Open IoT

Open IoT

Exploring the Internet of Things
In an open, distributed studio
that cares about privacy, inclusion and literacy in connected spaces

This wiki page is a open, living document, so please add your ideas and see also our Github Issue Tracker.

About

Tomorrow’s Internet is going to be everywhere. Connectivity will be embedded in your transportation, your home, your places of learning and work, your clothing and probably even in your skin. It is estimated that by 2020, 41 billion devices will be online, driven by an Internet of Things (IoT) market worth $7.1 trillion.

The Internet is a global, public resource that should be open and accessible to all. As the Internet evolves, it must remain a public resource. It will also offer opportunity for creativity and innovation beyond the screens of our computers and phones.

The rules aren’t yet written. We believe strongly that everyone should be able to read, write and participate in their connected environments on their terms. What is needed to ensure the future Internet is open and accessible to all?

With a proud history of protecting and contributing to the Internet, Mozilla invites you to engage in these questions with us.

To explore these questions through action, the Mozilla Foundation is cultivating a professional learning community who can shape the Internet of Things with Mozilla’s values in the decade to come.

Principles

• Learning by making. We don’t know yet how to influence IoT. Mozilla is exploring its role in this new space. The best way we can figure that out is by trying and learning from these efforts alongside inspired collaborators.
• Participatory and inclusive. We’re only going to make truly innovative things by inviting a diverse set of people to be part of the process. We have to include new voices and foster creativity at the edges. This means a deep commitment to open practices and participatory design and having humility about our role.
• Strength in networks. We can’t do this alone, and many others are already active in this space. We’re stronger when we take action together with allies. We will augment Mozilla’s existing leadership network, while engaging new kinds of leaders and practitioners to know more and do more with the Internet of Things.

People

Activities

Provocative prototypes.

Create tangible expressions of how things could be, should be and shouldn’t be for IoT. The prototypes will provide the “collaborative substrate” that supports community leaders in learning and making together, while putting our values into action. The prototypes will be grounded in user research and user testing.

Research

Convenings.

Gather smart, interdisciplinary practitioners to prototype and innovate with open values. Building prototypes is better, faster, and more impactful when people are together. We want to invite new partners to take action with us–designers, technologists, activists, educators and more–as well as collaborate with Mozillians such as the Connected Devices team, Participation team, and others in the Mozilla Leadership Network.

Cultivation.

Foster partnerships and funding opportunities to grow and sustain the initiative. Insights can be shared that inform future Mozilla efforts. We will leverage and contribute to the larger Mozilla network and document processes in the open so others can learn from and participate in them.

Roadmap

Get Involved

• Tell us about what resonates (or doesn’t) about this approach, and give us feedback on the methodology.
• Let us know about any related projects you’re working on and suggestions on how we might work together.
• Help us develop design briefs that ask important questions about the Internet of Things as it relates to Mozilla’s values.
• Share your experience in IoT, privacy, or design research as part of our expert interview series.

Contact us by email at iot @ mozillafoundation . org or in our Github issue tracker. Say hi on IRC and Twitter by pinging Michelle Thorne (@thornet) and Jon Rogers (@ileddigital).