Smart House
CCU 2016/2017
Group 4:
Alexandre Fabião, Gonçalo Espadeiro and Paulo Ferreira
LAB 5 – Results from cultural
probes
Cultural Probes
Cultural Probes
Discussion about the results

Users liked to feel important and valued in the project;

The fact that they are asked to take part in our probes has already begun to
make them more careful, what they were grateful for;

They liked the part that, in addition to describe situations of their day-to-day,
they still could give ideas and solutions (notebook);

Overall, we managed to get some data and information about our users
through the probes.
Diary/Notebook

Users had to describe situations in their day-to-day where their actions in
home where not energy sufficiency;

This method allowed them to register and sumarize which situations where
the most frequent ones and have already start thinking about how they can
improve the power usage;

We added coloured post-its in wich color would represent a estimate of how
much the users consumed in a day and they would stick them in the
respective day;

We concluded that most of the users think they are environment friendly and
are concerned about these matters;
Diary/Notebook

However, they all are aware that they can still improve their cares, especially
on the days they do their heavier house tasks (such as washing clothes,
vacuum the floor, etc);

We noticed that some users use their washing machines (dishes and clothes)
too frequently, because they don’t wait until it is “full”.
Postcards

Users had to answer closed questions on certain issues that we would like to
get more information;

Showed that people usually don’t remove the power plugs when they stop
using a certain device;

Showed that they would be very interested in the possibility of manage their
house system remotely (for exemple: view if the house is spending energy and
in which division; turn the electric heater on/off).
Camera

Users had to take pictures that they thought would be representative of a
certain action they thought our project could help them;

They liked the possibility of showing the problem insted of describing it and
we end up by understand better what they were saying.

Overall, the situation users registered more were about the management of
power plugs.
Users profiles

Smart House residents
•
Age: young adult, adult, elderly;
•
Technical expertise: none, weak, good;
•
Frequency of use: once a year, once a month, everyday;
•
Current employment: unemployed, part-time, full-time;
•
Energy concerns: monetary, environmental.
User needs, desires and context

No changes from before, but as a reminder:

Users need to maintain comfort in their homes while being efficient in their
expenditures;

Users want remote temperature, light and shutter control and a way to easily find
out what devices are being less efficient;

Users will use the app in a variety of environments, thus developing for
smartphone is still the most appropriate platform.
Questions?