Tag: AI

Beyond the Gamification: Why 2026 Demands Empathetic AI for Air Quality

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

In previous articles, I advocated for a “Tamagotchi-like” approach to air quality awareness, a gamified solution designed to capture the public’s attention. At the time, the goal was simple: engagement. If we could make checking air quality as addictive as feeding a digital pet, we could encourage better habits.

But the world of 2026 is different. Attention is no longer enough; we need connection. While gamification served its purpose, it is time to evolve. We must transition from simple reward systems to AI systems embedded with empathy-based sensor technology.

We need devices that don’t just beep when the air is bad, but devices that feel the environment with us.

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Moving from Tech-Focused Air Quality Monitoring to Societal-Centric Digital Twin Solutions

Sotirios Papathanasiou1 Comment

Modern cities are increasingly equipped with a wealth of data from Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, including those monitoring air quality using low-cost sensors. The concept of urban digital twins, virtual representations of urban environments, has emerged as a promising tool to interpret this data and understand the impact of interventions. These digital twins hold the potential to move beyond mere monitoring towards real-time, automatic solutions to environmental challenges like air pollution. However, current efforts often prioritize technological development, sometimes at the expense of addressing fundamental societal needs and achieving seamless integration with digital twin technologies.

The deployment of low-cost sensor networks has indeed revolutionized air quality monitoring by providing data at much higher spatial & temporal resolutions than traditional regulatory sites. This densification of observations, facilitated by IoT, offers a greater understanding of pollution sources and dispersion. Smart city initiatives further integrate various data streams onto online platforms, theoretically enabling real-time decision-making. However, the development of fully integrated smart city infrastructure remains rare, with many applications focusing on single aspects like air quality and often struggling to address community needs, being more driven by technological deployment. Moreover, a significant number of projects do not progress beyond the demonstration stage due to funding limitations, highlighting a potential disconnect between technological advancement and sustained societal benefit.

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Indoorcare: Finally, Actionable Insights for Indoor Air Quality Management

Sotirios PapathanasiouLeave a comment

For years, I’ve been preaching to companies the importance of offering curated insights into indoor air quality (IAQ). Building managers, while well-meaning, are often overwhelmed by raw data and technical measurements. They need actionable information, not complex reports.  Indoorcare is the first platform I’ve seen that truly empowers building managers to do their jobs effectively without becoming data analysts.

Effortless Management with AI-powered Insights

Indoorcare offers a user-friendly dashboard that goes beyond simply displaying air quality readings for PM2.5, CO2, CO, etc.  The magic lies in the AI-powered feedback. Users are presented with clear, easy-to-understand metrics like “Comfort Index,” “Cognitive Performance,” and even an “Allergy Risk Meter.” This allows managers to  immediately grasp the impact of air quality on building occupants.

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Indoor Air Quality and ChatGPT by OpenAI

Sotirios Papathanasiou4 Comments

This is the first Artificial Intelligent (AI) written article on Indoor Air Quality. I was interested to see if technology understands the issue. I have done zero corrections. What do you think?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important but often overlooked aspect of a home’s environment. Poor IAQ can lead to a variety of health issues, such as asthma, allergies, headaches, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Given the health risks associated with poor IAQ, it’s important to understand the sources of indoor air pollutants, the measures you can take to reduce them, and the steps you should take if you suspect your home has a IAQ issue.

Indoor air pollutants come from a variety of sources, including mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, chemicals, and building materials. These pollutants can enter your home through open windows, ventilation systems, and other pathways. Poor maintenance of these sources can lead to an increase in the amount of pollutants in the air. For example, failing to regularly clean carpets and filters can lead to an accumulation of dust and other contaminants.

One source of indoor air pollution that is often dismissed is wood burning. Wood burning can produce both direct and indirect air pollutants, such as smoke, soot, and other particulate matter. The smoke can contain a variety of hazardous compounds, such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde. In addition, the smoke from wood burning can also contain other pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). All of these pollutants can be hazardous to human health, particularly if the exposure is prolonged.

Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to reduce the levels of indoor air pollutants and improve the quality of your home’s air. Regularly cleaning carpets, upholstery, and other surfaces can help reduce the amount of dust and other allergens in the air. Additionally, regularly changing the air filters in your air conditioning and heating systems can help reduce the amount of dust and other particles in the air. Finally, using an air purifier can also help reduce the amount of indoor air pollutants.

If you suspect your home has a IAQ issue, it’s important to take steps to investigate and address the problem. The first step is to identify the source of the problem. This can involve hiring professionals to assess the air quality in your home, as well as conducting tests to identify the specific pollutants in the air. Once the source of the problem has been identified, you can then take steps to address it, such as improving ventilation, cleaning regularly, and using air purifiers.

In conclusion, poor IAQ can lead to a variety of health issues, including asthma, allergies, headaches, and other respiratory and cardiovascular problems. Therefore, it’s important to understand the sources of indoor air pollutants, the measures you can take to reduce them, and the steps you should take if you suspect your home has a IAQ issue. By taking steps to reduce indoor air pollutants and address the sources of IAQ issues, you can help ensure your home’s air quality is as healthy as possible.