By: Albrecht Kurze, Andreas Bischof, Arne Berger
Part of State of Responsible Tech 2025, Generative Things
Kurze, A., Bischof, A., Berger, A. (2025). Smart, simple, sincere – Why and how we should rethink connected things in our smart homes. In RIOT 2025, State of Responsible Tech – Generative Things (pp. 24-30). Stichting ThingsCon Amsterdam
https://thingscon.org/publications/riot-2025/riot-2025-smart-simple-sincere-why-and-how-we-should-rethink-connected-things-in-our-smart-homes/
Abstract (generated):
This article examines the overlooked implications of simple sensor technologies in domestic environments, arguing that even non-invasive, “thin” data sources—such as light, motion, and humidity sensors—pose significant risks to privacy and autonomy when embedded in everyday smart home devices. Drawing on empirical findings from participatory field studies, the authors demonstrate how users often misappropriate sensor data for lateral surveillance, moral judgment, or behavioral correction within households, despite lacking sophisticated AI systems or malicious intent. Building on interdisciplinary research and co-design initiatives (e.g., Simplications and Bitplush), the paper advocates for a reorientation of smart home development toward responsible, participatory, and human-centered design practices. Through case studies like the “Whether Bird” and “Yo-Yo Machines,” it is shown how simple sensors can be reimagined as emotionally meaningful, privacy-respecting communication tools. The authors conclude with a call for transdisciplinary approaches to designing IoT systems that embrace contextual sensitivity, user empowerment, and education as foundational principles for the next generation of ethical smart technologies.