Smart metering and precise measurement of energy consumption levels have brought more detailed information and interest on the actual load profile of a house which continues to improve consumer-retailer relationships. Participation in demand response (DR) programs is one of these relationships but studies have shown that there are considerable impacts resulting to some level of discomfort on consumers as they aim to follow a suggested load profile. This research therefore investigates the impact on consumers while participating in DR programs by evaluating various perspectives that includes:  Modelling the causes discomfort during participation in DR programs;  Evaluation of user participation capabilities in DR programs;  Identification of schedulable and non-schedulable loads and opportunities;  Application of load scheduling mechanism which caters for specific user concerns.  Investigation towards ensuring a secure and robust system design. The key source of information that enhances this work is obtained from data on historical user behavior which can be stored within a smart controller installed in the home and optimised using genetic algorithm implemented on MATLAB. Results show that user participation in DR programs can be improved and effectively managed if the challenges facing home owners are adequately understood. This is the key contribution of this work whereby load schedules created are specifically tailored to meet the need of the users hence minimizing the impact of discomfort experienced due to participation in DR programs. Finally as part of the test for robustness of the system design in order to prevent or minimize the impact of any event of a successful cyber-attack on the load or price profiles, this work includes means to managing any such attacks thereby mitigating the impact of such attacks on users who participate in demand response programs. Solutions to these attacks are also proffered with the aim of increasing robustness of the grid by being sufficiently proactive.

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Yes / Human activity recognition from sensor data is a critical research topic to achieve remote health monitoring and ambient assisted living (AAL). In AAL, sensors are integrated into conventional objects aimed to support targets capabilities through digital environments that are sensitive, responsive and adaptive to human activities. Emerging technological paradigms to support AAL within the home or community setting offers people the prospect of a more individually focused care and improved quality of living. In the present work, an ambient human activity classification framework that augments information from the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of passive RFID tags to obtain detailed activity profiling is proposed. Key indices of position, orientation, mobility, and degree of activities which are critical to guide reliable clinical management decisions using 4 volunteers are employed to simulate the research objective. A two-layer, fully connected sequence long short-term memory recurrent neural network model (LSTM RNN) is employed. The LSTM RNN model extracts the feature of RSS from the sensor data and classifies the sampled activities using SoftMax. The performance of the LSTM model is evaluated for different data size and the hyper-parameters of the RNN are adjusted to optimal states, which results in an accuracy of 98.18%. The proposed framework suits well for smart health and smart homes which offers pervasive sensing environment for the elderly, persons with disability and chronic illness.

Många hem köper produkter som är internetuppkopplade, sakernas internet (IoT), det gäller allt från lampor till kattluckor. Detta öppnar upp för möjligheten att styra sitt hem på nya sätt men det medför nya hot mot hem och samhället. Detta är ett kritiskt problem för många företag, särskilt på IoT-marknaden där det finns incitament som driver låga kostnader och snabb marknadsintroduktion. Litteratstudien visade en brist på tydliga värderingar av investeringar och att även om produktivitet påverkas negativt och förlänger tiden från idé till marknad undviks framtida svårigheter vid lyckade cybersäkerhethetsåtgärder. Trots de betydande hoten kan många företag välja att acceptera risken för cyberattacker på grund av att kostnader vid säkerhetsbrister inte alltid hamnar hos dem.Sårbarhetstestningsmetoden PatrIoT följdes för att grundligt testa IoT-produkten Microchip Cat Flap Connect. Attacker som utfördes var bland annat ping-flooding och MiTM. Produkten visade sig vara säker och vanliga svagheter som öppna nät- verkstjänster och avsaknad av kryptering var frånvarande. Produkten visade sig vara sårbar mot överflödesattacker (DoS) i form av ping-flooding. Med det går det att säga att produkten följer ett flertal principer för utveckling mot säker IoT men servern som används för webbapplikationen bör implementera krav på att endast lita på certifikat av betrodda certifikatutfärdare. / Many households purchase internet-connected products, Internet of Things (IoT), which includes everything from lamps to cat flaps. This opens new ways and possibilities of controlling one's home, but it brings new threats to home and society. This is a critical issue for many companies, especially in the IoT market where there are incentives that drive low costs and quick time to market. The literature study showed a lack of clear valuations of investments and that even if productivity is negatively affected and the time from idea to market is extended, future difficulties are avoided with successful cyber security measures. Despite the significant threats, many companies may choose to accept the risk of cyber-attacks because the costs of security breaches do not always end up with them.The PatrIoT vulnerability testing methodology was followed to thoroughly test the IoT product Microchip Cat Flap Connect. The product proved to be secure and common weaknesses, such as open network services and lack of proper implementation of encryption, could not be identified. The product was found to be vulnerable to denial-of-service (DoS) attacks in the form of ping-flooding. With that, it can be said that the product follows several principles for development towards secure IoT, but the server used for the web application should implement requirements to only trust certificates from trusted certificate authorities.

