Understanding Families' Non-/Use Practices and Choices: The Case of Smart Speakers and Smart Interactive Toys

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Over the past few years, in-home smart technologies have dramatically increased and changed. This paper aims to investigate how families of different socioeconomic status use or forgo the use of smart devices, specifically smart speakers and smart interactive toys. To this end, we interviewed 14 parents with low socioeconomic status and 16 parents with high socioeconomic status from varied races and different levels of education, lifestyles, and occupations. Our findings reveal how socioeconomic differences reflect and impact use of these devices in terms of parenting aids, parents' regulation of children's use, and the non-use practices of families. In the end, we discuss the implications of our findings and provide design recommendations for smart speakers and smart toys that address the diverse values and preferences of families from different socioeconomic backgrounds.