Figure 4.9: Excerpt from the Nest Protect marketing website. (Image: Nest)
But many IoT services and devices can be configured to meet all kinds of
needs. The onus is on the user to define their own needs and configure the
device (or service) to achieve them. These are not products, but tools. Tools
are often general-purpose devices, such as contact or motion sensors. The
device has no inherent value to the user. The value comes when they are
applied to solve a particular need, such as detecting intruders in the home, or
warning you that you left a window open.
The Belkin WeMo smart plug (see figure 4.10) is a tool. It can be used to turn
power to any appliance on and off remotely from a smartphone, or using an
automated schedule. But it’s up to the user to define their own problem, realize
that a smart plug could help, and configure it to solve the problem. An
imaginative leap is required. In reality, many smart plugs end up being used on
lamps. In our own research, users struggled to think of other uses for them
(although ensuring hair straighteners/curling tongs were turned off was
popular).
Figure 4.10: WeMo smart plug and app