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Product Design & Service Design

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Name: Sai Hemanth Uppala

Tools used: Notion, Figma, Penpot, Protoie,x Framer, Illustrator, Generative AI, Figzam.

Project Vision:

Homieo: A decentralised ecosystem that harmonizes devices, cuts energy waste, and empowers all users.

Why It Matters:

Climate urgency + social equity (tie to Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs): Affordable Energy, Climate Action, Reduced Inequality).

Problem statment:

Buildings account for ~40% of global CO2 emissions, with residential and commercial energy waste being a leading contributor to climate change. Despite the rise of smart home technology, current solutions fail to address critical systemic issues:

1. Energy Inefficiency:
   • 35% of household energy is wasted due to outdated systems, poor interoperability, and user-unfriendly controls (U.S. DOE, 2023).
   • HVAC systems alone consume 50% of home energy, yet most lack AI-driven optimization to reduce waste (ACEEE, 2022).
2. Fragmented Ecosystems:
   • Users juggle 5+ apps to control devices from brands like Nest, Philips Hue, and Samsung, leading to frustration and underutilization.
   • Existing protocols (Wi-Fi, Zigbee, Matter) operate in silos, forcing reliance on energy-hungry hubs and limiting cross-device automation.
3. Exclusion of Vulnerable Users:
   • Seniors, disabled individuals, and tech novices struggle with complex interfaces, voice-only controls, and lack of safety automation.
   • 70% of smart home products lack accessibility features like tactile feedback or adaptive UI (WHO, 2024).
4. Environmental Harm:
   • Smart home hubs and sensors contribute to 53 million tons of e-waste/year, driven by non-recyclable materials and planned obsolescence (UN Global E-Waste Monitor, 2024).
   • Solar integration remains niche, with most systems locked to specific brands (e.g., Tesla), limiting renewable energy adoption.
5. Security Risks:
   • Centralized hubs and cloud-dependent systems are vulnerable to hacking, with 62% of users concerned about data privacy (Pew Research, 2024).

Solution:

Homieo redefines smart living through a decentralized, AI-driven ecosystem that:

1. Unifies all devices under a single, ultra-efficient protocol (ZEN Sync Protocol).
2. Cuts energy waste by 30–60% via solar integration and occupancy-based automation.
3. Prioritizes accessibility with voice, tactile, and adaptive controls for all users.
4. Reduces e-waste via modular, recycled hardware.