Beyond Convenience: A Historical Perspective on Technology Adoption Within the Home

Azin Ehteshami¹, Mirjana Lozanovska¹, Richard Tucker¹

1. Deakin University

Published in Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024), edited by Ali GhaffarianHoseini, Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, Farzad Rahimian and Mahesh Babu Purushothaman. Springer Nature, Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, volume 591, 2025, pages 369 to 380. DOI 10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_36.

Abstract

Technological advancements, from electricity to the internet, have continuously reshaped the domestic landscape. While offering convenience and a sense of progress, the history of technology adoption within the home reveals a complex narrative. The integration of technologies like televisions, personal computers and appliances presented challenges. Concerns regarding unequal access and the impact on family dynamics emerged. Additionally, privacy concerns became prominent with interconnected devices. This paper summarises the emergence of smart home theory and technology alongside these historical challenges, examining how past trends in technology adoption within the home can inform our understanding of the impacts of new technologies. The research employs a literature review approach, summarising existing scholarly works on the history of technology adoption within the domestic sphere. By drawing upon historical insights, it can highlight potential issues associated with smart home technologies for future research. This, in turn, can lead to a more thoughtful and responsible integration, fostering a positive impact on family life and the overall domestic environment.

Keywords

Session

Presented in Track K, Saturday 9 November 2024, 11:00 to 13:00, room WG 1001, Auckland University of Technology. Session chair Dr Zahra Jalali.

How to Cite

Ehteshami, A., Lozanovska, M., & Tucker, R. (2025). Beyond Convenience: A Historical Perspective on Technology Adoption Within the Home. In A. GhaffarianHoseini, A. GhaffarianHoseini, F. Rahimian, & M. B. Purushothaman (Eds.), Proceedings of the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment (SASBE 2024) (Lecture Notes in Civil Engineering, Vol. 591, pp. 369–380). Springer Nature Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-96-4051-5_36

About the Conference

Presented at SASBE 2024, the International Conference on Smart and Sustainable Built Environment, held in Auckland from 7 to 9 November 2024 and chaired by Professors Ali and Amirhosein GhaffarianHoseini, founders of GDI Academy. The version of record is published by Springer Nature; this page is the conference archive record kept by GDI Academy.