Hivemind: IoT-based democratization of shared devices in a public space: demo

Abstract

Public spaces1 are a basis of urban lives. The mode and culture of sharing could be an indicator of the quality of life in the cities. For example, the buses and restaurants should comfort and bring satisfaction to individual visitors, including the vulnerable with special needs. However, their operation mostly occurs in rather a closed and exclusive manner [2]. An inherent limitation to such an inclusive sharing lies in the exclusive modes of traditional device interfaces; a variety of devices, called public devices hereafter, are installed in the public space and determine operational details of the space. As such, the space itself is shared, however, the public devices are controlled in exclusive ways. Could the sharing of the public space be operated in a democratic way?