Smart Meters
Governments worldwide are setting targets and standards for the roll out of smart meters. This means that there will be a new communication path in to every home. Project Hydra is considering the potential this presents for more than gas and electricity.
Such a large scale infrastructure upgrade presents a once in a generation opportunity for the delivery of other services into the home. Telehealth and smart meters are a good match for each other:
- Telehealth requires a universal, standardised communications channel into every home in the country. Smart meters will provide this.
- Telehealth and smart meters have almost exactly the same communications requirements: a low data rate and secure wireless communications with battery-powered devices around the home.
- Both have the same requirements for high levels of privacy and security.
- Timescales are aligned: standards are being developed for both now, and can be synchronised.
By addressing the technical problems for telehealth Hydra will help solve them for other value-added services, including home energy management, water, home security, home automation and others.