Twentieth International Conference on Technology, Knowledge, and Society

Abstract

This research utilizes three separate labs designed to approximate living room environments. Each lab is equipped with smart home technology from one of three manufacturers: Amazon, Apple, or Google. Each also includes similar IoT smart technology including televisions, thermostats, lights, door locks, cameras, and voice assistants/hubs, among others. Participants are provided with a list of tasks to accomplish using a variety of methods including cell phone apps, voice commands, and touchscreen hub interfaces. Users are also asked to created routines that utilize multiple devices in response to a single command. After testing in each room, participants complete a survey and are asked a series of open-ended questions regarding their experiences with the system in that room. Those questions focus on the usability of the various interfaces (voice, app, hub) and user experiences related to ease of use, efficiency, and engagement. Results are used to make suggestions for future smart home interfaces and to pattern user preferences among and between rooms. This research is ongoing and will be completed by the end of May, 2023.