Dear all programmable thermostat users/owners,

Hi, I am a college student who is doing a project about programmable
thermostats. I have difficulty to find people who use or own a
programmable thermostat, and I am so desperate that I am asking for
help in this group. The questionnaire is mainly about your experience
and opinions about programmable thermostats. It won't take long to fill
out the questionnaire and I really really really appeciate your help.

Here is the questionnai

Programmable Thermostat Questionnaire (for users/owners)

1. What is the brand and model of your programmable thermostat? (You
can leave out the model if you do not remember)

2. How long have you owned or used a programmable thermostat?

3. What kind of features does your programmable thermostat have?
**Please select the following item(s) that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
(1) Ability to store and repeat multiple settings (e.g. weekends
and weekdays)
(2) Manual override to allow you to change the current temperature
without affecting the daily or weekly program.
(3) Ability to operate normally with a battery backup during a
power outage or a battery failure
(4) Ability to prevent unnecessary or unreasonable period of a
setting (e.g. a period of 1 minute)
(5) Digital Display
(6) Keyboard Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to the
preprogrammed settings
(7) Multiple Temperatures Display (Fahrenheit or Centigrade)
(8) Multiple Languages Support and Display
(9) Low Battery Indicator that indicates whether the battery used
to hold the programmed schedule is low
(10) Energy Monitor that keeps track of number of hours the
heating/cooling system has run for any selected time period
(11) Filter Change Indicator that goes on after a preset time
period to remind when it is time to clean or replace the filter
(12) Temperature accuracy within one degree (plus or minus)
(13) Instructions printed on the inside cover
(14) Others:

4. Please scale the satisfaction level of your current programmable
thermostat? (1 - Not Satified and 8 - Completely Satisfied)

5. What feature(s) do you like about your programmable thermostat? And
why do you like it or them? If applicable, please write the number of
the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

6. What feature(s) do you dislike about your programmable thermostat?
Why do you dislike it or them? If applicable, please write the number
of the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

7. If you think that your programmable thermostat needs to be improved,
what kind of improvements should be made?

8. Please scale (between 1 and 10) the importance of the following
requirements of a programmable thermostat: (1 - Least Important and 8
- Most Important)
** Please put the number at the end of the item.
· High Task efficiency
· Low Error rates
· Fast recovery time
· Easy to learn
· Easy to use
· Safe
· Good physical design
· Good interface design (software)
· Durable
· Ease of maintenance
· Others:

9. How much time do you usually spend at most to perform a task, e.g.
to set a weekday program?

10. If you can recall, how much time did you spend on performing a
task, e.g. to set a weekday program for the first time?

11. How well (a scale between 1 and 8) do you know about your
programmable thermostat in terms of features? (1 - not well and 8 -
very well)

12. How much time have you spent to learn to use the features of the
thermostat that fit your needs?

13. How much percentage (between 0% and 100%) of all features of the
thermostat have you learned using the time that you answered in the
previous question?

14. Where do you use your programmable thermostat?
**Please select the following items that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
· Home
· Office
· Others:

15. Please indicate your age range
**Please put an "X" at the end of the item.
· 15-24
· 26-35
· 36-45
· 46-55
· 56-65
· Over 65

16. What is your occupation? (If you are a student or a professional,
please indicate your specific area)

***Thank you so much for your time to answer this questionnaire. I
really appreciate your help!

Estella

E wrote:
Dear all programmable thermostat users/owners,

Hi, I am a college student who is doing a project about programmable
thermostats. I have difficulty to find people who use or own a
programmable thermostat, and I am so desperate that I am asking for
help in this group.


You'd find it easier to get responses if you had a webpage with the
survey on it where people could click of check boxes. Also, some of us
have more than one thermostat, which your survey doesn't accomodate. I
gave my answers for the one in my main location that I have used the
longest.



