Where is the interface? – Appropriating Interaction with IoT in the Smart Home

Abstract

With the proliferation of IoT the home is becoming a “smart” space that provides new opportunities for supporting creative experiences for the user. Adaptable IoT devices offer the possibility for users to appropriate interaction in the home. The objective of this paper is to explore the use of a configurable, placeable, IoT enabled button as a way for users to appropriate interaction with the smart home. The study employs the methods of technology probes, photography, and contextual interviews. Our findings show that our users configured the IoT enabled button to manage automation in the home, to install place-significant shortcuts for relevant smart home features, and to create interaction points for tasks that support the user’s daily routines. We propose that IoT should not only be seen as a way to increase efficiency in the home but also as a vehicle for user-created interaction opportunities that can creatively support rising needs in each user’s daily life.