The Intersection of Smart Home Technology and the Disabled Population

Abstract In the United States, over one in four adults deal with some type of disability, including issues with mobility, cognition, hearing, vision, or other limitations to their self-care. One barrier to independent living faced by people with disabilities is the struggle to complete activities of daily living (ADL). Those dealing with issues of physical limitations are sometimes unable to complete ADL without the assistance of a helper or caregiver. Some of these limitations can be overcome with smart home adaptations that either provide the necessary assistance for the disabled user or offer alternatives to accomplishing those tasks. Smart home technology can also monitor independent living situations, allowing for as much autonomy as possible but still alerting caregivers of issues as soon as they arise. A systematic review of the existing literature was carried out looking at both currently available smart home adaptations and those that are in the process of being tested which can positively impact the ability of those with disabilities to live independently. Specifically, the literature reviewed included research articles published since 2018 in IEEE, Association for Computing Machinery, and ScienceDirect that referred to both smart homes and disabilities, looking at aids for users dealing with limited sight, speech, hearing, or mobility. Some adaptations highlighted in the systematic review involve sensors embedded throughout the home or attached to certain items that are used to carry out ADL. Other adaptations include voice recognition devices, interactive robotic assistants, and power wheelchair chargers and interfaces. The success of a product is primarily dependent on its adoption and use in the context of daily life, so this study also investigates users' characteristics to help developers design an easy-to-use device. This research includes the results of discussions with people living with these limitations to gauge their opinions on currently available technology in general and what they would like to see that may not yet be available. People with disabilities are stakeholders in smart home technology that could benefit them and improve their ability to live independently in their own homes, so it is crucial to hear their voices as decisions are made regarding the future direction of smart home research. Concerns with smart home technology as it relates to the disabled community are three-fold. First, security, privacy, and safety issues need to be addressed anytime new technology is used. Second, the reliability and efficacy of the technology itself needs to be examined to make sure that those who use the technology can rely on it as they perform activities of daily living. Third, areas need to be identified in which disabled persons would like to receive assistance from smart home technology that is not currently available; these areas could point to new future research possibilities. The end goal of this research is to show a clear picture of the smart home technology currently available, how this technology is currently used and viewed by those in the disabled community, and what direction future research could take.