The questionnaire is mainly about your experience
and opinions about programmable thermostats. It won't take long to fill
out the questionnaire and I really really really appeciate your help.

Here is the questionnai

Programmable Thermostat Questionnaire (for users/owners)

1. What is the brand and model of your programmable thermostat? (You
can leave out the model if you do not remember)

LUX Ultra



2. How long have you owned or used a programmable thermostat?

20 years



3. What kind of features does your programmable thermostat have?
**Please select the following item(s) that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
(1) Ability to store and repeat multiple settings (e.g. weekends
and weekdays) X

(2) Manual override to allow you to change the current temperature
without affecting the daily or weekly program. X

(3) Ability to operate normally with a battery backup during a
power outage or a battery failure

(I've never seen one with a battery backup for a battery failure, nor
does the ability to operate normally during a power failure make any
sense, as if there is no power to the furnace the thermostat doesn't
need to operate normally) Some do have a failsafe mode, where if the
battery goes, it will maintain a fixed low temp, like 45, for heat
Mine doesnt have that.


(4) Ability to prevent unnecessary or unreasonable period of a
setting (e.g. a period of 1 minute)

(5) Digital Display X

(6) Keyboard Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to the
preprogrammed settings

(7) Multiple Temperatures Display (Fahrenheit or Centigrade)

(8) Multiple Languages Support and Display

(9) Low Battery Indicator that indicates whether the battery used
to hold the programmed schedule is low X

(10) Energy Monitor that keeps track of number of hours the
heating/cooling system has run for any selected time period

(11) Filter Change Indicator that goes on after a preset time
period to remind when it is time to clean or replace the filter X

(12) Temperature accuracy within one degree (plus or minus) X

(13) Instructions printed on the inside cover X

(14) Others: X

4. Please scale the satisfaction level of your current programmable
thermostat? (1 - Not Satified and 8 - Completely Satisfied) 6

5. What feature(s) do you like about your programmable thermostat? And
why do you like it or them? If applicable, please write the number of
the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

Ability to set 4 periods that are independent for each day.



6. What feature(s) do you dislike about your programmable thermostat?
Why do you dislike it or them? If applicable, please write the number
of the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

A little hard to program


7. If you think that your programmable thermostat needs to be improved,
what kind of improvements should be made?

Vacation hold. Some of the better ones now have this feature. It lets
you set a temporary temp that will expire in X days. So, if you are
away for a week, you can have the house come back to normal temps just
before you return. For an example of a really good thermostat that is
very easy to program and use, look at the Honwywell Vision Pro 8000.



8. Please scale (between 1 and 10) the importance of the following
requirements of a programmable thermostat: (1 - Least Important and 8
- Most Important)
** Please put the number at the end of the item.


· High Task efficiency No idea what this means BTW, is it 1-8, or 1-10?
· Low Error rates Not clear what this means either Errors programmingit, or errors maintaining temp?

· Fast recovery time This is a function of the furnace, not the thermostat, unless you mean if it supports aux heat for systems like heat pump.

· Easy to learn 10
· Easy to use 10
· Safe 10
· Good physical design 10
· Good interface design (software) 10
· Durable 8
· Ease of maintenance 8
· Others:

9. How much time do you usually spend at most to perform a task, e.g.
to set a weekday program? 2 mins

10. If you can recall, how much time did you spend on performing a
task, e.g. to set a weekday program for the first time? 10 mins

11. How well (a scale between 1 and 8) do you know about your
programmable thermostat in terms of features? (1 - not well and 8 -
very well) 8

12. How much time have you spent to learn to use the features of the
thermostat that fit your needs? 1 hour

13. How much percentage (between 0% and 100%) of all features of the
thermostat have you learned using the time that you answered in the
previous question? 100%

14. Where do you use your programmable thermostat?
**Please select the following items that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
· Home X
· Office
· Others:

15. Please indicate your age range
**Please put an "X" at the end of the item.
· 15-24
· 26-35
· 36-45
· 46-55 X
· 56-65
· Over 65

