Exploring Smart Home in Health and Wellness: A Conversation with Qorvo’s Chitra Mysore
Established in 2002, the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) strives to build a standards portfolio to help shape the future of the Internet of Things (IoT). Global CSA members are working to create and evolve universal open standards for products that transform how we live, work and play. Through its members’ expertise, robust certification programs and a full suite of open IoT solutions—including Matter—the CSA is creating a foundation for the future of the IoT.
Matter is an open smart home protocol that promises seamless, reliable and secure connectivity that removes ecosystem barriers. Thread technology, designed specifically for smart home Matter devices, seamlessly integrates traditional wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth® Low Energy and Ethernet. Thanks to Matter, interoperability is guaranteed across the standards ecosystem, irrespective of manufacturer. Qorvo is a part of this alliance and is fortunate to drive the future of the standards in various CSA working subgroups.
One of those CSA voices is Qorvo Account Program Manager Chitra Mysore. Chitra chairs one of the CSA’s newer product exploration groups, the Health and Wellness Working Group. Its charter is to extend lifespans by helping people live “longer, fitter and healthier.”
Chitra offers some insights into her work with the CSA:
How can the CSA and new IoT/Matter technology play a part in customer health and wellness?
Chitra: The Health and Wellness Working Group within the Connectivity Standards Alliance was formed a year ago. It will initially focus on supporting the extension of the “health span” by enabling connectivity of health data. The intent is to create an end-to-end ecosystem of connected health devices and digital health applications while ensuring a safe, secure and reliable environment. We do this by leveraging the adoption of Matter, connected personal health devices and smart devices already in today’s smart home.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance is the place where industry professionals across the globe come together, paving the way to the world of seamless interaction that is transforming the way we work, live, and play. We believe all objects can work together, we create the standards, tools, and platforms that make this possible.
Healthspan is defined as when a person is healthy, not just alive. Integrating personal and health devices with smart devices within the home will bring awareness and insights that help extend healthy years of living as the world’s population ages. CSA’s Health and Wellness subgroup, comprised of more than 400 individuals from over 100 companies, aims to increase an individual’s health span by enabling the connectivity of health data.
What are some of the use cases that will be addressed?
Chitra: The Boston Consulting Group projects that by 2030, the 55-plus aged population in the U.S. will account for half of all domestic consumer spending. That number rises to 67% in Japan and 86% in Germany.
In a survey conducted in June 2023, 89% of 1,000 people who were 55 years of age and older wanted to remain in their own homes as they age rather than seek more traditional senior living situations outside of the home.
AARP estimates that consumers aged 50 and over, on average, own six tech devices, with 98% owning at least one primary device. The number of seniors accessing the internet is on the rise, as is the overarching need to live independently, free of intrusive monitoring. This underscores the need for devices and services that can talk to each other and share information with loved ones in a trusted and qualitative way.
This growing desire of seniors faces a host of obstacles, particularly as the number of medical professionals and home-healthcare workers lags in demand. The question is, can technology, particularly IoT and Smart home innovation, bridge the gap?
Chitra: Adding health devices and connectivity to smart home ecosystems helps unlock a variety of use cases – not just aging in place but extending the health span. These use cases include monitoring location, vital signs and continuous monitoring of health metrics for safety and well-being, security, signs of life, self-management and proactive treatment.
As the global population ages, there is an increasing focus on improving health span, which is heavily influenced by lifestyle choices that personal health devices can assist in making.
Are there ways to alleviate privacy concerns?
Chitra: Yes. For example, you may have an aging parent in the home who does not want to be intrusively monitored by security cameras. A host of connected Matter devices in the smart home today can be tapped to derive intelligent data. For instance, a TV that has not been turned on in the last 24 hours, a refrigerator door that has not been opened, or something as simple as a living room light that has not been turned on for an extended period of time. The data from these devices can be mined to ensure a person’s well-being and safety.
How else might new technologies be used in concert with IoT/Smart home systems?
Chitra: In addition to Qorvo’s portfolio of Matter-enabled products and solutions, Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technologies can be utilized to provide an end-to-solution that incorporates precise location information. These Matter and UWB solutions can help resolve issues during emergencies, whether sending a social alarm to family or a caregiver in the event of a fall, or unlocking the front door and disarming security alarms when first responders arrive. All this can be achieved through the location accuracy enabled by UWB, resulting in a safe, secure and effective emergency response.
Learn more about lifesaving possibilities, home entertainment and automation, as well as the CSA and Qorvo’s role in shaping the future here. CSA-IOT - Connectivity Standards Alliance
