Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/48942
Title: End-user development of smart home rules using block-based programming: a comparative usability evaluation with programmers and non-programmers
Keywords: End-user development
Smart home
User testing
Block-based programming
Casas inteligentes
Usuário final
Teste de usabilidade
Programação baseada em blocos
Issue Date: May-2021
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Group
Citation: GONÇALVES, M. C. et al. End-user development of smart home rules using block-based programming: a comparative usability evaluation with programmers and non-programmers. Behaviour & Information Technology, London, v. 40, n. 10, p. 974–996, 2021. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1921028.
Abstract: The use of Smart Homes has grown considerably in the past decade. Enabling end-users to develop rules to program their homes and devices is very important to empower them. Several studies have analysed trigger-action programming tools, primarily using form-based and data-flow approaches for programming interfaces. This study evaluated the usability of a block-based tool for end-user development of rules to control smart homes and compared the difficulties encountered by non-programmers and programmers. Evaluations involved 10 programmers and 10 non-programmers in Brazil. A thematic analysis of 247 problem instances (80 from programmers and 167 from non-programmers) yielded the following themes, with problems related to condition blocks, action blocks, states and actions, time-related tasks, block configuration and personalisation, information architecture, programming logic, conceptual model of smart homes, simulator and debugging, help and technical problems. Despite most non-programmers being able to experiment with blocks, their task completion rates were significantly lower than programmers. The analysis showed aspects where block-based programming can enhance the use for non-programmers. They also confirmed interaction aspects revealed by previous studies using form-based and data-flow approaches that also occur with block-based programming to design smart home rules, with important contributions to improve end-user development tools for smart homes.
URI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0144929X.2021.1921028
http://repositorio.ufla.br/jspui/handle/1/48942
Appears in Collections:DCC - Artigos publicados em periódicos

Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.

Admin Tools