User Research Agreement
Thanks for taking the time to share your experiences with us. The Open Home Foundation (CHE-416.988.952), c/o Treforma AG, Grabenstrasse 25, 6340 Baar, Switzerland (OHF) is eager to conduct research to learn more about people's experiences, desires or concerns regarding the use of technology at homes. To do this, OHF may among other things and depending on the research activity, conduct interviews that will be recorded or ask participants to share notes, pictures or short sketches.
This user research agreement (Agreement) relates to user research activities conducted by OHF and the participants. Please read this Agreement carefully and ask any questions you have before agreeing to take part in any research activity. At the beginning and the end of each research activity you will be asked if you understand and agree to the terms of this Agreement. If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]
Your Involvement in the Study
In each research activity, we will ask you about your personal experience. There are no wrong answers. All your thoughts, wishes, and concerns are valuable to us. If interviews are conducted between OHF and you as part of the research activity in question, these will be recorded in audio and video.
Participation in any research activities is entirely voluntary and will not be compensated. You may take a break or terminate your participation at any time without giving a reason. You may also withdraw from any research activities after your participation. OHF needs to be informed of any such withdrawal. Personal information that has at that time already been provided to OHF may without a contrary remark continue to be processed.
If you participate in the study, your personal data is processed. We process the data you provide us with, such as your name, email address, the audio and video recordings and your answers to our questions, including information about your smart home. Participation in such research by OHF is open to anyone over the age of 18. If you are younger, you must have your parent or guardian’s consent and they must supervise your participation in any research activity of OHF. OHF has the right to exclude your participation at any time without giving a reason.
How We Will Use the Collected Data
You acknowledge that as a result of your participation in any research activity of OHF, personal information that you provide to us directly or indirectly or that is automatically collected through the exchange of information between the systems involved may be processed. OHF is the controller of the data processing activities in connection with this Agreement. When you provide us with information, we will use it in the ways for which you've given us permission. In general, we use your information to enhance our understanding of users and improve the design of Open Home Technologies.
Things we learn during our research may be made public in reports, shared online, and used in presentations. We will not use your real name in our published or presented research materials.
Everybody at OHF may support the research activity. They may also view session recordings or notes in the future.
Processing of Personal Information
We will take necessary and appropriate precautions to protect your personal information. Any transcriptions of the research activities will not be associated with your name. Research records and raw data are stored in secure files that can only be accessed by members of OHF. We will store and process your personal information and session data in accordance with the applicable law, including the Swiss Federal Act on Data Protection (FADP), the Ordinance to the Federal Act on Data Protection (OFADP) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
In order to carry out the research activities described in this Agreement, it is necessary to share your personal data with third parties (such as service providers, IT services and research partners). The disclosure of personal data is limited to selected third-party service providers and only to the extent necessary for the optimal provision of our services. Furthermore, your data may be disclosed, especially to authorities or legal advisors, if we are legally obliged to do so or if it is necessary to protect our rights, in particular to enforce claims arising from our relationship with you. The legal basis for this data processing is our legitimate interest within the meaning of Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR in protecting our rights and fulfilling our obligations.
We have the right to transfer your personal data to third parties located abroad if it is necessary to carry out the data processing described in this Agreement. When making such transfers, we will ensure compliance with the applicable legal requirements for disclosing personal data to third parties (such as the conclusion of data processing agreements with the service providers and implementing standard contractual clauses).
The raw data and any personal information provided will be stored until we deem the content no longer necessary for the research purposes of the activity you were involved in and any legal retention requirements have been met. The data will be deleted or anonymized as soon as there is no longer any legal obligation to retain it and no legitimate interest in its retention exists or if you withdraw your consent.
Your Consent Statement
By providing my verbal or written consent during the research activity I participated, I confirm that: I have read the above information and received answers to any questions I asked. I consent to participate in this study and allow OHF to collect and use data as outlined in this Agreement. I agree with the related storage of my personal data.
I particularly give my consent for the following:
- Recording of interviews in audio and video
- Viewing of any recordings and any documentation with my information for research and analysis purposes by anyone at OHF
- Usage of collected data in articles, reports and presentations (I understand that I will not be identified in such reports or presentations)
The legal basis for this data processing is your consent within the meaning of Article 6(1)(a) of the GDPR. You can withdraw your consent at any time.
Your Rights
If the legal requirements are met, as a data subject, you have the following rights with respect to data processing:
Right of access
Request access to your personal data stored by us at any time and free of charge if we process such data. This gives you the opportunity to check what personal data concerning you we process and whether we process it in accordance with applicable data protection regulations.
Right to rectification
Have inaccurate or incomplete personal data rectified and to be informed about the rectification. In this case, we will also inform the recipients of the data concerned about the adaptations we have made, unless this is impossible or involves disproportionate effort.
Right to erasure
Obtain the erasure of your personal data under certain circumstances. In individual cases, particularly in the case of statutory retention obligations, the right to erasure may be excluded. In this case, the erasure may be replaced by a blocking of the data if the requirements are met.
Right to withdraw consent
Withdraw your consent at any time. However, processing activities based on your consent in the past will not become unlawful due to your withdrawal. To exercise these rights, please send us an e-mail to the following address: [email protected]
Right to restriction of processing
Request that the processing of your personal data be restricted.
Right to data portability
Receive from us, free of charge, the personal data you have provided to us in a readable format.
Right to object
Object at any time to data processing, especially with regard to data processing related to direct marketing (e.g., marketing emails).
Right of complaint
Lodge a complaint with a competent supervisory authority, e.g., against the manner in which your personal data is processed.