16. What is your occupation? (If you are a student or a professional,
please indicate your specific area) trader

***Thank you so much for your time to answer this questionnaire. I
really appreciate your help!

Estella

Programmable Thermostat Questionnaire (for users/owners)


1. What is the brand and model of your programmable thermostat? (You
can leave out the model if you do not remember)

ritetemp 8085c

2. How long have you owned or used a programmable thermostat?

5months

3. What kind of features does your programmable thermostat have?
**Please select the following item(s) that are applicable by putting an

"X" at the end of the item.
(1) Ability to store and repeat multiple settings (e.g. weekends
and weekdays) X (6 independent periods per day)
(2) Manual override to allow you to change the current temperature
without affecting the daily or weekly program. X
(3) Ability to operate normally with a battery backup during a
power outage or a battery failure X
(4) Ability to prevent unnecessary or unreasonable period of a
setting (e.g. a period of 1 minute) havent checked it out
(5) Digital Display X
(6) Keyboard Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to the
preprogrammed settings X
(7) Multiple Temperatures Display (Fahrenheit or Centigrade) X
(8) Multiple Languages Support and Display X
(9) Low Battery Indicator that indicates whether the battery used
to hold the programmed schedule is low X
(10) Energy Monitor that keeps track of number of hours the
heating/cooling system has run for any selected time period X
(11) Filter Change Indicator that goes on after a preset time X
period to remind when it is time to clean or replace the filter
(12) Temperature accuracy within one degree (plus or minus) X
(13) Instructions printed on the inside cover
(14) Others:

6 programmable time periods per day
large display.

4. Please scale the satisfaction level of your current programmable
thermostat? (1 - Not Satified and 8 - Completely Satisfied)

6

5. What feature(s) do you like about your programmable thermostat? And
why do you like it or them? If applicable, please write the number of
the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

the ritetemp8085c is not an intelligent dual stage thermostat.
It uses a timer to switch to dual stage after 15minutes if heat is not
satisfied.
I like the ones on the honeywell pros.

6. What feature(s) do you dislike about your programmable thermostat?
Why do you dislike it or them? If applicable, please write the number
of the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

dual stage control is not smart.

7. If you think that your programmable thermostat needs to be improved,

what kind of improvements should be made?

- a programmable control for the fan for automatic ventilation when
heat
is not needed. (I presently use an intermatic programmable timer
fswitch or this)

8. Please scale (between 1 and 10) the importance of the following
requirements of a programmable thermostat: (1 - Least Important and 8
- Most Important)
** Please put the number at the end of the item.
· High Task efficiency
· Low Error rates
· Fast recovery time
· Easy to learn
· Easy to use
· Safe
· Good physical design
· Good interface design (software)
· Durable
· Ease of maintenance
· Others:


9. How much time do you usually spend at most to perform a task, e.g.
to set a weekday program?


10. If you can recall, how much time did you spend on performing a
task, e.g. to set a weekday program for the first time?


11. How well (a scale between 1 and 8) do you know about your
programmable thermostat in terms of features? (1 - not well and 8 -
very well)


12. How much time have you spent to learn to use the features of the
thermostat that fit your needs?


13. How much percentage (between 0% and 100%) of all features of the
thermostat have you learned using the time that you answered in the
previous question?


