Human and digital ecosystems in the modern household

Area of Science:

• Human-Computer Interaction
• Sociology of Technology
• Digital Anthropology

Background:

• Growing research on home digital ecosystems.
• Limited focus on human factors and household diversity.
• Need to understand technology's role within diverse family structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate the human component of home digital ecosystems.
• Examine technology distribution, use, and user roles within households.
• Identify household and relationship diversity's impact on technology integration.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study of nine diverse households.
• Image sharing of digital devices.
• Thematic analysis of interviews on technology use, roles, and boundaries.

Main Results:

• Detailed description of digital ecosystem components and usage patterns.
• Analysis of human relationships with technology and each other.
• Identification of interconnectedness through joint use and restrictions.

Conclusions:

• Defined dimensions for differentiating household technology ecosystems.
• Proposed framework for exploring diversity's implications for smart home technologies.
• Emphasized the importance of considering human and relational factors in smart home design.