Smart home control via PDA: An example of multi-device user interface design

Smart home systems must be controlled comfortably and securely by a broad range of users and in diverse contexts of use. One possibility to meet the requirements deriving from these diversities is to provide multiple devices to control the system. When a smart home application is used by one person on different devices, the user interface concepts should support an easy transition between devices. This article describes the development and result of a multi-device user interface to control a smart home system with focus on usability issues. The target devices are touch screen display and PDA. The design principles for inter-usability proposed by Denis & Karsenty 2004 are discussed and adapted with respect to a balance of inter-usability and usability of the specific device interface. The refined PDA user interface is described in detail.