Smart Home Technology and Automation

Many households were spending increased time in the home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to increased investment in household comfort, smart home technology, digital entertainment devices, and recreation.

Expanding expectations for the home were also leading to increasing diversity and simultaneous usage of digital devices to enhance lifestyle, provide entertainment and recreation, or support other everyday activities.

Linsay describes her smart bathroom scale, and how she avoids it collecting her data sometimes by jumping off before it registers her.
Rachel discusses how speaking to her voice assistant made her uncomfortable and how it could be too loud and wake the kids.
Dianne describes how she replaced her automated pool heater and filter with a manual timer, and how she prefers this more manual form of automation to smarter systems because it gives her greater control and flexibility.
Artem demonstrates his use of routines in his smart home.
Sue describes her thoughts on how automation restricts choices and her preference for control.
Fred describes how they use their voice assistant to play music for their dog overnight.
Anna describes how she had to get used to using the smart home, and the difficulties for their mother who speaks Vietnamses to use Alexa.
Louise describes how, as a single woman without children, she feels like an invisible demographic for technology designers and marketers.
Jodie critiques an industry envisioned smart mirror but recognises the benefits of health monitoring technology.

Digital Energy Futures

Digital Energy Futures

Smart Home Technology and Automation