Exploring the Private IoT through Found Physical Interactions
Found objects inspired me to think ways of controlling, storing and sharing personal data. Different interactive qualities of these objects triggered conversations on how to protect ourselves in times of when digital connectivity is not always desirable. Reflections from the Design Sprint on Connected Home organised by Mozilla Foundation.
In 2016 I got invited to participate in the Design Sprint for the Connected Home organised by Mozilla Foundation. The event brought together researchers from a variety of disciplines from ethnography to design research and computing For a week we brainstormed on what a connected home means and what is the value of the digital technology to support meaningful interactions in the home and we offer alternative propositions.
The event allow me to start thinking of issues and concerns on our highly connected world and inspired me to explore the more social values of IoT devices through making and explorative practice. Inspired by found objects – I found them during a walk around the FabLab in Berlin where the event was taking place – I examined the materiality of the found objects and their interactive qualities as a lens to think of manipulations of the digital.
Different materials and their interactive qualities offered alternatives to ideas on privacy and levels of control over our personal data in the connected world. The physical environment and our surroundings have their own language to inspire us. Have a look around you, objects that have something to tell you.
