Is the Internet for Things? A critical making workshop
About four billion people in the world have access to the Internet. Last year, more than twice as many Internet of Things devices were connected. From small-scale things like lightbulbs and doorbells to large-scale things like bridges and skyscrapers, connected devices promise to dramatically change our lives, helping people find lost objects, replenish supplies, operate equipment, or learn the state of a system. Such connectivity also raises concerns, especially in light of early devices with poor security, limited functionality, and dubious design decisions. What data are collected, by whom, and for what purpose? Who has access the the new technologies, and who pays the cost of upkeep? Who is incentivized to adopt these technologies, and for whose benefit?
In this hands-on workshop, we will imagine some possible futures for connected things and build low-fidelity prototypes to help tell the story of our things. No technical experience is necessary