Minding the Gap: Reconciling Human and Technical Perspectives on the IoT for Healthy Ageing

Figure 2

The Messaging Kettle consists in a companion device that augments an ordinary kettle with messaging, scribbling, and virtual presence. When the user turns the kettle on to boil water for a tea, a heat sensor placed on the Kettle Mate (left) reveals the activity. This is shared with an analogous device located at a different home, so that the routine of boiling the kettle becomes visible over distance. The users can also exchange voice messages and scribbles using the Smart Teabox (front).