The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed the way humans interact with technology, offering pervasive computation and connectivity [1]. However, ensuring inclusivity in IoT design is essential to cater to the diverse needs of users such as disabilities, gender diversity, and neurodiversity [2, 3].  Building inclusive IoT systems is non-trivial due the complexity of IoT technology, which encompasses heterogenous interconnected sensors, actuators, devices and services that work together. Ensuring inclusivity across this complex network of devices and services requires specialized knowledge and expertise. Furthermore, there are also challenges with identifying diverse user needs, lack of standards and guidelines, costs, education and awareness [4, 5].

This research aims to investigate and address the diverse aspects involved in the design and development of inclusive IoT ecosystems, for selected domains such as digital health/education/smart cities.

By understanding and accommodating these aspects, the outcomes of this project will contribute to create technology that is accessible, empowering, and beneficial to all individuals, and therefore sustainable in the long-term.

References

[1] Kirimtat, A., Krejcar, O., Kertesz, A. and Tasgetiren, M.F., 2020. Future trends and current state of smart city concepts: A survey. IEEE access, 8, pp.86448-86467. Kirimtat, A., Krejcar, O., Kertesz, A. and Tasgetiren, M.F., 2020. Future trends and current state of smart city concepts: A survey. IEEE access, 8, pp.86448-86467.

[2] Soares Guedes, L., Gibson, R.C., Ellis, K., Sitbon, L. and Landoni, M., 2022, October. Designing with and for People with Intellectual Disabilities. In Proceedings of the 24th International ACM SIGACCESS Conference on Computers and Accessibility (pp. 1-6).

[3] Strengers, Y. and Kennedy, J., 2021. The smart wife: Why Siri, Alexa, and other smart home devices need a feminist reboot. MIT Press.

[4] Davis J. U., Devine J., Ellis K., Fleet C., Fogarty J., Follmer S., Gotfrid T., Hodges S., Hofmann, M., Kushalnagar, R., Mankoff, J., Reinders, S., Seyed, T., Stangl, A., Wobbrock, J., Wu, T., Yang, X., 2021. Challenges to Inclusive and Accessible Prototyping, Isotyping and Production. Accessible Computer Science Education Fall Workshop, Microsoft Research

[5] Hamidi, F., 2019. DIY Assistive technology prototyping platforms: an international perspective. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 18(4), pp.12-16.