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Chamunorwa, Michael and Müller, Heiko and Boll, Susanne

Journal

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Booktitle

Proceedings of the ACM on Human-Computer Interaction

Abstract

Current smart home technologies rely on touchscreens and voice assistants for interaction. These interfaces lack tactile engagement and fail to support users’ daily routines and preferences, leading to poor user experiences (UX). Designing tangible user interfaces (TUIs) that align with user preferences can improve the status quo. This paper explores the potential of TUIs using everyday objects for smart home control. Four prototypes — a vase, pillow, coaster, and flower — were evaluated for UX and metaphor alignment through a within-subjects study with 25 participants. Using meCUE questionnaires and semi-structured interviews, we examined how physical and contextual attributes influence UX. Our findings indicate that everyday objects are effective TUI and produce positive UX, provided careful consideration is given to their physical and contextual attributes. This research expands our understanding of TUIs’ role in bridging the digital-physical divide and offers practical guidelines for embedding intuitive smart home controls into everyday objects.

Publishing date

September / 2025

Type of Publication

article

Pages

1-29

Doi

10.1145/3743730