Understanding technology in the home: sensory ethnography and HCI

Digital technologies are increasingly considered an important piece in the puzzle of domestic energy demand reduction. However, for technological interventions to be successful, we need to understand more about how they might fit into the lives and homes of ordinary people. This paper reflects on bringing together methods from sensory ethnography and user-centered design to generate technologies for the home. Beyond practical considerations, it underlines the importance of creating an interdisciplinary dialogue that engages with both theory and method.