Privacy Perceptions of an Aware Home with Visual Sensing Devices

Abstract

Homes that can collaborate with their residents rather than simply provide shelter are becoming a reality. These homes such as Georgia Tech's “Aware Home” can potentially provide support to residents. Older adults in particular may benefit from the supports provided by these Aware Homes if they utilize the technologies they offer. The purpose of this study is to explore the privacy concerns that older adults may have about a home equipped with a visual sensing device. Using a structured interview approach we propose to investigate how variables such as the type of images the home captures and the physical and mental health of the residents of the home may affect privacy concerns. Findings from scenario-based structured interviews will be used to better understand the characteristics of these variables and how they relate to privacy concerns about visual sensing devices. Such data are critical for a model of home-based privacy concerns, for better design of home based visual sensing systems, and for providing information about sensing systems so that individuals may make informed choices concerning what devices to have in their homes.