Use cases/scenarios

Brainstorming, mostly. The task decomposition really helps you think about how the system will handle particular events. I've tackled a few of the key cases that kept cropping up throughout our discussions of possible features:

Use Case 1: Achieve assistance following an accident at home
Actor: User
Goal: Easy access to help which should arrive in a timely manner

1. User has accident

• 1a. User is incapacitated
• 1a1. Motion sensors detect no movement in home. Additional conditions: home is not empty, sufficient time has passed
  

2. Personal alarm activated

• 2a. User presses alarm button on remote control. OR
• 2b. Motion sensors trigger alarm after additional conditions met.
  

3. Appropriate help contacted

• 3a. User's family paged/called.
• 3b. Emergency services contacted.
  

Use Case 2: User requires shopping
Actor: User
Goal: Acquire shopping

1. User becomes aware of a need for more supplies.
2. User decides what is needed.
3. User takes action to acquire shopping.

• 3a. User leaves home to shop manually. OR
• 3b. User orders through system.
• 3b1. User selects store and items through Web/TV interface.
• 3b2. User confirms order.
  

4. Shopping received.

• 4a. User returns home with shopping. OR
• 4b. Shopping is delivered to user's home.
  

Use Case 3: User leaves lights/equipment on
Actor: User
Goal: Enforce safety/energy efficiency of home.

1. User leaves the home/an area of the home without disabling equipment.

• 1a. Lights left on. AND/OR
• 1b. Fire left on. AND/OR
• 1c. Appliances left on.

2. Sufficient time passes without user intervention.
3. Equipment automatically shut off.

• 3a. Lights switched off. AND/OR
• 3b. Fire switched off. AND/OR
• 3c. Appliances shut off.
  

Use Case 4: User requires an event reminder
Actor: User
Goal: Avoid missing important events.

1. User becomes aware of an upcoming event/need.
2. User logs required reminder with system.

• 2a. User records a message themselves. OR
  
• 2b. User selects a preset message.
  

3. At appropriate time, reminder is launched.

• 3a. Audio message played? OR
  
• 3b. Textual message displayed on screen?
  

Use Case 5: Environmental emergency within home
Actor: System
Goal: Remove threat/contact help/ensure safety

1. Sensors detect an environmental emergency.

• 1a. Smoke alarm detects fire. OR
  
• 1b. Carbon monoxide sensors detect emissions.

2. Emergency services contacted.

• 2a. Message sent to fire service. OR
  
• 2b. Ha, who gets contacted in the event of carbon monoxide emissions? :O Fire service also? Ambulance seems a bit pre-emptive.

3. Any appropriate local actions taken.

• 3a. User alerted.
• 3a1. Audio message played/warning sound.

These may be useful for testing 'events' out on our prototype. Any input welcome!