Résumé : Pour assister efficacement les personnes en perte d'autonomie dans le contexte des habitats intelligents, il est essentiel d'identifier les difficultés auxquelles ces personnes sont confrontées dans leur quotidien. L'objectif de ce travail est d'observer les processus exécutifs durant les activités de la vie quotidienne, ainsi que leur dysfonctionnement lors du vieillissement cognitif (normal ou lié à la maladie d'Alzheimer), puis d'élaborer un modèle théorique et informatique capable de simuler les comportements observés. Une phase d'observation et de qualification des processus de contrôle exécutif (capacités de régulation de l'action, de correction et d'adaptation lors de situations imprévues) a d'abord été réalisée, dornnant lieu à la spécification d'un modèle théorique fondé sur le modèle de contrôle attentionnel de l'action de Norman et Shallice. Le modèle théorique a ensuite été implémenté informatiquement et permet de simuler une activité quotidienne spécifique. // Abstract : In order to assist patients who are loosing their autonomy, smart homes and cognitive assistance systems have to be based on a good knowledge of people's disorders and on the difficulties they are likely to encounter in daily life. The specific objective of this PhD is to observe executive processes involved in the completion of daily activities and their impairment during ageing and dementia of the Alzheimer's type, and then to design both theoretical and computational models which are able to generate the observed behaviours. An observation and a qualification phase, allowing to observe executive control processes (action regulation, correction and adaptation when unexpected situations occur) have been first realized, leading to the specification of a theoretical model based on the Norman and Shallice model. This theoretical model has then been implemented to obtain a computational model, which allows the simulation of a specific activity of daily living.

Devido ao aumento da população idosa ou com limitações físicas/mentais é possível observar o crescimento de estudos na área de Internet das Coisas com o objetivo de monitorar a saúde e auxiliar no gerenciamento e melhora na qualidade de vida dessa parte da população. Nesse sentido, a abordagem baseada em Internet das Coisas aplicada em ambientes médicos e casas inteligentes tem o objetivo de fornecer conectividade entre o paciente e o ambiente ao seu redor, provendo mecanismos para ajudar em diagnósticos e prevenção de acidentes e/ou doenças. Nesse contexto surge a oportunidade de explorar sistemas computacionais para identificar o estado físico e emocional, em tempo real, de indivíduos com alguma limitação para monitorar a saúde; por exemplo, identificar o comportamento da rotina do usuário e emitir alertas aos familiares e/ou equipe médica sobre algum evento anormal ou identificar indícios de distúrbios emocionais. Ainda, com base na Inteligência Artificial é possível que sistemas computacionais possam aprender e se adaptar ao contexto que se encontra, por exemplo aprender e se adaptar a quantidade de exercícios e/ou estado emocional do usuário em determinadas situações, combinando conceitos tanto de Internet of Things quanto de Inteligência Artificial. Assim, este projeto tem como objetivo desenvolver e avaliar um modelo que possa: i.) identificar o estado físico e emocional do usuário; ii.) prover um mecanismo que possa monitorar de maneira inteligente as atividades do cotidiano do usuário e; iii.) explorar a abordagem de integração de dados com a utilização de múltiplos sensores IoT para uma melhor interação entre dispositivos computacionais no ambiente Health Smart Homes. / Due to the increase in the elderly population or with physical/mental limitations it is possible to observe the growth of studies in the field of Internet of Things with the objective of monitoring health and assisting in the management and improvement of the quality of life of this part of the population . In this sense, the Internet of Things approach applied in medical environments and smart homes aims to provide connectivity between the patient and the environment around them, providing mechanisms to aid in diagnosis and prevention of accidents and/or diseases. In this context the opportunity arises to explore computational systems to identify the physical and emotional state, in real time, of individuals with some limitation to monitor health; for example, identifying the behavior of the users routine and issuing alerts to family members and/or medical staff about some abnormal event or identifying evidence of emotional disturbances. Also, based on Artificial Intelligence, it is possible for computational systems to learn and adapt to the context they are in, for example learning and adapting the amount of exercises and/or emotional state of the user in certain situations, combining concepts both of Internet of Things and of Artificial Intelligence. Thus, this project aims to develop and evaluate a model that can: i) identify the physical and emotional state of the user; ii) provide a mechanism that can intelligently monitor the daily activities of the user and; iii) explore the data integration approach with the use of multiple IoT sensors for better interaction between computing devices in the Health Smart Homes environment.

