Development and Evaluation of an Assistive Voice-Activated Smart Outlet System

This study aimed to develop and evaluate an assistive voice-activated smart electrical outlet. Utilizing an Agile development framework, an assistive voice-activated smart electrical outlet system was designed and developed. Technical system performance, quality attributes, and consumer satisfaction were assessed during simulated and household deployments, with evaluations conducted by 99 respondents selected through purposive sampling. Technical testing revealed that the system successfully passed all parameters for thermal safety, physical spacing, and command latency. The command execution response time across domestically deployed appliances—including a lamp, phone charger, electric fan, and television—consistently ranged from 0.90 to 1.85 seconds. Quality attributes regarding voice control compatibility and operational noise resilience achieved high success rates ranging from 90% to 100%, demonstrating reliable relay execution in a quiet room and in the presence of background television and electric fan noise. As a result, using the offline voice-activated smart outlet yielded high satisfaction with voice-control compatibility (4.34, Strongly Agree) and operational noise resilience (4.25, Strongly Agree). It is concluded that the offline smart outlet stands as a safe, highly responsive, and user-centric automation tool that effectively bridges hardware stability and accessibility. Based on these findings, it is recommended that future researchers utilize smaller electronic components for a more compact structural design, incorporate advanced microphone arrays, and extend long-term deployment testing. Ultimately, this research highlighted the broader impact on home automation. This internet-independent solution eliminates interactions with traditional, manually operated electrical outlets, thereby improving daily living conditions for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.