Using wizard-of-oz method to build multipurpose platform for domestic ambient media research and applications

This paper presents the design and evaluation of the multipurpose platform for domestic ambient media research and applications through an improved method called wizard-of-oz. Inspired by the increasing requirements for the reuse of valuable development work in intelligent ambient media system and service design, we propose a different approach to construct a high-level pseudo platform to support flexible and cost-economic prototype mock-up and test. Based on the platform three incremental ambient media applications were developed for empirical studies, and a number of studies were carried out to assess the applicability, effectiveness and reusability of this platform within domestic settings. The results showed that this platform has great advantages over conventional systems specifically developed for ambient media research in above aspects. Also, the results have provided secondary understanding in the design of future ambient media applications for domestic use, including the guidelines for the design of domestic smart conversational system interfaces and user interactions with ambient media.