The Domestic Operating System: An Empirical Investigation of Digital Technology and Hidden Work in the Home

Digital technologies play a role in the cognitive work of managing households, yet much of this labour remains invisible, making it harder to share, delegate, or value. Existing tools support household tasks but focus on visible activities such as chores or planning, leaving unclear how hidden domestic labour is supported. To address this, we surveyed 50 participants and conducted qualitative analysis. We found that value-driven labour, such as managing household vision and values, shapes other labours yet remains least visible and hardest to delegate. Domains like inclusion and special events appear salient in everyday life yet remain largely unsupported by current tools. We found that while family management is collaborative, most tools remain oriented to single users. We contribute an empirical mapping of digital support and gaps across six forms of family management labour, and offer a foundation for anticipating how emerging domestic technologies may support or inadvertently reshape this work.