Experience Design for IoT Security:
Lessons from Architecture School
Ame Elliott

@ameellio
ame@simplysecure.org

Solid Conference

June 25, 2015
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
2
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
3
4
CONNECTING
CO ECTINGL L
Buildings Are Becoming Sites of Surveillance
5
Buildings Are Becoming Sites of Surveillance
Samsung’s Smart TVs recording and
transcribing conversations and Mattel
selling children’s questions to Hello
Barbie are recent examples.
"How we sold our souls – and more – to the internet giants," Bruce Schneier in The
Guardian
"Beware the Listening Machines," Ethan Zuckerman in The Atlantic
6
Buildings Are Becoming Sites of Surveillance
There needs to be richer discussion than
the tension between what’s technically
possible and what’s legal.
Security for IoT needs design.
7
Buildings Are Becoming Sites of Surveillance
Feasibility Viability
Desirability
The Attic. Photo by Jamie Beverly
Privacy and security are exciting
opportunities for UX design
8
Parthenon, 447 BCE Athens, Greece. Photo by Jonathan Cohen 9
IoT may be new, but buildings
have been around a long time
Power Plant Control Panel. Photo by Marcel Wichary 10
Appropriate complexity is the
key UX challenge for IoT
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
11
1905 Post Card from Dana Cuff’s Architecture: The Story of Practice.
Architecture school teaches
problem finding
12
Architecture School Teaches the Design Process
Feedback
via
critique
13
Presenting
work in
charettes
(pitch)
Learning
by doing
Master

and

apprentice 

model
Building to
think/
making it
visual
Learning to
see
Architecture School Teaches the Design Process
Feedback
via
critique
14
Presenting
work in
charettes
(pitch)
Learning
by doing
Master

and

apprentice 

model
Building to
think/
making it
visual
Learning to
see
15
Understand unspoken needs Start with people, in context
Homes are more than houses
Lessons from Architecture School: Learning to See
Understand unspoken needsStart with people
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
16
Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in
the Entrance Hall of a House
Pieter de Hooch, 1670
17From the Rijksmuseum
Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in
the Entrance Hall of a House
Pieter de Hooch, 1670
18From the Rijksmuseum
Windows,
morality, and
privacy as a dirty
word
Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in
the Entrance Hall of a House
Pieter de Hooch, 1670
19From the Rijksmuseum
Internet of 1670
Man Handing a Letter to a Woman in
the Entrance Hall of a House
Pieter de Hooch, 1670
20From the Rijksmuseum
Multiple people
with different
privileges inhabit
the home
Start With People, In Context
Homes have multiple people with varied
permissions.
Children, and others who can’t or won’t
consent, generate data.
More aggressive rules govern collection
of their data, and regulatory changes are
likely.
21
Security Thought-Starters
Plan for change
and don’t take on
privacy debt in a
quickly-changing
landscape
22
European Article 29 Working Party
Sandy Clark et al’s “Honeymoon Effect”
paper
22
Appropriate Complexity
Managing profiles
for ambient
capture: right mode
+ right feedback
23
Netflix manages multiple profiles with
explicit login, but many media services are
struggling to identify group members
present when video is played.
23
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
24
25Hvitträsk, Finland 1903. Photo by Markku Haverinen
Design rooted in Finnish
Nationalism + Romanticism
26Hvitträsk, Finland 1903. Photo by Markku Haverinen
Environment inside reflects
culture outside
27Hvitträsk, Finland 1903. Photo by Markku Haverinen
This is the childhood home of
Eero Saarinen
28TWA Terminal at the former Idlewild Airport, 1962. Photo by Sean Masrhall
Eero Saarinen was the architect
of New York’s JFK Airport T5
Understand Unspoken Needs
29
One generation of buildings is much
longer than the 18-month hardware
churn.
Buildings last and are upgradable.
Security Thought-Starters
Think firmware
and plan an
upgrade path
30
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
working on firmware standards, e.g.
Carsten Bormann
Supervisory Control and Data Aquistion
(SCADA)
30
Appropriate Complexity
Reimagining
updates as a form
of engagement:
design for
behavior change
31
Cautionary tale of routers, keeping the
internet of 10 years ago alive
31
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
32
33Shop Houses, Singapore 2013. Photo by Peter Morgan.
Nationalism
Shophouses are Southeast 

