Reflection and Future Development

'How would I further incentify the interaction process to facilitate more instantaneous reaction from participants' was the leading question in my mind. The majority of the participants would take time to read the instructions on the object label once they arrive at the scene, whereas it takes a little while for them to understand how the device work in correspondence to the descriptions. Therefore, leveraging the prototype I already have to conduct usability testing will be a critical next step in my project.

Which interactivities can be added/reduced to incentify the concept during the interaction? The project is currently using a wide range of sensors and outputs, it may be a little too complex for participants to gain underlying concepts. Minimizing the theoretical footprint of the design can be helpful as a next step.

One group of participants arrived at the scene with curiosity about the device, pulled out their mobile device, and placed it on top of the lamp. Once the lamp starts running and displays a 'battery life degrading' message on the screen, the participants hurried to retrieve their mobile phone from the lamp to stop it from getting harmed. Such a level of immediate interaction is desirable and can provide opportunities for further articulation of this project over time.   

Open Questions

1. What research has been conducted to address these challenges and propose solutions in terms of smart home technology's transparency, explainability, and user consent? What are the outcomes of such research?
2. What are the implications of the constant gathering of data by smart home technologies for the privacy and security of individuals, and how can these concerns be addressed?
3. How can designers of smart home technologies prioritize informed consent and privacy as essential components of their design, and what measures can be taken to limit the collection of unnecessary data?