In the late 1950s, RCA Whirlpool introduced the world to the “Miracle Kitchen,” a bold vision of the future in which every device in the home was automated, networked, and tasked with making life easier and safer. Part futuristic proof of concept, part propaganda, the Miracle Kitchen excited consumers and sparked the famous “Kitchen Debate” between Richard Nixon and Nikita Khrushchev. There was just one problem: The technology wasn’t ready.
Designing Smart-Home Products That People Will Actually Use
Here are eight user personas that can help.
July 11, 2019
Summary.
Despite a growing ecosystem of devices, software, and services for the home, there hasn’t been explosive growth in the smart-home market. Aside from some technophiles, consumers still struggle to see how smart-home products or services will be relevant to them in their daily lives, let alone understand all the technology upgrade cycles and platform and integration options. New Accenture research finds that to help smart-home technology get more mainstream, companies need to rethink their product design and marketing. This means understanding smart-home customers’ needs and behaviors, as well as employing a few best practices to make them comfortable with bringing tech into the home.
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New!
HBR Learning
Digital Intelligence Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Digital Intelligence . Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Excel in a world that's being continually transformed by technology.