Recent technological advancements have enabled the development of smarter (more automated) and more intelligent (adaptable) environments. To understand what factors lead users to reject or adopt Intelligent Environments (IEs), we reviewed nine prominent technology adoption theories. We conducted a literature review to investigate the acceptance and adoption of different types of IEs. We found that perceived usefulness, ease of use, perceived control or self-efficacy, affect and enjoyment, and perceived risks are the common factors across the studies explaining the adoption of IEs. However, shortcomings in the design and methods of the reviewed studies present major concerns in the generalizability and application of existing theories to emerging IEs. We identify eight lacunae in the existing literature and propose a new conceptual model for explaining the adoption of IEs. Through this study, we contribute to the formulation of the theoretical background for the successful introduction of IEs and their integration into users’ everyday life.

Recent advancements in digital technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), and information and communication technologies (ICT), are transforming homes into interconnected ecosystem of services. Yet, discourse on home technologies remains fragmented due to inconsistent terminologies. This paper addresses the lack of a framework, studying distinctions between smart and non-smart homes and forecasting connectivity and automation growth. Experts (21) participated in online surveys and interviews in 2021, exploring language, structure, and technical/social aspects of basic and smarter homes. Quantitative survey data and qualitative interview analyses yield insights on defining smarter homes, barriers to adoption, and framework improvements to establish universal definitions. This study underscores the urgency of harmonizing language and concepts in the domain of smart homes, revealing user understanding gaps and usability issues as barriers. This bridges gaps for consumer engagement and tech adoption.

As a result of a rapidly aging population and the increasing prevalence of dementia among older adults, technological solutions are increasingly being considered to facilitate caregiving. This research investigates the perspectives of 20 caregiving dyads on VGo, a telepresence social robot with features designed to support caregiving. Care recipients (CRs), aged 65 and older, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, along with their primary caregivers (CGs), evaluated the robot through an online interview study. The interviews integrated informative videos showcasing VGo’s features and functions. Insights from the interviews revealed diverse expectations, interests, and reservations. The majority of CGs and their CRs perceived the robot’s features as beneficial. In particular, the voice command capability was appreciated as an alternative to using smartphones and as a way to manage home appliances. The community feature, however, did not align well with many participants’ lifestyles, and participants had a number of suggestions to enhance the robot’s notification function. Based on the interview results, the study offers a set of design recommendations for telepresence social robots in home caregiving contexts. This investigation highlights the promise of social robots in caregiving contexts and underscores the need for further improvements to ensure they fit users’ needs.