We have been Imagining the “Pandemic-Smart” Buildings of the Future since the early stages of the global COVID-19 crisis. Adapting existing technology and placing greater emphasis on emerging technology that offers safety and infection-slowing applications to get people back into commercial buildings. Occupancy analytics for social distancing, fever-identifying thermal cameras, and an array of contactless or smartphone-based control interfaces can use the vast potential of the IoT to make our buildings “pandemic-smart.” Smart building technology presents a compelling approach to support our safe “return to normality” until you realize that some of it is illegal under our prevailing data privacy laws, or at least it was before the crisis. “The handling of such data is permitted only in certain cases. For example, if a higher, defendable interest justifies it and such handling is proportionate. On the other hand, employers must provide a working environment that does not threaten life and health. It is going to […]