The purpose of this article is to present possible psychological consequences of using ICT, especially online communication applications, during the Coronavirus lockdown. With humans already testing their mental fortitude due to the enforced isolation period, the paper proposes that predictors of technology phobia such as computer anxiety may also arise. The root causes of technophobia are centred around computer dependency, data surveillance, information overload, poor user experience and personality type. Furthermore, scenarios such as a complete internet shutdown, the development of social distancing apps and the introduction of 5G are also dissected within the article. Finally, the reader is presented with ideas on feasible solutions and coping mechanisms in dealing with technology-related stress. It seems evident that there exists a need for academia and governmental entities to work in- tandem in order to implement common-sense legislation.

Smart Home Technology manufacturers currently face significant issues with regard to the acceptance and intention to use their products. Evidence suggests that specific products have the lion’s share of the smart home market, and fully integrated smart home set-ups are still rare. The aim of this study was to investigate the acceptance of Smart Home Technology by administering the Technology Acceptance Model and applying Self Determination Theory with a sample of British (N = 284) and Spanish (N= 209) technology users. Results showed that perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness act as mediators of the effect of need satisfaction on respondents’ behavioural intention to use Smart Home Technology. Except for relatedness satisfaction, there were no gender effects; however, we found important differences between the British and Spanish participants, which are discussed in terms of cultural differences in the degree to which need satisfaction is important to participants.

Research on automated domestic appliances, categorized as Smart Home Technology (SHT), has increased exponentially over the last decade and has taken various guises, from qualitative descriptive investigation to empirically based analysis. Given the unresolved uncertainties surrounding the SHT acceptance literature and concern regarding the relatively low smart home device uptake, there is a need to reappraise the existing literature to delve deeper and search for solutions. Based on the research method PRISMA, a systematic literature review on SHT acceptance was undertaken to evaluate its different models and develop a hypothetical model. Twenty-three papers were selected in the review, and the results indicate that the Technological Acceptance Model was the most applied model when investigating SHT acceptance. Moreover, the most significant variables used to measure SHT acceptance were compatibility and perceived usefulness. The systematic literature review also revealed some significant patterns including the uptake of non-Western research and the use of sales and market share as a metric of SHT acceptance. Future directions on how researchers, smart home developers and governmental agencies can utilize the findings conclude the systematic review.

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