A survey was conducted to determine Americans' and Koreans' preferences in both general and specific aspects of smart home interface design. 210 Americans and 282 Koreans participated. The respondents preferred to interact with a smart home using a physical device (a computer, cell phone, or remote control) rather than through communication modalities such as speech or gesture. Though different, the layout organization preferences of the American and Korean respondents conflicted with those expected on the basis of an often cited distinction between Americans' and Koreans' preferences for functional vs. thematic structures, respectively. Based on the survey, the conclusion was reached that smart home interfaces should be adapted to the particular culture. General and culture-specific guidelines for smart home interface design are proposed.
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