Advances in technology continuously reshape habits, behaviours and interactions at individual, organisational and societal levels. Information and Communication technology (ICT) is pervasive, and is the bearer of crucial information, analysis and responses to the recipient. It assists in processes such as understanding phenomena and taking appropriate action. It also provides communication means, platforms and tools to interact with one another. In the United Kingdom’s (UK) Energy industry, smart meters are currently being deployed by energy suppliers to their customers. These are presented as a revolutionary device that supports a more efficient energy use at home and/or in the workplace, and helps customers save on their energy bill and reduce carbon footprint. Using interpretivist phenomenological Human-centred qualitative research, The thesis work explores the impact of using smart meter devices, as perceived by UK customers, in helping to monitor, use and manage energy consumption at home. Also, the study looks into alternative technology and customers’ expectations in the context of energy efficiency. And finally, the principles of a design is presented to respond to customers demands and desires. Passive participant observation, Future workshop and inspiration cards session are the methods and techniques applied in this research to collect  data. The findings constitute good grounds for individual consumers to be aware of the opportunities made available by alternative technology. At organisational level it is a basis for energy suppliers to change their behaviour towards a changing demand and adapt by switching their core business to supplying Information and analysis as well as energy efficiency management solutions. At societal level government bodies and regulating agencies can tackle sustainability and green energy issues by controlling the profit driven character of privatised energy companies and responding to real market demand as perceived by consumers. Emerging technologies present opportunities that have the capabilities of breaking the status quo of energy supply industry in the UK as well as the rest of world. The value of this research is to show customers’ perceived reality and expectations, as well as opportunities to change the way energy is supplied and consumed.

With the constant growth of units connected to the internet, it’s becoming more and more common for private persons to get these units into their homes. With easier accessibility to smart units that can be connected straight to your smart home, and at the same time can make your everyday life easier, may also be the greatest securityrisk of your life. The focus of this essay is about the internet of things-units (IoT-units) that’s considered a large securityrisk. This work is made as a quantitative study about security deficiencies among private persons regarding IoT-units. The data produced from this work can be used as an answer of what a private person needs to be more vigilant of when it comes to IoT-units, and also what actions the manufacturing industry need to take for the connected community to be secured. To delve into this, we have chosen to use the methods literature study and a questionnaire study that will be performed to obtain data to answer our questions. Analysis has been made about what can be seen as an IoT-unit, what security deficiencies there are and then account for how to counteract these risks with help of knowledge. The result of the answers from the surveys and the picture we have received after a search for a sustainable and a more secure solution is that some knowledge exists, although not to the extent needed. The conclusion that can be drawn after the analysis of surveys and in the previous research how it should proceed in the current situation is that significantly more resources need to be spent on the right information for the right purpose, when it comes to this important IT-related issue.

This study explores how smart home users act to keep their smart products safe. The sample was identified in the literature as early adopters. These were studied through a qualitative case study with semi-structured interviews. Data were then analysed with a thematic analysis, which resulted in four themes: Lack of concern, In the hands of the manufacturer, Safety outside the product and Safety measures. The informants had different reasons and motivations for their common lack of concern, their experience of being able to influence product security the measures they could evoke and the measures they actually took. The informants' lack of concern is linked to the theory of the impact of worryon actionand risk perception. The informants' problems in influencing security are supported by other literature. Their hypothetical measures are mainly outside the product. The actions they actually perform on the product are limited to basic security measures such as passwords, etc. Users find it difficult to influence the security of their products, unsafe products can easily fall victim to malicious individuals and influence others in their environment. / Denna studie undersöker hur användare av smarta hem kan agera för att hålla sina smarta produkter säkra.Urvalet identifierades i litteratur som early adopters. Dessa studerades genom en kvalitativ fallstudie med semistrukturerade intervjuer. Data analyserades sedan med en tematisk analys, vilket resulterade i fyra teman: Avsaknad av oro, I händerna på tillverkaren, Säkerhet utanför produkten och Säkerhetsåtgärder. Informanterna hade olika anledningar och motivationer till sin gemensamma avsaknad av oro, deras upplevelse av att kunna påverka produkters säkerhet, de åtgärder som de kunde frammana och de åtgärder som de faktiskt gjorde. Informanternas avsaknad av oro länkas till teori om oros påverkan på agerande och upplevd risk. Informanternas problematik att påverka säkerheten stöds av annan litteratur. Deras hypotetiska åtgärder ligger i huvudsak utanför produkten. Det agerande de faktiskt utför på sina produkter är begränsat till grundläggande säkerhetsåtgärder som lösenord etc. Användarna har svårt att påverka säkerheten hos sina produkter, osäkra produkter kan enkelt falla offer för illvilliga individer och påverka andra i sin omgivning.

The Internet of things (IoT) recently blossomed remarkably and has been transforming the everyday physical entities around us into an ecosystem of information that will enrich our lives in unimaginable ways. Authentication is one of the primary goals of security in the IoT and acts as the main gateway to a secure system which transmits confidential and/or private data.This thesis focuses on a Device-to-Device Mutual Authentication Protocol, designed for the smart home network, which is an essential component of communication in the Internet of Things(IoT). The protocol has been developed based on asymmetric cryptography to authenticate the devices in the network and for the devices to agree on a shared secret session key. In order to ensure the security of a communications session between the devices, the session keys are changed frequently - ideally after every communication session. The proposed scheme has been programmed in HLPSL, simulated and its efficiency verified using the SPAN/ AVISPA tool. When SPAN substantiates the protocol simulation and the attacker simulation, the back-ends of the AVISPA tool verifies the safety and security of the proposed authentication protocol. The thesis also evaluates the protocol's security against the attacks successful against protocols proposed by other researchers. / Graduate / 0544 / 0984 / 0537 / pwilson1@uvic.ca