Householders are increasingly adopting home networking as a solution to the demands created by the presence of multiple computers, devices, and the desire to access the Internet. However, current network solutions are derived from the world of work (and initially the military) and provide poor support for the needs of the home. We present the key findings to emerge from empirical studies of home networks in the UK and US. The studies reveal two key kinds of work that effective home networking relies upon: one, the technical work of setting up and maintaining the home network, and the other, the collaborative and socially organized work of the home which the network is embedded in and supports. The two are thoroughly intertwined and rely upon one another for their realization, yet neither is adequately supported by current networking technologies and applications. Explication of the "work to make the home network work" opens up the design space for the continued integration of the home network in domestic life and elaboration of future support. Key issues for development include the development of networking facilities that do not require advanced networking knowledge, that are flexible and support the local social order of the home and the evolution of its routines, and which ultimately make the home network visible and accountable to household members.

In this paper, we report on the tools that users currently rely on for their home network management, the usability problems with those tools, and some desirable features for a tool for householders.

Abstract. Home networking is becoming an essential part of everyday life. However, empirical studies and consumer reports indicate that the complexities of configuring and maintaining the home network impose a high barrier for most householders. In this paper, we explore the sources of the complexity of the home network, and describe a solution we have built to address this complexity. We have developed a prototype network appliance that acts as a centralized point of control for the home network, providing device provisioning and reprovisioning, security, discovery, and monitoring. Our solution provides a simple physical UI for network control, using pointing to introduce new devices onto the network, and a physical lock to secure network access. Results of our user studies indicate that users found this appliance both useful and usable as a network configuration and management tool.

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