Towards an IoT Cooperation Model: understanding how a sociotechnical approach matters

摘要

Designing solutions for the IoT domain has been recognized as a challenging and complex scenario for which our technical-centered approaches seem not to hold anymore. This paper draws on a real project experience to discuss how a sociotechnical perspective to the development of an IoT solution can support a better understanding of a project, including its scope, problem, solution, and impacts. The research project considered aims at developing a collaboration model among things, for instance UAVs, in the IoT context. First, the problem understanding was focused on formal aspects of the model as well as functional requirements of IoT as a platform and its technical viability. Second, the problem was discussed from a sociotechnical perspective, informed by different artifacts and methods from Human-Computer Interaction and Information Systems domains. This paper presents a comparison between the first and second moments, presenting both the artifacts and their main outcomes, highlighting critical issues not being considered in the first attempt of understanding the problem, but brought to light when sociotechnical artifacts and methods were applied. Thus, the usefulness and viability of using sociotechnical artifacts in the development of a IoT solution was enlightened.