Internet of Things (IOT): A disabled persons perspective.

Aug 26, 2023

Leon Thorn

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The internet of things (IOT), a new little acronym that we have been hearing a lot of in recent years. To put it in basic terms, it is an ordinary device, a thing, which is connected to a WIFI connection. The thing can range from speakers, to a fridge, because we definitely need to use google on a fridge don’t we?…

As often as it seems completely useless, there are concerns or conspiracies with the technology. Specifically, many believe that these IOT devices are listening, watching, tracking them and their data from the internet connections. I can completely understand the fears that people have and I am not here to tell you that they are completely fine and secure because I too am slightly unsure about what these IOTs are doing behind your back.

However, I am also not here to put you off. Amongst the pointless internet fridges and ovens there are many IOTs that are actually useful and provide a wide range of tools. Oh, and don’t think I am not going to make this to do with disability either.

From a disabled persons perspective, there are a few examples, in my life, where IOTs have been a huge boost to my independence and ability to actually control things without assistance such as plug and light switches. These are some of the examples I use in my life.

Before I had some of these smart IOT devices I remember being given a special type of plug by my Occupational Therapist, a plug you plug into the 3 pin of another device which could enable any device to be switched on by a small little button, it was useful but felt clunky with the mess of wires it caused. So, when I found the IOT plug devices made by TP-Link, the Tapo, which made the whole solution wireless, for under £10, I had to buy not one but two. Now I can turn on laptops, computers, lamps, whatever. All with one device, my mobile phone. May seem like a gimmick, but again from a disabled persons perspective, and someone who cannot bend down to turn on his devices, this is a breakthrough. Useful.

With these smart plugs being available, I thought there has to be a smart device solution to switching my bedroom lights on or off, and to my surprise there was. I got a smart light switch from Amazon, some unknown brand but it had great reviews, ripped out my dimmer and shoved this into the wall instead. Now I can control my lighting once again, from my phone, anytime and anywhere. At my desk or when I am in bed and unable to reach the light switch.

My most recent IOT device I purchased was a tower fan for the hot summer we surprisingly had in the UK. As well as my smart plugs and smart dimmer switches I can now control a fan without asking someone to switch it on for me.

These solutions are already convenient, the Amazon Alexa makes those solutions even more convenient, now I don’t even need to get my phone out, I can just politely ask “Alexa turn on my laptop charger, or fan or plug, please.” (Yes, manners apply even to a smart assistant). This little smart speaker ball allows me to control all of my smart devices, from one device instead of the several apps I am having to use. This is a segue to the next thing I want to talk about. Some of the issues.

Although the devices are great, I do have some small critique. One of the issues for me is the fact you have to download a bunch of apps onto your phone just to use these smart devices in the first place. These apps also require you to make accounts to use their products. I’m switching on a fan of a plug, what do you need my email for? And the fact you have to update a fan is hilarious to me. Hilariously annoying. I don’t mind one account though instead of the 3 that I use simultaneously. It would be great if we had just one app that works on all these devices, but that’s how companies compete I suppose. Other than that, I don’t mind using these devices, even if they all know my email. This is where the fears of the data breaching come into play. But here is the thing, we have been making accounts on our Facebooks and Instagrams and using google this whole-time way before IOTs, they have probably taken a lot of your browsing history and maybe personal data without consent, well actually it is with your consent, you did click the T&Cs without even bothering to read them but anyway, enough of that conspiracy crap.

Despite all that, the idea of IOT is something I find extremely interesting and got inspired to create my own internet enabled device. A device that waters my plants from my mobile phone. Something that I find slightly difficult, I am not being lazy or anything. I won’t blabber on about it here I will throw a link to my project when I actually make it so stay tuned for that.

What do we think then? Do the conspiracies outweigh the practicality or usefulness, especially for the disabled, elderly or less able? I will let you answer that yourself!

Leon.