Asian vernacular architecture
34Shop Houses, Singapore 2013. Photo by Peter Morgan.
Nationalism
Covered awnings protect the
public from sun + rain
35Shop Houses, Singapore 2013. Photo by Peter Morgan.
Nationalism
Designed by social custom, then
Singaporean law in 1822
36Vietnam 2008.. Photo by Ame Elliott
Nationalism
Designed by social custom, then
Singaporean law in 1822
Vernacular is not the same as
amateur
Homes Are More Than Houses
You can have cultural knowledge and
still do a bad implementation.
There are roles for standards and for
professional knowledge.
37
Security Thought-Starters
Don’t invent your
own crypto - use
professional
standards
38
Open Smart Grid insecurity
Real World Crypto Conference:
Stanford, CA in Jan 2016
38
Appropriate Complexity
Exposing the
underlying systems
to build knowledge
39
Interfaces on electric cars like the
Toyota Prius teach engine function
and driver behavior
39
Agenda
Introduction
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context
Understand unspoken needs
Homes are more than houses
Conclusion
40
1905 Post Card.
Architecture school teaches
lessons for UX for IoT security
41
42
Start with people, in context
Lessons from Architecture School
Start with people, in context Homes are more than housesUnderstand unspoken needs
Homes have multiple people
with varied permissions
Implementation matters in
vernacular architecture
Buildings last 

and are upgradable
Security Thought-Starters
43
Don’t invent
your own
crypto– use
professional
standards
Plan for
change and
don’t take on
privacy debt
Think
firmware and
plan an
upgrade
path
Managing profiles for ambient capture
Reimagining updates as a form of
engagement
Exposing underlying systems to build
knowledge
44
Appropriate Complexity: UX Challenge for IoT
45
IoT Security UX Problems Are Exciting
There’s a need for design to shape the
conversation between possible and
legal.
The UX problems for IoT are inspiring
and important.
Thank You
Ame Elliott

@ameellio
ame@simplysecure.org
Creative Commons 2.0 Photo Credits
p. 7 https://www.flickr.com/photos/thesoupboy/400278091/
p. 8 https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathancohen/6253733297/
p. 9 https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/2251347415/
p. 11 http://www.cparama.com/forum/cartes2013b/1372353539-Beaux-Arts-
Atelier-pascal.jpg
p. 16 https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-147
p. 27 https://www.flickr.com/photos/7119320@N05/7452651372/
p. 31 https://www.flickr.com/photos/magicfab/3893245793/
47

