Group 4: Alexandre Fabião, Gonçalo Espadeiro and Paulo Ferreira 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?