Understanding user perceptions of privacy, and configuration challenges in home automation

Home automation has become increasingly popular, with new interconnected products being introduced on a regular basis. While the benefits of these devices are tantalizing, end users may not fully understand the complexities of setting up these devices, become frustrated with the process, or have incorrect installations. We performed an exploratory study to understand the barriers that they face in actually setting up these devices. Participants faced multiple barriers, some of which were insurmountable. Our work indicates that current home automation devices run contrary to the perception that smart homes devices are “plug-and-play”.