Joining the dots

By Alex Jordan 09 : 06 : 2016 DrawIt : Marc Exposito : Internet Of Things

Barcelona – The DrawIt app enables users to create their own customisable interface for connected devices.

DrawIt is a universal controller for smart appliances including lighting, thermostats and speakers
Before IoT-enabled devices can be unified under one system, engineers need to agree on a standardised coding language

Consumers who are looking to buy connected devices for the home are increasingly faced with a dizzying array of interfaces that vary between brands and products.

MIT student Marc Exposito has created the concept for an app that enables people to programme their devices using an intuitive and gamified platform.

DrawIt uses shape-based coding to enable users to connect different devices and control them using gestures, such as pinching and expanding their fingers to increase or decrease the volume of a speaker, or rubbing the screen to change a room’s level of lighting.

‘We realised that everyone has a different way of interacting with technology due to their educational background, age, origin, disabilities and so on,’ explains Exposito. ‘The idea behind this structure is to enable users to define the shape of the objects and actions, to enable them to adapt their mental model.’

The Big Picture

Consumers’ interactions with technology are becoming increasingly seamless as designers continue to innovate around emerging technologies. Find out more in our Interface Market.