Midterm Proposal: Motion Sensing Climate Control Device

The Project:  Motion Sensing Climate Control Device

Group Members: Katherine Chandler, Avery Gee, & Daniel Perry

The Problem: Recent studies estimate that US residential thermostats control 11% of the nation’s energy use (Meier, 2010).  However, usability issues with modern thermostat design are leading to errors in operation and wasted energy simply because users do not have a clear mental model of how the device operates in relation to their home’s HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning).  At the same time, global climate change alerts us to the significant impact of energy consumption on the Earth.  A thermostat designed as a TUI could serve as a more intuitive interface to both more effectively regulate household energy use and to raise awareness about the ecological impacts of energy use.

Project Overview:  We propose developing a system that allows users to change their indoor climate using intuitive motions and information.  We aim to both more effectively regulate household temperatures and to give users a stronger mental model of how the climate inside their home is linked to processes of environmental change.  Using sensors linked to motion and temperature, as well as images and data, we will make a thermostat that is a TUI.  In this way, the thermostat will be an interactive device that responds to both the user and to information about the climate inside and outside the house.  

Areas to Explore:

• Creating “standard gestures” related to energy use and environmental conditions that could be readily interpreted by advanced motion sensors such as those used in the Microsoft Kinect.  These might include hugging oneself to mean “I’m cold”, fanning with hands to mean “I’m hot”, shading eyes to mean “it’s too bright”
• Predict thermal comfort of each occupant based on activity level (and speed of movement) as well as personal preferences. This might include an algorithm to interpret temperature settings with multiple people in the room
• Integrate outdoor climate information to remind the user of the broader ecological connections that are impacted by this device and their settings
• Allow for user interactions with immediate feedback on temperature impact as well as an understanding of ecological impacts through visual imagery

Building It: Possible implementations include a Kinect hack with images integrated into the Kinect Visual Library.  Other variations might involve a PIR motions sensor integrated with Arduino.