Kids and adolescents are on the leading edge when it comes to adopting emerging technologies to everyday life. By making simple and ordinary devices smart and connected, The Internet of Things (IoT) is no exception to that. Gadgets like smart toys, smart speaker or wearables offer, on the one hand, a multitude of novel applications, on the other hand however, they bare potential risks and may cause more trouble then use. Over the course of one year, IoThink was looking at these aspects and developed numerous materials based on its findings, which are now available on the projects´ knowledge platform iothink.at.

Funded by the Austrian netidee initiative, project IoThink: Information and knowledge platform on the subject of the Internet of Things for young people, was carried out by SYNYO between January and December 2019. The project focused on the increasing use of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices in context of safety aspects in everyday life. While these devices are increasingly being used by all different communities and population groups, the focus in this project was on kids and adolescents, as young people are oftentimes first adopters and multipliers, when it comes to the use of emerging technologies.

One of the core goals of the IoThink project was to provide young people with materials and information that will motivate them to take a closer look at the use of IoT devices in their everyday lives. In this respect, it was important to convey a playful use of these devices and to design information materials in such a way that they not only point out existing risks and dangers, but also rather their possibilities and opportunities.

Since the beginning of the project, the website www.iothink.at has served as the primary point of contact, where all materials were made available to a wider audience for download in electronic form or as print templates. The website provided a regularly updated blog with all information on the project progress and now hosts all materials and information developed in the project. Some of the core materials available on the website are:

• IoThink Guides: Two Guides have been developed throughout the project. A guide for children and young people interested in technology gives an overview on various projects, initiatives, events and technologies to develop own IoT devices and to experience a playful approach to the Internet of Things. The Guide for the safe use of IoT explains potential threats, but also outlines opportunities on how to use IoT devices in a safe and self-determined way.
• IoThink video course: In the IoThink video series, kids and young adults can learn more about the origins of the Internet of Things, what challenges and dangers there are and how they themselves can gain experience in the development of IoT devices. A quiz at the end of each modules helps to foster the imparted knowledge in an interactive way.
• Slidekit: The slidekit will help teachers (who are important multipliers) to reach kids and young people and to inform them about potential risks and opportunities in context of using IoT-devices. It is giving a general insight into IoT, hacking phenomena (like eavesdropping, cryptojacking, etc.) as well as recommendations for the use of IoT-devices.
• Posters: Four different posters are giving an overview on (i) the origins and history of the IoT, (ii) tips for the safe use of IoT, (iii) The question “what makes things actually smart”? as well as an overview on (iv) different threat phenomena.

The website provides its visitors with various further sections to explore: Did-You-Know-Facts on the Internet of Things, a library with IoT-related videos as well as tips on how to use IoT-devices in a safe way.

A major focus of the project was also on the current maker movement, whereby the aim is to show how and where IoT can be experienced by oneself. Particularly, the goal was to make young people enthusiastic about technology. As a result, the project should help to minimize the lack of technical experts by making a contribution to strengthening the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and mathematics) field and to contribute to the scientific competence and development of a new generation of innovators.

Links

IoThink Knowledge platform

https://www.iothink.at/

netidee initiative

https://www.netidee.at/

Keywords

Internet of Things, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), kids & adolescents