A socio-technical framework for Internet-of-Things design: A human-centered design for the Internet of Things

•Case study of a socio-technical framework to assess and predict the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Korea.•Investigates the complex interaction between social and technical aspects of the IoT.•Describes the challenges in designing, deploying, and sustaining the diverse components of the IoT.•Conceptualize how the IoT can be designed and situated within human-centered contexts.

This study presents a case application of a socio-technical framework to assess and predict the development of the Internet of Things (IoT) in Korea. Applying a socio-technical system approach to the IoT, this paper seeks a clear understanding of how the IoT will evolve and stabilize in a smart environment. It investigates the complex interaction between social and technical aspects of the IoT, by highlighting the co-evolution, interaction, and interface, which constitute the next generation network environment. It describes the challenges in designing, deploying, and sustaining the diverse components of the IoT, and provides a snapshot of Korea’s current approach to meeting this challenge. Finally, the findings of this study provide insights into these challenges and opportunities, by offering a socio-technical analysis of IoT development. The insights help to conceptualize how the IoT can be designed and situated within human-centered contexts.