Acceptance: A Forgotten Dimension of Usability in Ambient Intelligent Environments

Abstract

Ambient Intelligence plays a vital role in developing assistive technologies like smart homes, aiding disabled and elderly living, and emergency assistance and learning systems. As an evolving applied science criterion, Ambient Intelligence is taken to the next level by considering behavioural and humane aspects into day-to-day applications such as traffic, education and smart homes etc. Although recent progress has indicated significant breakthroughs in computational and cognitive directions, the Human-Computer-Interaction dimension is not effectively applied. Interaction principles such as accessibility, usability and learnability from the user acceptance aspect are not significantly explored. The embodiment of these principles can lead to effective usability by a potential user. Through this paper, the author would like to identify the significance of usability towards user acceptance for qualifiable ambience in intelligent environments. This paper presents the perspective-based reflection of the potential and younger user group validated against the correlation of user's educational backdrop and experience towards technological acceptance. Also, a novel philosophical/policy level phenomenon to determine the principles through which usability in such environments can be made acceptable is discussed.