Redefining smartness: The smart home as an interactional problem

This paper explores the distinctive features of designing smart technology for domestic environments. Because human-computer interaction in digitally augmented home environments is likely to be highly situated, we argue that providing flexibility with regard to method of interaction is a central issue for realization the smart home concept. Framing smart homes as a problem of interaction, we use physical interaction models to explore how two domestic case scenarios can be implemented by combining different sensing techniques (location-awareness and token reading) with mobile and fixed interfaces. Each combination can promote or impede different usability criteria. Drawing on our conceptual scenario analysis we suggest that the "smartness" of smart homes is not so much a result of interconnected objects capable of running logic and taking action on behalf of people. Instead, we consider smartness to be intimately related to the interactive possibilities that are offered. In particular, domestic users could benefit from having multiple methods of interaction to choose from according to what they see fit the immediate use situation.