14. Where do you use your programmable thermostat?
**Please select the following items that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
· Home X
· Office
· Others:


15. Please indicate your age range
**Please put an "X" at the end of the item.
· 15-24
· 26-35 X
· 36-45
· 46-55
· 56-65
· Over 65


16. What is your occupation? (If you are a student or a professional,
please indicate your specific area)


***Thank you so much for your time to answer this questionnaire. I
really appreciate your help!

E wrote:
..
Here is the questionnai

Programmable Thermostat Questionnaire (for users/owners)

1. What is the brand and model of your programmable thermostat? (You
can leave out the model if you do not remember)

Honeywell RTH7500D

2. How long have you owned or used a programmable thermostat?

~ 20 years


3. What kind of features does your programmable thermostat have?
**Please select the following item(s) that are applicable by putting
an "X" at the end of the item.
(1) Ability to store and repeat multiple settings (e.g. weekends
and weekdays) X
(2) Manual override to allow you to change the current temperature
without affecting the daily or weekly program. X
(3) Ability to operate normally with a battery backup during a
power outage or a battery failure X
(4) Ability to prevent unnecessary or unreasonable period of a
setting (e.g. a period of 1 minute) ????
(5) Digital Display X
(6) Keyboard Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to the
preprogrammed settings
(7) Multiple Temperatures Display (Fahrenheit or Centigrade)
(8) Multiple Languages Support and Display
(9) Low Battery Indicator that indicates whether the battery used
to hold the programmed schedule is low X
(10) Energy Monitor that keeps track of number of hours the
heating/cooling system has run for any selected time period X
(11) Filter Change Indicator that goes on after a preset time
period to remind when it is time to clean or replace the filter X
(12) Temperature accuracy within one degree (plus or minus) X
(13) Instructions printed on the inside cover
(14) Others: X

4. Please scale the satisfaction level of your current programmable
thermostat? (1 - Not Satified and 8 - Completely Satisfied) 6

5. What feature(s) do you like about your programmable thermostat? And
why do you like it or them? If applicable, please write the number of
the item in Question 3, and explain for each item. Tough question as the
first thing I like is that it keeps the temperature where I want it, as
does an functional thermostat. I assume you mean features that are
somewhat unique to this one like:

The ability to anticipate recovery time and easy programing.


6. What feature(s) do you dislike about your programmable thermostat?
Why do you dislike it or them? If applicable, please write the number
of the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

I can't think of one off hand. I suppose if it had cost less than $5.00
that would have been a plus.


7. If you think that your programmable thermostat needs to be
improved, what kind of improvements should be made?

8. Please scale (between 1 and 10) the importance of the following
requirements of a programmable thermostat: (1 - Least Important and 8
- Most Important)
** Please put the number at the end of the item.
· High Task efficiency ???
· Low Error rates 8
· Fast recovery time (see intelligent recovery feature) 6
· Easy to learn 6
· Easy to use 7
· Safe ??? 8
· Good physical design 5
· Good interface design (software) 7
· Durable 6
· Ease of maintenance What maintenance? Replacing a battery? 4
· Others: ????

9. How much time do you usually spend at most to perform a task, e.g.
to set a weekday program? 2 minutes

10. If you can recall, how much time did you spend on performing a
task, e.g. to set a weekday program for the first time? 10 minutes

11. How well (a scale between 1 and 8) do you know about your
programmable thermostat in terms of features? (1 - not well and 8 -
very well) 6

12. How much time have you spent to learn to use the features of the
thermostat that fit your needs? 30 minutes (tough question as it can be
interpreted many ways)

13. How much percentage (between 0% and 100%) of all features of the
thermostat have you learned using the time that you answered in the
previous question? 75%

14. Where do you use your programmable thermostat?
**Please select the following items that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
· Home X
· Office
· Others:

15. Please indicate your age range
**Please put an "X" at the end of the item.
· 15-24
· 26-35
· 36-45
· 46-55
· 56-65 X
· Over 65

16. What is your occupation? (If you are a student or a professional,
please indicate your specific area) Retired government tax professional.

***Thank you so much for your time to answer this questionnaire. I
really appreciate your help!

Estella

--
Joseph Meehan

Dia duit

Actually a battery backup is valuable for the 7day programmable to
maintain your settings. However, your right when you mention that it's
hard to ask for more heat on a furnace that's shut off.

