Demo Abstract: Hands-On IoT education with mobile devices

Abstract

Distributed computing, computer networking, cyber-physical systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) are all around us, yet very little of the underlying concepts are being taught in introductory computer science courses in K12. Teaching IoT is especially problematic since it requires hardware with its own cost and maintenance requirements that many under-resourced schools cannot afford. However, smartphones are commonplace networked devices that boast a wide range of sensors. With the right approach, they can be used to introduce many advanced computing concepts even to novices. We have created a mobile app, PhoneIoT, which makes all available sensors accessible to the user's computer through NetsBlox, a block-based educational programming environment specializing in networking and distributed computing. Accessing PhoneIoT uses the same simple networking primitives as other NetsBlox services, so no additional knowledge is required. PhoneIoT makes it possible to collect sensor data, build a custom graphical interface on the device and receive corresponding events, all without leaving your browser running NetsBlox. This demonstration will showcase a few simple projects such as an exercise tracking app and how to turn your phone into a game controller.