Perceived usefulness of Internet of Things (IOT) in the quality of life of special needs and elderly individuals in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Smart home technologies (the Internet of Things [IoT]) are increasingly being implemented in human life, and a growing body of evidence demonstrates their usefulness for people with disabilities and elderly people. To fully benefit from their use, these individuals must know the different existing tools and their potential and be trained and motivated to use them. The current study aims to evaluate the factors that promote the use of smart home technologies (IoT) in people's lives. Data were gathered from 130 Saudi individuals via a survey questionnaire. Mean, standard deviation, and MANOVA were calculated. According to the results, the participants showed a moderate perception toward IoT technologies, with a mean score of (M = 2.06 and SD = 0.328). Moreover, no statistically significant differences were found in the perceived usefulness of the IoT and its dimensions (usage, skills, obstacles, and inclusion) among participants, based on gender, education level, category, experience, and devices used. While elder participants demonstrated higher perceived usefulness and perceived obstacles than the younger participants, as evidenced by the statistically significant differences in the results (MS = 0.432, F = 4.197, Sig0.017 0.05; MS = 0.584, F = 2.882, Sig0.060 > 0.05; MS = 0.255, F = 1.939, Sig0.148 > 0.05, respectively). The results support the relevance of providing knowledge and enhancing skills, thereby fostering a positive perception of IoT technologies. This study is one of the few addressing IoT technologies in special needs settings in the Middle East region. It has the potential to support evidence that IoT technologies are especially significant for people with special needs and elderly individuals.