Home Automation System

CHAPTER 1
Introduction

We use the term Information Technology or IT to refer to an entire industry. In the real sense, information technology is the use of computers and software to manage information. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is a broad subject concerned with technology and other aspects of managing information especial in large corporation. (www.oeeed.org/topic.html) As computers and internet have continued to transform the economy and society, the role of information and communication technologies in fostering development has become the main fuel to speed up a nation’s progress. Technology is fast changing and is likewise defining almost everything about the way we live and work today and most importantly how people make their decisions. New technologies can also aid in managing information technology projects. Foremost in the field of technology information revolution is the use of computer based systems.
Technological and institutional change or capabilities are at the heart of developmental process. Accordingly, technology is much more than an ingredient in development strategies. Technology is at the heart of the innovative process, and it has become a tool for amplifying brainpower and for innovation. It further brings about changes within and among institutions and accelerates the rate of innovation. While talking about technology, Steve Ballmer, CEO of Microsoft’s Corporation stressed that:
“The number one benefit of technology is that it empowers people to do what they want to do. It lets people be creative. It lets people be productive. It lets people learn things they didn’t think they could learn before, and so a sense it is all about potential.”1 Through new technology, a little creativity, and a lot of thinking, people can produce a home security system that utilized sensors and an aid for fire alarms. With the rapid urbanization and the emergence of more and more skyscrapers, fire occurs frequently, which not only causes large economic losses, but also endangers people’s lives. To avoid fire disasters, many kinds of fire alarm systems have been explored.

Background of the Study
Securing facility areas have been always one of the top concerns of every households considering the increasing rates of theft-related and fire incidents apparent nowadays. Different security strategies and technologies are considered to lessen or deter these unlawful acts and household fire hazards by which most common is the employment of security personnel to personally secure the facility premises in its most literal sense.
As the world gets more and more technologically advanced, we find technology coming in deeper and deeper into our personal lives even at home. As home automation, security system and fire alarm is becoming more and more popular around the world and is becoming a common practice, people resort to remote controls of home devices as well as wireless security and surveillance.
People are now more aware of the importance of insuring their belongings especially present inside their house from threat of meeting a tragedy, accident, or burglary that could lead to the lost of the hard earned valuables. Now they tend to get a home content insurance so in case any belongings that would be lost inside their house can be reinstated with insurance company taking care of it. While insuring their belongings of their home, others try to prevent it from getting lost and install a security system.
Installing such systems in homes has become almost an essential thing to do in every American home simply for the reason that it could prove helpful protecting them from burglars, who would whip their valuables inside the house.
In fact, about 25 percent of people living in America have equipped their homes with this type of systems to avoid fall a prey to burglars.
A statistical study has shown that about everyday almost 6,000 homes in America are being burglarized. In United States, 9:00 to 3:00 is the span of time when most of the burglaries take place as this is the time for adults to be at their offices and children to be at their schools. Many Americans, believe that installing an anti-burglary system in their houses reduces their risk of being burglarized as the system device instantly calls for alarm when a prowler is spotted.2
Since these systems are quite expensive, this factor renders most of the people installing these systems in their houses. Often these systems include timers for interior and exterior lights, sirens, security cameras, perimeter sensors on outside doors and windows, strobe lights, control unit and alert mechanisms to notify the police of the violation in your home. But what you should install depends on what your needs are.
Though cost matters but most of the people consider it necessary to get their homes equipped with a security system because they love their dwelling and want to keep burglars at arm's length. People need not worry to pay for equipment and installations separately as companies installing these home security devices also provide installation services which in most cases are free of cost.
After taking the decision of installing a home security people tend to save the expenses in other terms such as getting less on premiums as home insurers are certain that such houses would be less little prone to burglary. Hence, the proponents through this study designed and developed a home security system which is cost efficient and easy to use which will use a motion-sensor system and a specialized software.
Statement of the Problem The main purpose of this study is to determine the difficulties in the manual process of monitoring home security as well as the design and development of a wireless home security system using motion sensors, a smoke detector for a fire alarm, Based on this study, this study is aimed at providing solutions to the following problems:
1. How can the proposed system enables the user to monitor security within the house?
2. How could the user minimize time and other resources in monitoring home security?
3. How could the user be able to monitor the status of the home security even at long distances (if the user is away from home)?

