ABSTRACT
The twenty-first century has brought substantial advances in digital technology, which when combined with fundamental changes in the expectations of the manner in which work is conducted have brought about a necessary transformation in the way in which the home is occupied. The home is now a place where the boundaries between private and public, work and leisure have been eroded. Where work used to take place in a separate workplace, more knowledge workers now take work home to be continued both in evenings and during any of the seven days of the week; working from home is now considered as normal. Digital and smart technologies means that we are increasingly able to interact with our built environment.
Smart cities provide an environment for the residents’ needs by equipping them with the ability to better inhabit it; whether this is with access to information or by providing a platform for interaction. A smart city is capable of responding to the changing needs of the inhabitants in response to the rapid speed at which urban culture is evolving. The twenty-first century built environment has taken advantage of this revolution, allowing for shared space, shared conversations and shared ideas. Immediate communication is possible with almost anywhere in the world, including with other residents of the same dwelling. The need to communicate and the desire for connectivity is one of the most important distinguishing features of contemporary life. This level of digital communication allows for multiple types of interaction and to a certain extent multiple personalities engaging with that interaction. Any situation that is remodelled or adapted should be part of the Internet of Things
