Blog 1. HVAC, sensors, AI, database and future. 

For this first blog post the task was to investigate a few assigned topics, evaluate them and write about them. For the group I am in the topics were HVAC, sensors, AI, database and future. The topics are seemingly very different and don’t have anything in common. However, I think there is a clear connection. My approach to this post was about how I could convey that connection to the reader. Let’s see if it worked out. 

The AI seems like a good point to start with.

One of the articles that caught my attention was the one by Lindsey Ellis titled “Hey, Alexa, Should We Bring Virtual Assistants to the Campus? These Colleges Gave Them a Shot”. That talks about ASU and Georgia Tech students’ experiences with Echo Dots. There were 60 of the devices distributed and they were given basic data access to students schedules and grades. The participants struggled at first to incorporate the devices in their everyday life, however, after certain time the devices became essential in helping students to deal with common tasks. The challenge that was faced during this experiment was due to lack of centralized database.

In the past couple years AI went from being a “scary robot” from a science fiction movie to something most people with smartphones and laptops are exposed to every day. With the introduction of virtual assistant home devices any home can be converted into a smart home and customized based on the user’s preferences. 

Which brings us to the next two articles that I read about HVAC and sensors. 

”5 New Technology Trends Reshaping the HVAC industry” by Grainger introduces five unique approaches to HVAC systems. Major part in HVAC improving is reducing power consumption without reducing functionality. One of the tactics is creating a smart HVAC that not only able to alert the user about maintenance but using improved sensing array adjust thermostats, or airflows in the different parts of the building based on the usage and not only settings. The improved sensing array can be created using the sensors that were introduced by Angela Lang in “Here Comes the Thermoelectric future: We Tried Out the Next Generation of Self-Powered Sensors”. The sensors that were introduced, not require any external batteries and being powered up by thermal energy.

So imagine a building that is “inhabited” by an AI. But not just any AI -  it has access to a vast database (such as internet) if there is any information needed, it controls smart HVAC that is self-maintained and can diagnose any flows in its functioning, it is monitoring multiple sensors inside to provide the best internal environment and it is also able to store the data for future evaluation. There are buildings like that out there and with the development of the modern technology they are not the future anymore, they are present.

Sources 

1. 5 New Technology Trends Reshaping the HVAC industry. Grainger,12/2016, https://www.grainger.com/content/supplylink-5-trends-reshaping-hvac-industry?ef_id=CjwKCAiA6vXwBRBKEiwAYE7iS-4Chlv1ArRPRo82RayOF-9XliG8e5HbNAV2lY0wfTkDKio3qshYKRoC8DwQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!380017044231!b!!g!!&cm_mmc=PPC:+Google+PPC
2. Angela Lang, Here Comes the Thermoelectric future: We Tried Out the Next Generation of Self-Powered Sensors. CNET, January 4, 2019, https://www.evernote.com/pub/view/aengineer/ae-510/d565a408-79a7-44b4-b4f6-b3f163bfb79a?locale=en#st=p&n=d565a408-79a7-44b4-b4f6-b3f163bfb79a
3. Lindsey Ellis. Hey, Alexa, Should We Bring Virtual Assistants to the Campus? These Colleges Gave Them a Shot. Technology, August 02, 2018, https://www.evernote.com/pub/view/aengineer/ae-510/cff1e0c7-03cd-4181-8f63-6a134b024f2b?locale=en#st=p&n=cff1e0c7-03cd-4181-8f63-6a134b024f2b

Comments.

Andre Morris post

I like that your post concentrates on looking at the topic from a different prospective. It is very true that most of the time we only focus on the benefits of the inventions and technology in general forgetting to evaluate the other side. However, I also want to point out that the society changes as well and the norms of the society evolve constantly. Some things that were not appropriate couple centuries ago are parts of our everyday activities nowadays. So we can not predict that future generations will have similar attitude to the topic as we do

https://ae-410-510-ay19-20.blogspot.com/2020/01/investigating-concerns-of-smart-city.html?showComment=1579032304054

Amanda Kolar post

I really like the article that you picked to talk about AI. It is a major concern and there is a lot of talk in the world about how rapidly the workforce needs change and how the "revolution" going to influence unemployment. The other side of the problem is how the education needs to be modernized in order to fulfill the new changes and demands. It is an interesting time we are all living in.

https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=2403473360137505969&postID=3102666535582708709&page=1&token=1579033253944&isPopup=true