Using clear and accessible language this book examines the growing field of ‘smart technology’ for the home. The author first introduces the field before exploring the various background issues, including how the home differs from other environments. He then shows how these background issues affect the design and usability of these technologies. A detailed case study looks at the use of handheld and wearable digital technology in sheltered housing. The last section examines what it is like to live in a smart home and why they have so far failed to reach the levels of success originally predicted.

使用清晰易懂的语言，本书探讨了家庭“智能技术”的发展领域。作者首先介绍了这个领域，然后探讨了各种背景问题，包括家庭与其他环境的区别。然后，他展示了这些背景问题如何影响这些技术的设计和可用性。一个详细的案例研究着眼于在庇护所中使用手持和可穿戴数字技术。最后一节探讨了在智能家居中生活是什么样的，以及为什么他们至今未能达到最初预测的成功水平。