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End-user development of smart home rules using block-based programming: a comparative usability evaluation with programmers and non-programmers.
- Source :
- Behaviour & Information Technology; Aug2021, Vol. 40 Issue 10, p974-996, 23p, 14 Color Photographs, 13 Charts
- Publication Year :
- 2021
-
Abstract
- The use of Smart Homes has grown considerably in the past decade. Enabling end-users to develop rules to program their homes and devices is very important to empower them. Several studies have analysed trigger-action programming tools, primarily using form-based and data-flow approaches for programming interfaces. This study evaluated the usability of a block-based tool for end-user development of rules to control smart homes and compared the difficulties encountered by non-programmers and programmers. Evaluations involved 10 programmers and 10 non-programmers in Brazil. A thematic analysis of 247 problem instances (80 from programmers and 167 from non-programmers) yielded the following themes, with problems related to condition blocks, action blocks, states and actions, time-related tasks, block configuration and personalisation, information architecture, programming logic, conceptual model of smart homes, simulator and debugging, help and technical problems. Despite most non-programmers being able to experiment with blocks, their task completion rates were significantly lower than programmers. The analysis showed aspects where block-based programming can enhance the use for non-programmers. They also confirmed interaction aspects revealed by previous studies using form-based and data-flow approaches that also occur with block-based programming to design smart home rules, with important contributions to improve end-user development tools for smart homes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- HOME environment
COMPUTER software
USER-centered system design
STATISTICS
COMPUTER simulation
ATTITUDES toward computers
USER interfaces
MATHEMATICAL models
INTERVIEWING
MANN Whitney U Test
SURVEYS
SOFTWARE architecture
UNDERGRADUATES
INTER-observer reliability
QUESTIONNAIRES
CHI-squared test
THEORY
DESCRIPTIVE statistics
RESEARCH funding
STUDENT attitudes
EMPIRICAL research
CONTENT analysis
THEMATIC analysis
PUBLIC opinion
INFORMATION technology
VIDEO recording
EVALUATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0144929X
- Volume :
- 40
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Behaviour & Information Technology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 152229776
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1921028