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Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology

Andrea Fairman, Dan Ding, and Lindsey Morris

This course aims to provide healthcare providers, social service professionals, and caregivers with a comprehensive understanding of smart home technology and how it can be utilized as assistive technology to improve the well-being, independence, and participation for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Students will learn about the different components of a smart home, including the input methods, smart home controllers, and smart home devices. The course will cover major smart home ecosystems, such as Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Home, along with common wireless communication protocols, such as Z-wave, Zigbee, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and Thread. The smart home standard Matter will also be introduced.

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What's inside

Syllabus

Introduction to Smart Home Technology and Service Delivery
In this module, we cover the course introduction and an introduction to smart home technology and service delivery. We delve into the dynamic realm of smart technology used to enhance the quality of life for older adults and individuals with special needs by integrating the HAAT model (Human, Activity, Assistive Technology). This module explores the intricate interplay between assistive technology, assistive technology services, mainstream technology, and universal design.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops knowledge of smart home technology including components, ecosystem, and protocols used in home environments, which is standard for professionals providing support to older adults and individuals with disabilities
Explores smart home devices and platforms to meet specific individual needs, which helps students develop a customized plan of care
Provides insights into strategies to optimize client adoption and sustained use of smart home technology, which supports independence and well-being
Taught by expert instructors with extensive experience in healthcare and technology, who share valuable industry knowledge
Examines the intersection of technology, healthcare, and social services, which is highly relevant to professionals working with older adults and individuals with disabilities
Builds a strong foundation for professionals seeking to integrate smart home technology into their practice, which enhances service delivery

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Reviews summary

Smart home tech for assistive living

According to students, this course provides a comprehensive and practical foundation in utilizing mainstream smart home technology as assistive solutions for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Learners particularly appreciate its direct applicability for healthcare providers, social service professionals, and caregivers, offering concrete strategies for client assessment and training. While many found it an excellent introduction, some more technically advanced learners suggested it offers a foundational overview rather than deep technical dives. The course is seen as highly relevant and up-to-date, covering key ecosystems and communication protocols like Matter.
Keeps pace with evolving technology.
"The course felt very current, especially with the inclusion of new standards like Matter."
"It's impressive how the content reflects the latest trends in smart home assistive technology."
"I felt confident that the information provided was up-to-date and relevant for today's market."
Excellent for beginners in smart home tech.
"As someone new to smart home technology, this course provided a perfect starting point."
"I now have a solid understanding of the basics required to advise my clients effectively."
"The concepts were explained clearly, making complex topics accessible for non-technical learners."
Covers a wide range of essential smart home tech.
"It was great to learn about all the major smart home ecosystems like Amazon Alexa, Google Home, and Apple Home."
"The modules on wireless communication protocols and the Matter standard were very informative."
"I appreciated the thorough introduction to smart home components and service delivery models."
Strong emphasis on professional application.
"The integration of the HAAT model was particularly insightful for my practice in assistive technology."
"I appreciated the modules dedicated to client assessment and practical training strategies."
"This course is clearly designed for healthcare providers and caregivers, not just general tech hobbyists."
Directly applicable for care professionals.
"I found the content incredibly useful for my work as a social service professional, immediately applying concepts."
"The course clearly outlined how to use smart home devices as assistive tools in real-world scenarios."
"It provided concrete strategies for integrating technology to improve client independence and well-being."
Less detailed for advanced tech enthusiasts.
"While comprehensive, I hoped for more technical deep-dives into specific device configurations or programming."
"For someone already familiar with smart home setup, some parts felt a bit basic and high-level."
"I felt it was more conceptual on application than a 'how-to' guide for advanced troubleshooting."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology with these activities:
Review the basics of assistive technology
Reviewing the basics of assistive technology will help you better understand the course material and how smart home technology can be used as assistive technology.
Browse courses on Assistive Technology
Show steps
  • Read the assigned readings on assistive technology.
  • Watch the videos on assistive technology.
  • Take the quiz on assistive technology.
Follow a tutorial on setting up a smart home system
Following a tutorial on setting up a smart home system will help you learn how to use smart home technology in a practical setting.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on setting up a smart home system.
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial.
  • Test out the smart home system.
Practice using smart home devices
Practicing using smart home devices will help you become more comfortable using them and will allow you to see how they can be used to improve your life.
Show steps
  • Set up a smart home device.
  • Use the smart home device to complete a task.
  • Repeat steps 1 and 2 for different smart home devices.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Create a blog post or article on smart home technology
Creating a blog post or article on smart home technology will help you synthesize your knowledge of the topic and share your insights with others.
Show steps
  • Choose a topic for your blog post or article.
  • Research your topic.
  • Write your blog post or article.
  • Publish your blog post or article.
Find a mentor who can provide guidance on your smart home technology journey
Finding a mentor who can provide guidance on your smart home technology journey will help you accelerate your learning and achieve your goals.
Show steps
  • Identify the areas in which you need guidance.
  • Network with people who work in the smart home technology field.
  • Ask for introductions to potential mentors.
Volunteer at a local senior center or disability organization
Volunteering at a local senior center or disability organization will allow you to see how smart home technology can be used to improve the lives of older adults and individuals with disabilities.
Show steps
  • Find a local senior center or disability organization that you can volunteer at.
  • Contact the organization and ask about volunteering opportunities.
  • Volunteer your time at the organization.
Mentor a student or colleague who is new to smart home technology
Mentoring a student or colleague who is new to smart home technology will help you deepen your understanding of the topic and will allow you to share your knowledge with others.
Show steps
  • Find a student or colleague who is new to smart home technology.
  • Offer to mentor them.
  • Meet with them regularly to answer their questions and provide guidance.

Career center

Learners who complete Mainstream Smart Home Technology as Assistive Technology will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

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Course image
Effort
13 hours to complete
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
University of Pittsburgh
Instructors
Andrea Fairman
Dan Ding
Lindsey Morris
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Develops knowledge of smart home technology including components, ecosystem, and protocols used in home environments, which is standard for professionals providing support to older adults and individuals with disabilities
Explores smart home devices and platforms to meet specific individual needs, which helps students develop a customized plan of care
Provides insights into strategies to optimize client adoption and sustained use of smart home technology, which supports independence and well-being
Taught by expert instructors with extensive experience in healthcare and technology, who share valuable industry knowledge
Examines the intersection of technology, healthcare, and social services, which is highly relevant to professionals working with older adults and individuals with disabilities
Builds a strong foundation for professionals seeking to integrate smart home technology into their practice, which enhances service delivery
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