The document discusses how to design internet of things (IoT) technologies for mainstream users beyond early adopters and "alpha geeks". It explores examples like Ninjablocks and Twine that offer sensor kits, but notes a gap between these makers and average users who don't want to hack devices. The document suggests IoT design needs to focus on providing useful, easy to understand information about oneself, others, and one's surroundings to gain widespread adoption.

1. week 11. understanding expressions of IOT
- Chen Ching Heng
How can we design an internet of
things for everyone? (not just alpha geeks)
- by Carla Diana (8/2013)

2. SUMMARY
How do we design for everyone?
Makers and alpha geeks have found meaningful applications
for the internet of things but there is still a big gap between
them and the average user who doesn’t want to hack.

3. We are in a “blank slate” moment.
We know that connected devices are possible,
but we’re not exactly sure why we need them.

4. Ninjablocks and Twine
Ninjablocks
Twine
Young startups such as Ninjablocks and Twine offer kits that let us connect our own sensors to measure and track values.

5. Commodore 64 computer
in the ’80s
Many people played with the limited games that were offered on it but then couldn’t really find a need for such a thing in their lives.
AVGN
youtube.com/watch?v=km9vYa2GIUI

6. A magic box or a bewildering toy?
What will people do with the new connected devices and tools that have just become available?
How should those tools evolve to best suit people’s needs?
What businesses will grow from the desire (and eventually the need) for them in our lives?

7. Watching companies who create the building blocks for today’s
“everything machines”

8. The 3 categories
Knowledge of myself
About myself
Knowledge of others
About Others
Knowledge of the world
About our surroundings

9. Knowledge of myself
About myself
Training
Self control
Mindfulness
Behavior change
Identity
Twine

10. Knowledge of others
About others
Virtual
Sharing
Team dynamics
Health care

11. Good Night Lamp

12. Lively

13. Knowledge of the world
About our surroundings
Exposing the Invisible
Remote monitoring and control
Accessing the inaccessible
Microsopic/macroscopic

14. DIY Geiger counting
sparkfun-Geiger Counter
Shigeru's project in its enclosure
-Geiger Counter+ Arduino+Xively

15. Kickstarter
Smart Citizen

16. Pulling it all together

17. While the maverick manufacturers and alpha geek tinkerers have
managed to find meaningful applications for the internet of things
through new tools and devices, there is still a big gap between
them and the average user who doesn’t want to hack or discover.

18. “About Myself”
We have a glut of health trackers to measure steps walked or run, but few truly user-friendly
products that go beyond that.

19. “About Others”
We have products that provide some vague sense of presence, but if they begin to go further, the
challenge of balancing vigilance with a respect for privacy is a big one.

20. “About Our Surroundings”
The effort towards standardization tackles one hurdle, but the meaningful interpretation of that
data can still require an editorial leap that makes it challenging to build a persuasive case around
the numbers.

21. We have to design products that are intuitive
to install and easy to understand, giving us
feedback in a human language that tells us
things that matter in our everyday lives.

22. Designers

23. Related research
GigaOM Research highs and lows from CES 2013
January 2013
Analyzing the wearable computing market
July 2012
How can we design an internet of things for everyone (not just alpha geeks)?
by Carla Diana (8/2013)