Understanding Motivators, Constraints, and Practices of Sharing Internet of Things

Abstract

Smart devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and smart watches are designed under the assumption that they will be used by a single user. In contrast, many other devices, such as smart thermostats and smart speakers, are inherently sharable. This paper presents results from a diary study that we conducted with 20 participants to gain a nuanced understanding of the purposes, motivators, and constraints involved in the sharing of smart devices, which are cumulatively referred to as the Internet of Things. We also report on users' practices of coordinating their shared use with sharees/co-users, the impact of not understanding a smart device's behavior and the context of shared use, the differences between sharing personal and inherently sharable devices in terms of content that is available and accessible, trust between sharees, and measures taken to ensure accountable use. Finally, we discuss the implications of our findings and provide guidelines for the design of future smart devices.