About

Designing for the Internet of Things
Spring 2017, Carnegie Mellon University

Course Prefix & Number 49-313 (12 units)
Meeting times T/Th 6:30PM-7:50PM
Location Hunt Library A10
Instructors Jakob Marsico and David Hoysan
Teaching Assistant Rajeev Bhatia
Office Hours: Marsico: Friday, 10:00AM-11:30AM, Hunt A10.
Hoysan: Tuesday, 5:00PM - 6:30PM, Hunt A10.
Bhatia: Thursday, 5:00PM - 6:30PM, Hunt A10.
Lab Content: DIoT Lab Site

Course Description

Thermostats, locks, power sockets, and lights are all being imbued with ‘smarts’ making them increasingly aware and responsive to their environment and users. This course will chart the emergence of the now ‘connected world’ to explore the possibilities for future products and connected spaces with the Internet of Things. This introductory, hands-on course invites students to creating connected products without any knowledge of programming, electronics or systems. Students will be introduced to interactive connected technologies through a series of hands on exercises, collaborative projects, in-depth discussions, and instructor led tutorials. Topics explored will include awareness, real-time sensing and communication, embedded intelligence, and designing experiences for the internet of things. By the end of this course, students will be familiar with the core skills, the considerations involved and design process required to build a connected system. Students will also apply this learning in collaborative groups to realize a prototype connected device.

Course Content

Weekly Schedule

Week (Beginning) Summary
1 (Jan 16) Introduction to IoT and Connected Products
2 (Jan 23) Design Approaches for Networked Devices
3 (Jan 30) Design Approaches for Networked Devices
4 (Feb 6) Exploring Ambience and Tangible Data
5 (Feb 13) Exploring Ambience and Tangible Data
6 (Feb 20) Envisioning Connectivity for Domestic Settings
7 (Feb 27) Envisioning Connectivity for Domestic Settings
8 (Mar 6) Considering Connectivity
9 (Mar 13) Spring Break
10 (Mar 20) Considering Connectivity
11 (Mar 27) Looking to the Future
12 (Apr 3) IoT Ecosystems
13 (Apr 10) IoT Ecosystems
14 (Apr 17) IoT Ecosystems
15 (Apr 24) IoT Ecosystems
16 (May 1) Final Presentations

Logistics

  1. All students taking the course must complete the online skills survey

  2. Our Slack community is the main hub for course updates, discussion and content. Read more about the slack and its role in the course. Use slack communications with the instructors and TA’s too (i.e. don’t email us!). Highly recommended: Download the Slack client for your smartphone or desktop and enable notifications!

  3. Creative projects should be documented on the Gallery. This site contains a guide to using the gallery. These are due before Thursday’s class.

  4. Weekly readings should be completed by Friday evening. Summaries should be completed on canvas.

  5. It’s your responsibility to be familiar with the course policies and standards found in the full syllabus. If you cannot attend classes make sure you know what to do.

  6. There is a course fee and this gives you an IoT development kit. This should cover most of your needs for projects. But at times you’ll need special software, hardware or tools to complete your projects. Many of these will be made as part of this course. If there’s something else you need let us know.

  7. No late work accepted. Please don’t ask.