Kin

UX design & Research • Jan – AUG 2015

Kin is a smart home system designed to give users total control over their personal data settings and privacy. Through the Kin Android app, homeowners can manage their data permissions and set up routines for all of their smart devices through a single, centralized digital hub.

This Capstone project was sponsored by Bosch and completed as part of my Master of Human-Computer Interaction (MHCI) program.

Challenge

The rise of sensor-based technology and Internet of Things (IoT) has resulted in increased public interest in personal data security and privacy. Companies now have a greater moral obligation to educate consumers about the implications of using such technologies.

Bosch prompted my team to explore how their proposed data management model could work with the growing smart home ecosystem, while letting users retain full control over their personal information.

Process

Back in 2015, smart home technologies weren’t as prevalent as they are today — they were still up and coming. We had two main research goals:

1. Investigate people’s understanding of the current home automation landscape

2. Evaluate people’s comprehension of personal data management

We conducted research with a variety of participants including college students, working professionals, parents, and elderly folks.

Our research methodology consisted of a variety of techniques such as interviews, speed dating, and user enactment. Throughout all of our activities, we encouraged participants to be open-minded about how they might want futuristic smart home system to work for them, despite present day limitations in technology.

Key takeaways & prototype

Participants wanted to physically see and control their data

Participants often expressed the need to be able to “hold” and manipulate data with their hands. They wanted something tangible that they could interact with, such as smartphone or tablet UI. It was these interactions with physical devices that reinforced their perceived sense of control.

Participants didn’t want the system to replace them

A common fear was that as sensors become more sophisticated, they have the detrimental side effect of influencing how humans interact with one another. Participants didn't want their smart home to undermine their interpersonal relationships nor supplant the quality, human-to-human connections they experienced on a regular basis.

Participants wanted an “off” button

The idea of living with a context-aware smart home system alarmed some participants. One individual exclaimed, "If I am living in a smart home, I would like a dark space where I know there is no sensing." They wanted the ability to disable all data collection functionality in an instant.

Android prototype

My teammates and I produced an Android prototype named “Kin,” which lets users:

• Manage devices and data

• Configure routines

• Monitor their smart home remotely

• Share access with others

With Kin, homeowners get to decide who has access to data collected by their smart devices and how it’s used.

The app facilitates communication between the smart home and its devices to enable users to configure routines. A routine consists of at least one trigger event that results in one or more corresponding actions. For example, “When my smart fridge senses that food has expired, send a push notification to my phone.”

Moreover, Kin lets users to monitor home activity from afar and change access remotely if so desired. Homeowners can also create guest profiles with user-defined access permissions.

By putting control back in the users’ hands, Kin is the first step in designing a more welcoming, friendly smart home system. For more information, visit our project website.