Due to the large amount of research within the area of smart home environments there is an abundance of data being generated with a largely heterogeneous nature, given that it is generated by multiple sources and therefore stored in various formats. Due to the data's subsequent lack of interoperability, difficulties arise when it is being stored, exchanged and then processed; limiting the opportunity for researchers to compare, share and re-use data. The primary focus of this work has been to redesign and extend the homeML format. Over the duration of this research the format has evolved from version 1.0 to version 2.2 and is presented within this thesis as a proposed standard format to support the storage and exchange of data generated both inside and outside a smart home environment. An online application to support the use of homeML has also been presented. Both homeML version 2.2 and the online application were evaluated by eight smart home environment experts, using a questionnaire consisting of both structured and unstructured questions. Overall the results of this evaluation were considered positive in regards to both usefulness and usability. The evolution of homeML subsequently influenced the redesign and extension of two other formats; homeRuleML to support the storage and exchange of decision support rules generated within a smart home environment and homeADL to support the storage and exchange of activities of daily living performed within a smart home environment. Both homeRuleML and homeADL were originally designed to complement the use of homeML. Therefore as part of this research both formats underwent an iterative evaluation process which ensured they continued to complement the use of the latest version of homeML. Both the homeRuleML and homeADL formats were reviewed multiple times resulting in their evolution from version 1.0 to version 2.1 and version 2.0 respectively.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:625499 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | McDonald, Heather Anne |
| Publisher | University of Ulster |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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