TINK - sketching product experiences of connected objects

Market analysis - 39
2.2.6 - Objects Networks
This category of products is the least
explored in the IoT landscape, it
comprehends networks of many objects
which talk and communicate with each
other.
Networks of objects can be composed
of similar or different type of objects.
The connection between them can be
hierarchical or horizontal.
Network of object use the network to share
data between each other, they usually
don’t influence each other directly but is
the global behaviour of the network that
influence the single entity.
An example of this kind of product is the
TVilight system for smart lighting 26 (Figure
24): A networks of street light poles able
to dim the light when no one is present
on the street. The light poles communicate
with each other in order to provide the
required light level when someone is
passing by.
The poles have to share information
between each other: when the sensor on
one pole detects an approaching car it has
to notify the 10 poles next to it to turn on
their light as well.
Addicted toaster 27 (Figure 25) is
another good example of a network of
interconnected products.
Addicted Toasters are toasters that love to
be used, toasters with agency and desires,
toasters that will get jealous of other
toasters that are appreciated more.
The toaster communicate to each other to
know how their fellow Toasters are faring.
If a toaster thinks that it is not being used
enough, it will try to get itself transported
to someone else that makes more toast.
Figure 24. City Sense (2012),
TVilight
Figure 25. Addicted Toaster (2012),
Simone Rebaudengo