This May Be The Authors Version Of A Work That Was Submitted ✓ Solved

This may be the author’s version of a work that was submitted/accepted for publication in the following source: Brereton, Margot, Chai, Min Zhen, Soro, Alessandro, Ambe, Aloha May, Johnson, Daniel, Wyeth, Peta, Roe, Paul, & Rogers, Yvonne (2017) Make and connect: enabling people to connect through their things. This project explores novel ways of connecting people over distance through smart objects designed to facilitate routine activities. The aim is to democratize the design and making of the Internet of Things, allowing everyone to create networks of connected things to foster new kinds of creative thinking, designing, and connection.

The Messaging Kettle allows families to communicate across time zones using familiar routines, while the Ambient Birdhouse encourages users to learn about local wildlife. The Performance Apron and Talking Bottle enable remote communication during cooking. These prototypes serve to demonstrate how IoT devices can be designed to strengthen social connections over distances. The authors stress the importance of user-friendly kits that allow non-technical users to design and create their connected objects easily.

Overall, the paper emphasizes the significance of human-centered design in the development of IoT technologies to support social engagement and connectedness among various demographics, such as families separated by distance, thus addressing feelings of isolation that modern lifestyles often exacerbate.

Paper For Above Instructions

The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming the way people interact with their environment, fostering connections among individuals and enabling communication through everyday objects. This paper discusses how various prototypes, created as part of the "Make and Connect" project, are designed to bridge the distance often experienced in modern relationships. By using smart objects, the project aims to enhance interpersonal connections and enrich social engagement across distances.

The "Messaging Kettle" serves as a prime example, allowing users to connect with distant family members while performing a familiar routine—boiling water for tea. By incorporating sensors that detect when the kettle is in use, the device enables users to exchange voice messages and scribbles through a connected smart teabox, thus creating a shared experience regardless of geographical separation. This interaction is particularly beneficial for families with members living in different time zones, as it mitigates the challenge of coordinating communication around busy schedules.

Alongside the Messaging Kettle, the "Ambient Birdhouse" was developed to encourage users to engage with the natural environment. By displaying videos of local birds and offering interactive bird cards for educational exploration, this device stimulates a sense of connection to nature and fosters curiosity about local ecosystems. These experiences, while seemingly minor, contribute to a larger conversation about how technology can shape everyday interactions and enhance community ties.

The "Performance Apron" and "Talking Bottle" exemplify another approach to facilitating connection during shared activities, such as cooking. These devices are designed to work in tandem, with the performance apron having the capability to send voice messages recorded during cooking sessions to a partner at a distant location, thereby maintaining an element of togetherness even when physically apart. The glowing features of the Talking Bottle provide visual feedback, allowing the user to understand when messages are sent and received, creating an intuitive interaction model that prioritizes user experience.

The project's overarching mission is to democratize the design process of IoT devices. By creating user-friendly, open-source kits, individuals without technical expertise can engage with technology in meaningful and personal ways, allowing for a diverse range of applications that can cater to specific social needs. This approach not only highlights the potential for individual creativity but also promotes inclusivity in technology design, making connectedness accessible to all.

Moreover, the paper underscores the importance of addressing social isolation, which is a prevalent issue in today’s fast-paced world. By prioritizing human-centered design principles, the project aims to create solutions that are attuned not just to technical functionalities but also to the emotional and social dimensions of user experience. Research has indicated that technologies fostering social interaction can significantly alleviate feelings of loneliness and foster deeper connections across generations, cultures, and distances (Vetere et al., 2009; Mueller et al., 2005).

In conclusion, the "Make and Connect" project exemplifies how innovative IoT smart objects can facilitate valuable social interactions in people's daily lives. Through careful attention to design, these devices not only enhance routine activities but also foster deeper connections between individuals, irrespective of distance. The potential applications of such technologies extend beyond mere convenience, promising to enrich the fabric of social life.

References

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