Beyond domestication: Differentiating mental models from primary and secondary users in smart home lighting systems

Commonly attributed smart home challenges for both primary and secondary users have been researched extensively, yet there is a gap in understanding mental models and their influence on how both types of users internalize and domesticate smart home lighting systems including bulbs, lamps, smart plugs, switches, and presence sensors. Our study targets the perceptual distinction between both users from a long-term domestication perspective. We conducted an in-situ ethnographic study with 12 households in the Netherlands and a subsequent online survey with 93 participants. Our research offers three contributions. By analyzing guided diaries, interviews, and surveys, we characterize the intricate mental models (spatial, contextual, functional, and metaphorical mapping) within and across households. Second, we addressed the distinctiveness and importance of the post-domestication phase in smart home lighting systems. Lastly, we present design recommendations to improve future smart home system designs aimed at long-term, evolving use.