Rethinking the influence of the Intelligent Building Systems on productivity, health, and well-being for enhancing the quality of life during mandatory working from home: Lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

In the light of the recent global phenomena of the COVID-19 pandemic, there become evident changes in the habits and digital services usage in daily life. At this juncture, working from home (WFH) which is highly in need of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) support for work productivity and occupant well-being, has recently become a popular and almost mandatory way of working due to lockdowns all around the world. The fact remains that providing a better quality of working-life has a potential for using intelligent building technologies that lead to the rapid advancement in global information services when such crises arise. Buildings that integrated with the systems based on intelligent technologies aim to enhance the productivity and well-being flexibly to meet the changing requirements of occupants. Therefore, this study focuses on the mandatory WFH concept emerged during COVID-19 pandemic, and in this context the need for the intelligent building systems in residential buildings. The findings of this study would form a pathway for rethinking the influence of the intelligent building systems (IBSs) into the prevention of health issues that we faced during mandatory WFH.