Evaluating the Accuracy and User Experience of a Gesture-Based Infrared Remote Control in Smart Homes

Abstract

To enhance user experience while satisfying basic expectations and needs is the most important goal in the design of assistive technical devices. As a contribution, the user experience with the SmartPointer, a novel hand-held gesture-based remote control for everyday use in the living environment, is being explored in comprehensive user tests. The concept and design of the SmartPointer exploits the user’s familiarity with TV remotes, flashlights or laser pointers. The buttonless device emits both an infrared (IR) and a visible (VIS) laser beam and is designed to be universally and consistently used for a large variety of devices and appliances in private homes out of arm's reach. In the paper, the results of three user studies regarding recognition rates and usability issues are summarized. Study One was a mixed-method study in the pre-implementation stage with 20 older adults, gathering the expectations towards a gesture-based remote control and exploring simple, quasi-intuitive controlling gestures. In Study Two, the acceptance and usability of a prototype of the SmartPointer remote control was verified and compared with a group of 29 users from the target group, exploring 8 most frequently used gestures from Study One. In Study Three, comprehensive gesture-recognition tests with an updated version of the remote were carried out with a group of 11 younger adults in various light conditions, postures and distances to the operated device. All three studies confirm the feasibility of the underlying principle, the usability and satisfaction among the participants and the robustness of the technical solution along with a high success rate of the recognition algorithm.