School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Disabil Rehabil Assist Technol. 2023 May;18(4):432-442. doi: 10.1080/17483107.2020.1864670. Epub 2020 Dec 30.
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.
We conducted a mixed-methods semi-randomized controlled trial among individuals with intellectual disability (ID), providing IPAs to an intervention group ( = 22), but not a control group ( = 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.
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.
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.
主流智能个人助理（IPA，例如亚马逊 Echo 和 Google Home）为增强健康和社会护理领域弱势群体的自主性和幸福感提供了前所未有的机会。然而，也可能存在意外后果和使用障碍。
我们在智障人士（ID）中进行了一项混合方法半随机对照试验，为干预组（n=22）提供 IPA，但不为对照组（n=22）提供。对 ID 个体进行了关于设备使用和日常生活的半结构化访谈。还从支持人员那里收集了观察调查。使用主题分析确定了主要主题。我们还收集了关于自主性和幸福感的数据。另外还评估了另外一组已经接受过 IPA 的 40 名个体及其支持人员。
确定了四个主题：（1）社会价值，（2）娱乐，（3）感知自主性，（4）挑战、毅力、培训/支持需求。对 IPA 的看法绝大多数是积极的。大多数个体定性报告说自主性增强，IPA 使许多个体能够访问与幸福感相关的功能，但在定量测量中没有显著变化。一些个体在发音和记住 IPA 短语方面遇到挑战；然而，毅力是常见的。
本研究增加了我们对智能音箱可用于提高 ID 个体生活质量的方式以及面临的障碍性质的理解。总之，IPA 是一种具有成本效益的弱势群体补充支持，但需要额外的培训才能实现所有潜在的好处。
在支持性居住中的智障人士能够使用主流智能扬声器来访问与支持幸福感和社会交流相关的功能。他们还报告说，智能扬声器使他们感觉更能为自己做事。一些 ID 个体和他们的支持人员确定需要培训和支持，以在未来充分利用智能扬声器。
