ISEDJ

Abstract: Connecting ordinary devices to the Internet is a defining characteristic of the Internet of Things. In this hands-on lab activity, students will connect a wireless doorbell to the Internet using a Raspberry Pi computer. By modifying and running a program on the Raspberry Pi to send an email or text message notifying a recipient that someone is at the door, students will gain an appreciation for how the Internet of Things enables devices to work together to produce new products or solutions. The activity also serves as a brief introduction to interacting with the Linux operating system on a Raspberry Pi computer. Working in groups of three or four, students will demonstrate their understanding by completing a collaborative lab report that summarizes the key takeaways of each step. Little or no programming skills are required. The experience of physically connecting an everyday object to a device online gives an appreciation of the potential for automating tasks using the Internet of Things.

Keywords: Internet of Things, Raspberry Pi, Python, programming, automation

Download this article: ISEDJ - V15 N2 Page 20.pdf

Recommended Citation: Frydenberg, M. (2017). Ding Dong, You've Got Mail! A Lab Activity for Teaching the Internet of Things. Information Systems Education Journal, 15(2) pp 20-31. http://isedj.org/2017-15/ ISSN: 1545-679X. (A preliminary version appears in The Proceedings of EDSIG 2016)