Proceedings of EnviroInfo and ICT for Sustainability 2015

Pre-installation challenges: classifying barriers to the introduction of smart home technology

Authors
Luis Carlos Rubino de Oliveira, Andrew May, Val Mitchell, Mike Coleman, Tom Kane, Steven Firth
Corresponding Author
Luis Carlos Rubino de Oliveira
Available Online September 2015.
DOI
10.2991/ict4s-env-15.2015.14How to use a DOI?
Keywords
smart home technology; retrofit; domestic sector; energy saving
Abstract

Increasing technological developments indicate potential for a variety of improvements in the domestic environment. As part of an interdisciplinary research project, this study interviewed households prior to the installation of smart home technologies (SHTs) in order to identify critical issues at the pre-installation phase. Semi-structured interviews took place in 16 houses before the installation of SHTs, when a range of smart sensors and controls were presented to households for the first time. At this stage, they started to make key decisions about which devices to use, where to install, and how to position them. Participants mentioned diverse issues surrounding the introduction of SHTs. To guide the qualitative analysis, an organizing framework for research on smart homes and their users was used. This paper indicates that, even though participants appreciate the functional aspects of SHTs and the possibilities of a better living, their concerns related to technology (hardware & software), design (acceptability & usability) and spaces (home as complex places) are numerous. These results complement the existing literature (which focuses more on the use phase) with the perceived enablers and barriers prior to the installation of SHTs.

Copyright
© 2015, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

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Volume Title
Proceedings of EnviroInfo and ICT for Sustainability 2015
Series
Advances in Computer Science Research
Publication Date
September 2015
ISBN
978-94-62520-92-9
ISSN
2352-538X
DOI
10.2991/ict4s-env-15.2015.14How to use a DOI?
Copyright
© 2015, the Authors. Published by Atlantis Press.
Open Access
This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).

Cite this article

TY  - CONF
AU  - Luis Carlos Rubino de Oliveira
AU  - Andrew May
AU  - Val Mitchell
AU  - Mike Coleman
AU  - Tom Kane
AU  - Steven Firth
PY  - 2015/09
DA  - 2015/09
TI  - Pre-installation challenges: classifying barriers to the introduction of smart home technology
BT  - Proceedings of EnviroInfo and ICT for Sustainability 2015
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 117
EP  - 125
SN  - 2352-538X
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/ict4s-env-15.2015.14
DO  - 10.2991/ict4s-env-15.2015.14
ID  - CarlosRubinodeOliveira2015/09
ER  -