Interface design for in-home displays

Abstract

Abstract In-home displays can support behavioral changes by providing users with real time information (or feedback) on their energy consumption. Previous studies have shown that the design of such devices plays an important role in effectively communicating such information to users and that preferences are culturally-depend. This paper examines information elements best suited to the Brazilian context for children, adults, and elderly. It explores the preference, ranking, and understanding in addition to the ideal in-home display for each user profile. Lastly, display prototypes suited to each user profile are also proposed based on the results of seven focus groups totaling fifty participants. Real-time consumption was one of the most important information whereas penalty was the least. All participants preferred historical comparison to normative comparison. Numerical formats were better understood than ambient formats for real-time consumption. In addition, children and adults preferred and designed ambient formats whereas elderly preferred numerical information in monetary unit. Elderly would like to keep the display simple whereas adults and children need more interactive designs. These findings contribute to more effective in-home display design particularly for the Brazilian context, where smart meter and in home-displays are not extensively adopted.