JW

Dear Trader4 and Nemo,

Thank you for your comments and advice. I realized that it was such a
hassle to answer the questionnaire in plain text. I will definitely do
something different next time. Thank you for those who trusted this
questionnaire purpose and took time to fill it out. I am really
thankful.

Estella

Hi all,

I realize that I should have talked about what my assignment is all
about.

I am from Washington State University, the class is Cpt S 443 about
Human-Computer Interaction. My instructor needs me to get at least 6
responses from people who use or own a programmable thermostat, so that

I can analyze the data and make up my own list of requirements of a
programmable thermostat.

Hope this will clear some of your questions if you have any doubts
about this questionnaire.

Estella

E wrote:
Dear all programmable thermostat users/owners,

Hi, I am a college student who is doing a project about programmable
thermostats. I have difficulty to find people who use or own a
programmable thermostat, and I am so desperate that I am asking for
help in this group. The questionnaire is mainly about your experience
and opinions about programmable thermostats. It won't take long to
fill out the questionnaire and I really really really appeciate your
help.

Here is the questionnai

Programmable Thermostat Questionnaire (for users/owners)

1. What is the brand and model of your programmable thermostat? (You
can leave out the model if you do not remember)

Honeywell


2. How long have you owned or used a programmable thermostat?

Three years. No longer own them. Sold them to a fool on Ebay.


3. What kind of features does your programmable thermostat have?
**Please select the following item(s) that are applicable by putting
an "X" at the end of the item.
(1) Ability to store and repeat multiple settings (e.g. weekends
and weekdays)X
(2) Manual override to allow you to change the current temperature
without affecting the daily or weekly program.X
(3) Ability to operate normally with a battery backup during a
power outage or a battery failureX
(4) Ability to prevent unnecessary or unreasonable period of a
setting (e.g. a period of 1 minute)
(5) Digital DisplayX
(6) Keyboard Lock to prevent unauthorized changes to the
preprogrammed settings
(7) Multiple Temperatures Display (Fahrenheit or Centigrade)
(8) Multiple Languages Support and Display
(9) Low Battery Indicator that indicates whether the battery used
to hold the programmed schedule is lowX
(10) Energy Monitor that keeps track of number of hours the
heating/cooling system has run for any selected time period
(11) Filter Change Indicator that goes on after a preset time
period to remind when it is time to clean or replace the filter
(12) Temperature accuracy within one degree (plus or minus)
(13) Instructions printed on the inside cover
(14) Others:

4. Please scale the satisfaction level of your current programmable
thermostat? (1 - Not Satified and 8 - Completely Satisfied)

Can I use ZERO?


5. What feature(s) do you like about your programmable thermostat? And
why do you like it or them? If applicable, please write the number of
the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

Frankly, I didn't like any of them.


6. What feature(s) do you dislike about your programmable thermostat?
Why do you dislike it or them? If applicable, please write the number
of the item in Question 3, and explain for each item.

It did what it was told to do. Most of the time, I didn't want it do be
doing that. This left two inconvenient choices: either over-ride the
programmed setting or re-program. If the latter, the same choices would be
presented tomorrow.


7. If you think that your programmable thermostat needs to be
improved, what kind of improvements should be made?

The concept of a programmable thermostat is similar to that of designer
water. Absolutely useless.


8. Please scale (between 1 and 10) the importance of the following
requirements of a programmable thermostat: (1 - Least Important and 8
- Most Important)
** Please put the number at the end of the item.
· High Task efficiency - 1
· Low Error rates - 1
· Fast recovery time -1
· Easy to learn - 8
· Easy to use - 9
· Safe - 1 (I guess. My thermostats never attacked me or, to my knowledge,
attempted to posion my coffee)
· Good physical design - 1
· Good interface design (software) - 8
· Durable -1
· Ease of maintenance-1 (what maintenance?)
· Others:

9. How much time do you usually spend at most to perform a task, e.g.
to set a weekday program?

More than should be necessary.


