Probing elders’ needs for smart technologies in the domestic environment

Abstract

This paper presents an initial investigation into developing smart homes for the elderly. Smart homes refer to domestic living environments that equipped with “sensible” and “responsive” facilities, which employ smart technologies, to provide occupants a sound and comfortable living. Designers and sociologists have observed reluctances and even rejections to these technologies from the elderly. A Cultural Probes study shows that the elderly welcome new technologies but reject robotic companionships. In addition, a questionnaire survey concludes that smart technologies for home safety and security, energy conservation and usage monitoring, as well as health care and maintenance, are desirable.