What is a smart home?

I need to decide what various terms mean in respect to this project. For example a smart home is defined as "a home equipped with lighting, heating, and electronic devices that can be controlled remotely by phone or computer." if you use the phrase "Define smart home" in Google. Is this right? Yes, in some contexts this is right; however this is not really right for my thesis. "A dwelling incorporating a communications network that connects the key electrical appliances and services, and allows them to be remotely controlled, monitored or accessed." is closer as it does not state which devices are accessible as the first one does but states that the "key electrical appliances" are available. This is the definition in a fact sheet on the housingcare.org website entitled "Smart Home - A Definition". This is a document that was put together by the Department of Trade & Industry in the UK.

PC Magazine say that it is a "A home that is highly automated. It is entirely networked not only for computers, A/V entertainment and security, but also for heating, air-conditioning and lighting control. A smart house should have Ethernet outlets in every room. Although Wi-Fi is ubiquitous, and there are many appliances that are Wi-Fi only; connecting computers together via Ethernet is faster and more secure.". This is understandable as this is a computer magazine therefore it is going to veer towards the technological side. But again this is not really what I am aiming for.

Interestingly, a smart building is defined as "At the most fundamental level, smart buildings deliver useful building services that make occupants productive (e.g. illumination, thermal comfort, air quality, physical security, sanitation, and many more) at the lowest cost and environmental impact over the building lifecycle." by the Institute for Building Efficiency on their web site. Closer to what I want. So perhaps I need to be looking at smart buildings rather than smart homes? Are smart homes going to be thought of as a rich man's gadget playground? I must admit that this is how I have perceived them for a long time. I do not want something that can open the curtains or blinds in the morning to welcome the inhabitant to the bright / rainy / snowy / foggy new day. Unless it serves a purpose. I think that the "Unless it serves a purpose" is going to be extremely important and will be a useful yardstick. Or perhaps metrestick as we are supposed to be metric now. Funnily enough, yardstick is acceptable to the dictionary but there is no such thing as metrestick! There's my answer then

So, how do I see a smart home / building in this context? How about "A home that has been designed to assist the users, by means of appropriate technology, to live safer and more enjoyable lives. Key appliances can be monitored, accessed and remotely controlled to ensure that the users have an improved quality of life."

I am not sure about the last bit of that, I need to work on it but it seems about right for now.