Addressing Maslow’s deficiency needs in smart homes

Abstract

Modern smart homes contain elements from different technical disciplines, such as home automation, robotics, and tele-heath. We investigated to which extent smart-home systems address the different levels of deficiency needs of Maslow, and the corresponding level of integration of smart-home systems. Reports published between 1993 and 2010 concerned 28 prototypes or concepts, which have been analyzed. Functionalities that are supported by these smart-home systems are not equally distributed over the deficiency-needs levels of Maslow. The focus is on the two lower levels (physiology and safety), while preventing end-users to install and adapt the system (an esteem-related deficiency). Among the minority of fully integrated smart-home systems the highest level of deficiency needs (self-actualization) was addressed in 4 projects, with half of them also allowing the end-user to be master of installation and adaptation to changing needs in time. Fully integrated smart-home systems have so far not made it onto the market. The Maslow hierarchy of deficiency needs may act as a guide to developers and marketers to make sure that relevant needs are addressed effectively, and no new deficiencies are introduced.