Objectives of the Study
General Objective This study aims to develop and implement an effective and cost efficient home security system designed for homes which will utilize motion sensors, smoke detector for the fire alarm, and wires/wireless control on home security system.
Specific Objectives This study is specifically aimed at achieving the following specific objectives:
To develop a cost efficient home security module using an android device, detector and sensors, and a mobile phone.
To design a software that will monitor the home security.
To incorporate the system in an android device .
To monitor the status of the home security through reports sent via SMS.
To create a personal area network dedicated for the home security system.

Scope and Limitation
This study is primarily focused on the aspect of building a home security system which is intended to answer and render solution to the problems identified during the conduct of the study aiming to achieve and accomplish the goals mentioned in the previous pages, the proposed system aims at focusing to meet the necessary processes of the system. The nature and scope of the project delimits at creating a home security system with the following features and functionalities:
Monitor the home security status through a mobile phone as the controller, an android device and some detector and sensors.
Send an SMS alert to the user if a motion is detected.
Alert the owner in case a high concentration of smoke is detected.

Significance of the Study
The increasing ubiquity of heterogeneous computing devices such mobile phones and computers shows that users prefer an ubiquitous access of a system rather than to be uncomfortably forced to go physically to the nearest control point. Hence a wireless monitoring security system saves time and enhances more security. For example, the user could possibly monitor the status of his/ her home through a mobile phone, by receiving alerts in case of burglaries or break-ins. As a matter of fact security will always be a main priority in all households. By receiving alerts in a portable device, the user is informed of all possible issues occurring in the house and it gives the possibility to deal with it
Home security system aims a comfortable and safe environment by monitoring its status wirelessly. Specifically, the results of this project are deemed beneficial to the following:
Homeowners: The proposed project will give each homeowner a chance to employ an easy to install and cheap home security system. Commonly, home security system is prevalent among those who can afford. This study also aims to make home automation system be accessible for all. The fact that most people nowadays have cell phones, this study will benefit most homeowners in monitoring home security.
Electronics Industry: This project will allow the industry to formulate and produce affordable home security devices that is affordable to the masses and convenient to use.
Researchers: The researchers have developed their writing, analysis, and interpretation skills needed to make a good thesis.
Future Researchers: This will benefit other researchers who wish to have similar studies as they can get background information from the result of this study which will serve as template to modify their research.

Definition of Terms
Burglar (or intrusion), fire, and safety alarms are electronic alarms designed to alert the user to a specific danger. Sensors are connected to a control unit via low-voltage wiring or a narrowband RF signal which is used to interact with a response device.
Global System for Mobile (GSM) is a globally accepted standard for digital cellular communication. GSM is the name of a standardization group established in 1982 to create a common European mobile telephone standard that would formulate specifications for a pan-European mobile cellular radio system operating at 900 MHz.
GSM modem - A GSM modem is a specialized type of modem which accepts a SIM card, and operates over a subscription to a mobile operator, just like a mobile phone. From the mobile operator perspective, a GSM modem looks just like a mobile phone. A GSM modem can be a dedicated modem device with a serial, USB or Bluetooth connection, or it may be a mobile phone that provides GSM modem capabilities.
Home Security ( also Physical security). It is described as both measures that prevent or deter attackers from accessing a facility, resource, or information stored on physical media, and guidance on how to design structures to resist various hostile acts.
Home Security System. In this study, this refers to the system designed to secure home premises through a webcam-based motion caption sensor and a special software tht send SMS alerts to the user’s GSM handset.
Short Messaging System (SMS) is a communication service component of the GSM mobile communication system, using standardized communications protocols that allow the exchange of short text messages between mobile phone devices. In this study, this is used as the channel for the user to receive detection alert through his/ her mobile phone.