smart Devices” may also be used to refer to any electronic devices connected to the Internet, including both hi-tech gadgets such as smartphones, fitness trackers and security cameras, and standard household items such as fridges, kettles and thermostats. The technologies that make a device smart include sensors, microcontrollers, microprocessors and software.
Microcontrollers are tiny computers (like an Arduino) that process sensor data and control actuators in a smart device. They can run embedded operating systems like RTOS, which are designed to respond to events in real-time. Some smart devices have more powerful microprocessors (like a modern smartphone) that can perform computationally intensive tasks like video processing in a smart doorbell. They can run a variety of operating systems including Linux, which is popular for its flexibility and open-source status.
The most common types of data collected by smart devices are fitness and workout monitoring, health tracking and sleep tracking. These are the data most likely to be of interest for digital health studies and clinical care, as they are among the primary motivations for BYOD wearable ownership. Participants willingness to share different kinds of data collected by their smart devices varied by demographic factors.
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