Introduction
Disclaimer: This blog post is a bit out there! Usually, Flooring Hut writes about our flooring partners and their fantastic products. However, this time we are going to cast our imaginations into the potential future uses of smart floors in our society.
What are Smart Floors?
Much like Smart Phones and Smart TVs, Smart Flooring is the merging of computer and internet technology with a pre-existing product in our world. By creating high-tech flooring with various sensors and electronic equipment that can detect pressure and movement, you can in theory create a better interior space.
Uses of Smart Floors
Scientists, tech developers and flooring experts are just scratching the surface of the potential uses of smart floors in the future, but here are a few:
- Security – Let’s say you’ve locked the house to go on holiday or it’s 6pm and the end of the working day. You activate your Smart Floor’s security system because you know nobody should be in your home or business premises for the foreseeable future. However, it’s your unlucky day and a burglar decides to break into your building, when they step on the Smart Floor, the sensor will detect the pressure, relay this information to a computer chip, which in turn will alert you on your Smart Phone, whilst also sending an emergency message to the local police department. Smart Floors could cut crime rates!
- Health – Let’s imagine an elderly person living at home or picture care homes more generally. Perhaps the elderly occupant takes a tumble and winds up on the floor. The Smart Floor has built up data on the occupants walking patterns, but now the sensor notices that that person is not moving in their usual way, they are lying in agony on the floor. Therefore, the computer chip (perhaps through artificial intelligence?) will inform the care home manager and even the local ambulance service automatically. Smart Floors could save lives!
- Energy – Human footsteps displace kinetic energy into the floor. This energy is usually absorbed and wasted. However, with specifically designed tiles underfoot, this kinetic energy can be converted into electrical energy and stored in underfloor batteries. This electrical energy can then be used to offset your electrical expenses or may even allow you to live off-grid entirely. Smart Floor could save the planet (by reducing reliance on fossil fuels)!
The Future of Flooring
This article is mainly based around theories, whether these ideas can be turned into practical solutions economically within the near future remains to be seen. There are also other complications with Smart Flooring, such as data storage. For example, Do I really want a computer monitoring my walking patterns and keeping it on a database somewhere? Some people may be fine with it, whilst others may object.
Conclusion
Whilst the future of Smart Flooring is unclear – it is rather enjoyable to speculate about the potential benefits of marrying flooring with technology. And if in the future, the fusion is successful then it will no doubt completely reshape the way we live and work! But until that day comes, one thing remains true: Where people live and work, they will need normal floors, and Flooring Hut will be here to help meet those needs. Stay safe and happy flooring!
