Tools for Connected Home Technologies
Principal Investigator
Team Members: Kala Jordan, B.S., Laura Levy, Ph.D., & Ben Thompson, M.S.
Connected home technologies, such as smart thermostats, lightbulbs, and door locks, have great potential to support independent activity performance among people aging with mobility disabilities. However, these devices often require technology expertise to use, set up, and maintain. We explored how augmented reality, virtual reality, and telepresence tools can be used to enhance adoption and acceptance of connected home technologies among people aging with mobility disabilities. Through our prototyping studies with users, we found that telepresence systems, can be particularly useful to support remote technology troubleshooting. We developed a set-up to optimize remote troubleshooting via videoconferencing with features like additional camera views and on-screen annotations. We also identified limitations in using various Telepresence platforms (e.g., Zoom, Facetime) for remote troubleshooting and developed design recommendations to improve their accessibility and utility.
Research team members evaluating prototype set ups that integrate multiple camera angles for remote troubleshooting in different settings (e.g., tabletop desk, kitchen).
Conceptual figure depicting how remote troubleshooting with annotation can help an individual resolve a question about their device.
Resources
Select Publications
- Thompson, B., Coleman, M., Levy, L., Jordan, K. (2024). Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Telepresence Tools to Enhance Acceptance and Adoption of Connected Home Technologies by Adults Aging with Mobility Disabilities (TechSAge-TR-2402). Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities.
- Levy, L., Thompson, B., & Gandy, M. (2019). Augmented Reality Tools to Support Use and Understanding of Internet of Things: Participatory Design Research for People Aging with Long-Term Mobility Disability. (TechSAge-TR-1901). Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center on Technologies to Support Aging-in-Place for People with Long-Term Disabilities.