A Vision for a Better User Experience in a Smart Home

Abstract: The maturity of smart home technologies and wireless capabilities, increased accessibility through mass-market availability of internet is making the feasibility of the smart home more realistic. The added incentives to better control utilities and communications to make lives more sustainable, has also driven the growth in the market. This thesis investigates the advantages of the smart home both for the environment and user. Outlining opportunities for business by finding gaps in the market is to better synthesise products and services to improve the user experience. A literature review, market research and ethnographic research was undertaken to understand the current state of the smart home industry and identify the main stakeholders that impact the user. A customer journey map was created to visualise the user process and highlighted problem areas. A survey showed users were most concerned about quality, functions and saving energy and money. The survey perceptions on interactions with technology also shed light into the necessity for robust and reliable technology and adaptable products and services. The final outcome is a prototype model to improve user experience, including stakeholder influence, user needs and the connections between different stakeholders from pre-sale, sale and after-sale.