10. If you can recall, how much time did you spend on performing a
task, e.g. to set a weekday program for the first time?

Ten minutes.


11. How well (a scale between 1 and 8) do you know about your
programmable thermostat in terms of features? (1 - not well and 8 -
very well)

2


12. How much time have you spent to learn to use the features of the
thermostat that fit your needs?

More, much more, than should have been necessary.


13. How much percentage (between 0% and 100%) of all features of the
thermostat have you learned using the time that you answered in the
previous question?

I have no idea. I distinctly remember forgetting everything I knew about
those evil devices.


14. Where do you use your programmable thermostat?
**Please select the following items that are applicable by putting an
"X" at the end of the item.
· Home - X
· Office - X
· Others:

15. Please indicate your age range
**Please put an "X" at the end of the item.
· 15-24
· 26-35
· 36-45
· 46-55
· 56-65
· Over 65

16. What is your occupation? (If you are a student or a professional,
please indicate your specific area)

President, software company.


***Thank you so much for your time to answer this questionnaire. I
really appreciate your help!

Estella

Estella, why are you involving yourself in this fruitless endeavor? I would
be embarassed.

E wrote:
Hi all,

I realize that I should have talked about what my assignment is all
about.

I am from Washington State University, the class is Cpt S 443 about
Human-Computer Interaction. My instructor needs me to get at least 6
responses from people who use or own a programmable thermostat, so
that

I can analyze the data and make up my own list of requirements of a
programmable thermostat.

Hope this will clear some of your questions if you have any doubts
about this questionnaire.

Remember, the requirements of a programmable thermostat for the user are NOT
THE SAME as those for a manufacturer. The manufacturer has only ONE
requirement: "What will make some sucker buy this thing?"

Why is it that no programmable theremostat is password protected? Why is it
that none have IP addresses so the programming can be done on a computer or
operated from a centralized location? See what I mean?

Ease over to the math department and ask a statistician the worth of a
survey where the respondents self-select. Point this out to your instructor.

Haha, I am already embarassed... Oh well, sometimes just have to bite
the bullet when you don't have much choice in deciding the topic of an
assignment.

Anyways, thank you for all of your help and time and trust.

Estella

Okay, I am glad and thankful to say that I just collected "enough" (the
minimum number required by instructor) responses from all of you. So I
will move on from here, and start doing some primarily analyzes for the
next step of my assignment.

If you just read the first post, please do not fill out the
questionnaire.

Thank you for those who responded my post. I appreciate all the data,
comments, and advice from you all.

Estella

Okay, I am glad and thankful to say that I just collected "enough" (the
minimum number required by instructor) responses from all of you. So I
will move on from here, and start doing some primarily analysis for the

next step of my assignment.

If you just read the first post, please do not fill out the
questionnaire.

Thank you for those who responded my post. I appreciate all the data,
comments, and advice from you all.

Estella

Even here we're different. LOL. I'm hoping that even if this is done
for school, that some AC or control company is underwriting the class
and my answer will reach some company that actually makes programmable
thermostats. Then they might actually make what I want. If I thought
she is ONLY in school and this is only an exercise, I wouldn't have
put so much effort into my answer.

Seriously, I was like "wow" when I read your answers. It would be
really nice if some AC companies can read about your opinions and make
what you want. I was printing out all the responses that I have right
now, and start analyzing them. And then your reply popped up in my
mailbox, and the questionnaire was so professionally answered. I HAVE
to include it in my study! =)

Thank you so much!

Okay, I am glad and thankful to say that I just collected "enough" (the
minimum number required by instructor) responses from all of you. So I
will move on from here, and start doing some primarily analysis for the
next step of my assignment.

If you just read the first post, please do not fill out the
questionnaire.

Thank you for those who responded my post. I appreciate all the data,
comments, and advice from you all.

Estella

I see what you meant. That's a good idea! Thanks.