JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Smart speakers, such as AmazonTM’s Echo and Google’s Nest HomeTM, combine natural language processing within a conversational interface to carry out everyday tasks, like playing music and finding information. Easy-to-use, they are embraced by older adults, including those with limited physical function, vision, or computer literacy. While smart speakers are increasingly used for research (e.g., implementing interventions, automatically recording selected research data), information on the advantages and disadvantages of using these devices for studies related to health promotion programs is limited.

Objective:

We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of employing smart speakers to deliver a physical activity (PA) program designed to help older adults enhance physical well-being.

Methods:

Community-dwelling older adults (N=18) were asked to use a custom smart speaker application to participate in an evidence-based, low impact PA program for a 10-week study. During the first six weeks of the intervention, participants engaged weekly with trained members of the research team to troubleshoot the technology and motivate and encourage participation in the physical activity program. During the final four weeks, participants continued with the PA program independently. Data included survey measures, interviews, field notes and device logs and analyzed using a mixed methods approach. Using criteria developed by Proctor et al.[1], smart speakers were evaluated using time series analysis to examine measures of acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and intention to adopt smart speaker technology. Interviews and field notes were thematically coded in a convergent design and further expand on factors related to intervention fidelity.

Results:

Smart speakers are acceptable and appropriate for PA intervention research, with some participants embracing their use for the intervention as well as everyday tasks. Others were frustrated by minor technological issues and abandoned use of the device easily, often while maintaining the exercise protocol of the study. Factors such as wifi connectivity, the voice-user interface, and engagement with the device on everyday tasks were identified as meaningful to acceptability.

Conclusions:

Smart speakers are feasible and acceptable for intervention studies; however device connectivity and privacy issues pose potential challenges to intervention fidelity.