Experience Design for IoT Security

  • 1.
    Experience Design forIoT Security: Lessons from Architecture School Ame Elliott
 @ameellio ame@simplysecure.org
 Solid Conference
 June 25, 2015
  • 2.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 2
  • 3.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 3
  • 4.
    4 CONNECTING CO ECTINGL L BuildingsAre Becoming Sites of Surveillance
  • 5.
    5 Buildings Are BecomingSites of Surveillance Samsung’s Smart TVs recording and transcribing conversations and Mattel selling children’s questions to Hello Barbie are recent examples. "How we sold our souls – and more – to the internet giants," Bruce Schneier in The Guardian "Beware the Listening Machines," Ethan Zuckerman in The Atlantic
  • 6.
    6 Buildings Are BecomingSites of Surveillance There needs to be richer discussion than the tension between what’s technically possible and what’s legal. Security for IoT needs design.
  • 7.
    7 Buildings Are BecomingSites of Surveillance Feasibility Viability Desirability
  • 8.
    The Attic. Photoby Jamie Beverly Privacy and security are exciting opportunities for UX design 8
  • 9.
    Parthenon, 447 BCEAthens, Greece. Photo by Jonathan Cohen 9 IoT may be new, but buildings have been around a long time
  • 10.
    Power Plant ControlPanel. Photo by Marcel Wichary 10 Appropriate complexity is the key UX challenge for IoT
  • 11.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 11
  • 12.
    1905 Post Cardfrom Dana Cuff’s Architecture: The Story of Practice. Architecture school teaches problem finding 12
  • 13.
    Architecture School Teachesthe Design Process Feedback via critique 13 Presenting work in charettes (pitch) Learning by doing Master
 and
 apprentice 
 model Building to think/ making it visual Learning to see
  • 14.
    Architecture School Teachesthe Design Process Feedback via critique 14 Presenting work in charettes (pitch) Learning by doing Master
 and
 apprentice 
 model Building to think/ making it visual Learning to see
  • 15.
    15 Understand unspoken needsStart with people, in context Homes are more than houses Lessons from Architecture School: Learning to See Understand unspoken needsStart with people
  • 16.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 16
  • 17.
    Man Handing aLetter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House Pieter de Hooch, 1670 17From the Rijksmuseum
  • 18.
    Man Handing aLetter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House Pieter de Hooch, 1670 18From the Rijksmuseum Windows, morality, and privacy as a dirty word
  • 19.
    Man Handing aLetter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House Pieter de Hooch, 1670 19From the Rijksmuseum Internet of 1670
  • 20.
    Man Handing aLetter to a Woman in the Entrance Hall of a House Pieter de Hooch, 1670 20From the Rijksmuseum Multiple people with different privileges inhabit the home
  • 21.
    Start With People,In Context Homes have multiple people with varied permissions. Children, and others who can’t or won’t consent, generate data. More aggressive rules govern collection of their data, and regulatory changes are likely. 21
  • 22.
    Security Thought-Starters Plan forchange and don’t take on privacy debt in a quickly-changing landscape 22 European Article 29 Working Party Sandy Clark et al’s “Honeymoon Effect” paper 22
  • 23.
    Appropriate Complexity Managing profiles forambient capture: right mode + right feedback 23 Netflix manages multiple profiles with explicit login, but many media services are struggling to identify group members present when video is played. 23
  • 24.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 24
  • 25.
    25Hvitträsk, Finland 1903.Photo by Markku Haverinen Design rooted in Finnish Nationalism + Romanticism
  • 26.
    26Hvitträsk, Finland 1903.Photo by Markku Haverinen Environment inside reflects culture outside
  • 27.
    27Hvitträsk, Finland 1903.Photo by Markku Haverinen This is the childhood home of Eero Saarinen
  • 28.
    28TWA Terminal atthe former Idlewild Airport, 1962. Photo by Sean Masrhall Eero Saarinen was the architect of New York’s JFK Airport T5
  • 29.
    Understand Unspoken Needs 29 Onegeneration of buildings is much longer than the 18-month hardware churn. Buildings last and are upgradable.
  • 30.
    Security Thought-Starters Think firmware andplan an upgrade path 30 Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) working on firmware standards, e.g. Carsten Bormann Supervisory Control and Data Aquistion (SCADA) 30
  • 31.
    Appropriate Complexity Reimagining updates asa form of engagement: design for behavior change 31 Cautionary tale of routers, keeping the internet of 10 years ago alive 31
  • 32.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 32
  • 33.
    33Shop Houses, Singapore2013. Photo by Peter Morgan. Nationalism Shophouses are Southeast 
 Asian vernacular architecture
  • 34.
    34Shop Houses, Singapore2013. Photo by Peter Morgan. Nationalism Covered awnings protect the public from sun + rain
  • 35.
    35Shop Houses, Singapore2013. Photo by Peter Morgan. Nationalism Designed by social custom, then Singaporean law in 1822
  • 36.
    36Vietnam 2008.. Photoby Ame Elliott Nationalism Designed by social custom, then Singaporean law in 1822 Vernacular is not the same as amateur
  • 37.
    Homes Are MoreThan Houses You can have cultural knowledge and still do a bad implementation. There are roles for standards and for professional knowledge. 37
  • 38.
    Security Thought-Starters Don’t inventyour own crypto - use professional standards 38 Open Smart Grid insecurity Real World Crypto Conference: Stanford, CA in Jan 2016 38
  • 39.
    Appropriate Complexity Exposing the underlyingsystems to build knowledge 39 Interfaces on electric cars like the Toyota Prius teach engine function and driver behavior 39
  • 40.
    Agenda Introduction Lessons from ArchitectureSchool Start with people, in context Understand unspoken needs Homes are more than houses Conclusion 40
  • 41.
    1905 Post Card. Architectureschool teaches lessons for UX for IoT security 41
  • 42.
    42 Start with people,in context Lessons from Architecture School Start with people, in context Homes are more than housesUnderstand unspoken needs Homes have multiple people with varied permissions Implementation matters in vernacular architecture Buildings last 
 and are upgradable
  • 43.
    Security Thought-Starters 43 Don’t invent yourown crypto– use professional standards Plan for change and don’t take on privacy debt Think firmware and plan an upgrade path
  • 44.
    Managing profiles forambient capture Reimagining updates as a form of engagement Exposing underlying systems to build knowledge 44 Appropriate Complexity: UX Challenge for IoT
  • 45.
    45 IoT Security UXProblems Are Exciting There’s a need for design to shape the conversation between possible and legal. The UX problems for IoT are inspiring and important.
  • 46.
  • 47.
    Creative Commons 2.0Photo Credits p. 7 https://www.flickr.com/photos/thesoupboy/400278091/ p. 8 https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonathancohen/6253733297/ p. 9 https://www.flickr.com/photos/mwichary/2251347415/ p. 11 http://www.cparama.com/forum/cartes2013b/1372353539-Beaux-Arts- Atelier-pascal.jpg p. 16 https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/SK-C-147 p. 27 https://www.flickr.com/photos/7119320@N05/7452651372/ p. 31 https://www.flickr.com/photos/magicfab/3893245793/ 47