Thesis (MEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ever-increasing existence of electronic systems and devices within the residential environment, along with the human desire to simplify life and daily routine, is generating increased interest in the field of home automation (HA) and intelligent environments. A large variety of home automation solutions have been conceptualised or developed. However, many of these solutions are designed by experts and require professionals to install and/or operate them. Furthermore they lack the potential for seamless integration into an already functioning home environment. To bridge the gap between consumer and expert as well as allowing for integration into any existing home environment without physical alteration to the building, a modular home automation solution with seamless integration potential is proposed. The implemented system uses open source software and hardware allowing for development to continue within the existing, large open source community. It can be installed and configured without professional skills or physical alteration of the environment itself and due to its modular design, the system also allows users to add and remove functional components to and from the system providing them with a seamlessly customisable home automation solution. Conceptual design and practical implementations are covered in this document, along with recommendations for both continued research and potential avenues for expansion.

Night vision goggles (NVGs) are optical devices used to enhance human vision at low light conditions such as nighttime. The image seen through the goggles is brightened but with the consequence of introduced visual limitations and illusions. Because of this, fighter pilots need to undergo proper training with such equipment before operating with them in real-life. An NVG simulation within a Mixed Reality (MR) flight simulator can in theory be used to build the skills needed and directly translate them into real life. In this thesis, an NVG effect was added to a video see-through camera feed(VST) such that a whole NVG simulation could be experienced in an MR flight simulator. Furthermore, a method to seamlessly integrate the VST into the nocturnal virtual world was proposed. By conducting a semi structured interview with an NVG expert, the experienced realism, presence, and training value of the implemented effects were measured. A thematic analysis of the gathered interview data provided insight into the most important themes regarding NVG simulations within an MR flight simulator. / <p>Examensarbetet är utfört vid Institutionen för teknik och naturvetenskap (ITN) vid Tekniska fakulteten, Linköpings universitet</p>