Smart-speaker technology and intellectual disabilities: agency and wellbeing
Open accessAbstract
PURPOSE: Mainstream intelligent personal assistants (IPAs, e.g., Amazon Echo and Google Home) offer an unprecedented opportunity to enhance agency and wellbeing among vulnerable groups across health and social care. However, unintended consequences and barriers to use are possible. MATERIALS AND METHODS: = 22). Semi-structured interviews on device use and daily life were conducted with individuals with ID. Observation surveys were also collected from support staff. Key themes were identified using thematic analysis. We also collected quantitative agency and wellbeing data. A separate group of 40 individuals who had already received IPAs were additionally assessed, as well as their support staff. RESULTS: Four themes were identified: (1) social value, (2) entertainment, (3) perceived agency, (4) challenges, perseverance, training/support needs. Opinions regarding IPAs were overwhelmingly positive. Most individuals qualitatively reported improved sense of agency and IPAs enabled many individuals to access features associated with wellbeing, but there was no significant change in the quantitative measure. Some individuals experienced challenges related to pronouncing and remembering IPA phrases; however, perseverance was common. CONCLUSIONS: This study increases our understanding of the ways smart speakers can be used to enhance life quality among individuals with ID, and the nature of barriers faced. In conclusion, IPAs are cost-effective complementary support for vulnerable populations, but additional training is required to realize all potential benefits.Implications for rehabilitationIndividuals with intellectual disability (ID) in supported living are able to use mainstream smart-speakers to access features associated with supporting wellbeing and social communication.They also reported that smart speakers made them feel better able to do things for themselves.A number of individuals with ID and their support staff identified a need for training and support to get the most out of smart speakers in future.
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Voice assistants hold the potential to significantly enhance older adults' quality of life and autonomy.
“even though they hold the potential to significantly enhance older adults' quality of life and autonomy [5, 56].”
From Situated Understanding of Errors in Older Adults' Interactions with Voice Assistants: A Month-Long, In-Home Study (2026) · cites this paper as [56]
The introduction (section 1; page unavailable) says voice assistants may improve quality of life and agency across health and social care. But the paper studies people with intellectual disabilities; its remarks about older adults concern positive attitudes toward smart technology and willingness to trade privacy for autonomy, not demonstrated improvements in their quality of life or autonomy. (LLM, conf=0.85)
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- Authors
- Smith, E., Sumner, P., Hedge, C., & Powell, G.
- Affiliations
- Cardiff University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Smith, Elizabeth
- Venue
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2020-12-30
- Volume
- 18
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 432-442
- ISSN
- 1748-3107 (ISSN-L)
- 1748-3115
- OpenAlex
- W3113892470
- Cited by
- 53
- References
- 31
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 7
- FWCI
- 7.49
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- orca.cardiff.ac.uk
- Locations
- Disability and Rehabilitation Assistive Technology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ORCA Online Research @Cardiff (Cardiff University) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Health and Care Research Wales Fellowship (SCF-18-1524)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Occupational Therapy › Assistive Technology in Communication and Mobility
- Social Sciences › Demography › Technology Use by Older Adults
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Down syndrome and intellectual disability research
- Keywords
- smart speakers, virtual assistants, intellectual disability, agency, well-being, supported living, assistive technology, social communication, support staff training, technology adoption barriers, Amazon Echo, Google Home
- MeSH terms
- Communication, Humans, Intellectual Disability, Quality of Life
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