2026 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Evaluating User’s Perception and Impact of Neighborhood Smart Tiny Homes for Equity and Engagement

Presented at CIT Technical Session 4: Capacity Building, and Skill Development.

Smart Tiny Homes (STHs) are micro-infrastructure-based digital equity centers in a local community with privacy enhancing technology, internet access, loaner devices, and in-person digital support within a short walk of disadvantaged areas. While internet infrastructure is widely accessible, residents still lack access to digital devices, digital skills, privacy protection, and technical support. This research assesses STH user perceptions and effective telehealth and digital learning readiness. We will use a quasi-experimental design with mixed-methods across three communities where STHs have been implemented and surrounding areas. A sample of about 300 adults (users and potential non-users) will be identified and recruited through community and partner outreach, posters, and invitations. Quantitative data will be collected using validated instruments measuring digital access, telehealth readiness, digital self-efficacy, perceived usefulness, trust, privacy confidence, and usability. In-depth interviews with residents, digital navigators, and community partners will elicit barriers, facilitators, and user experiences.
Fidelity will be measured via checklists on staffing, hours of operation, device availability and uptime, and utilization. Analysis will comprise ANCOVA, independent t-tests, and regression models adjusted for socioeconomic status and pre-intervention digital literacy, as well as qualitative data analysis. The primary outcomes will be telehealth readiness and digital self-efficacy;, secondary outcomes will be portal use self-efficacy, intention to reuse, and community participation. This will inform the capacity of STHs to offer a sustainable, community oriented approach to improving digital health and community computer services.

Authors

Oluwafemi Samuel Ifesanmi Morgan State University [biography]

Oluwafemi Samuel Ifesanmi is a passionate graduate researcher, and social impact advocate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Environmental Science and Resource Management and is currently pursuing his M.Sc. in Advanced Computing at Morgan State University. His background covers software development, data analytics, AI applications, environmental sustainability and intelligent computing, and this fusion is at the heart of his current research: Smart AI-Based Waste Bin Monitoring and Collection Optimization. The project leverages AI and IoT to create efficient, sustainable urban waste management systems.
Dr. Blessing Funmbi Sasanya http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1985-9021 Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Blessing Funmbi Sasanya is a scholar in water resources and environmental engineering, specializing in hydrology, climate science, and sustainable water management. He is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in Civil and Environmental Engineering at Morgan State University. His expertise includes watershed hydrology, modelling (using statistical, physical based and Machine learning algorithms) and environmental monitoring, with applications in water scarcity mitigation, agricultural productivity, and climate resilience. Dr. Sasanya has published widely in international journals, contributing to advances in rainfall probability models, hydroclimatic trend analysis, and hydrological modeling. By integrating statistical, remote sensing, and modeling approaches, he fosters multi-disciplinary collaborations for wetlands and waterways mitigation forecasting. His academic trajectory demonstrates strong intellectual merit through methodological innovation and broad impacts in advancing sustainable environmental systems .
Sarah Halleluyah Adeyemi Morgan State University [biography]

Sarah Halleluyah Adeyemi is a Master student in the Department of Bioinformatics at Morgan State University. She holds a B.Sc. in Microbiology from Mountain Top University, Nigeria. Her research interests focus on gene expression analysis, cardiovascular genomics, antimicrobial resistance, and the application of computational tools in biomedical research. She is also currently working towards being a Data Scientist.

Sarah has research experience from the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, where she contributed to infectious disease diagnostics and antimicrobial studies. She also worked in the R&D division at FrieslandCampina WAMCO, gaining insight into food safety, quality control, and process validation. Currently, she serves as a graduate assistant on interdisciplinary research projects funded by NASA and ETA-STEM, supporting data analysis and science education initiatives.

She is a member of ASEE, IEEE, passionate about STEM education and is passionate about integrating bioinformatics and molecular biology to solve health-related challenges and promote inclusive scientific research.
Grace Yemisi Balogun-Ifesanmi http://orcid.org/https://my-orcid?orcid=0009-0005-7248-5013 Morgan State University [biography]

Grace Yemisi Balogun-Ifesanmi is a Ph.D. student in Bio-Environmental Sciences at Morgan State University. She received her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Plant Biology from the University of Ilorin, Nigeria, with specializations in food safety and environmental biology. With a professional background in environmental, health & safety (EHS) consultancy and ISO 14001:2015 auditing, she blends research with impact. Her passion lies in ESG strategy, nanoparticle applications to mitigate environmental challenges, as well as microplastic studies. She continues to explore the intersection of science and policy for a global sustainable future.

Grace's research on the use of nanoceria as a foliar application offers promising strategies to reduce toxic stress and promote sustainable agriculture.
https://orcid.org/my-orcid?orcid=0009-0005-7248-5013
Dr. Oludare Adegbola Owolabi P.E. Morgan State University [biography]

Dr. Oludare Owolabi, a professional engineer in Maryland, joined the Morgan State University faculty in 2010. He is the director of the Sustainable Infrastructure Development, Smart Innovation and Resilient Engineering Research Lab, Department of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University.
Dr. Uttam Gaulee http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3010-2812
Julius Ogaga Etuke http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2710-2803 Morgan State University [biography]

Julius Ogaga Etuke is a seasoned civil engineer and Ph.D. Candidate in Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, where his research focuses on sustainable and resilient infrastructure engineering. With over 15 years of consulting and project leadership experience, primarily in Nigeria's infrastructure landscape, he brings a robust, practical perspective to academic inquiry. His doctoral research is at the cutting edge of transportation resilience, integrating virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR), climate adaptation modeling, and data-driven solutions to improve disaster preparedness and risk mitigation in complex transportation systems. As a COREN-registered engineer and member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, his work emphasizes impactful research and consultancy that bridges structural design principles with urgent sustainability and resilience challenges.

Note

The full paper will be available to logged in and registered conference attendees once the conference starts on June 21, 2026, and to all visitors after the conference ends on June 24, 2026

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