| KEYWORD |
End-User Debugging in the Internet of Things
keywords END-USER PROGRAMMING, INTERNET OF THINGS, TRIGGER-ACTION RULES, VISUAL PROGRAMMING
Reference persons FULVIO CORNO, LUIGI DE RUSSIS
External reference persons Alberto Monge Roffarello
Research Groups GR-10 - Intelligent and Interactive Systems - e-LITE
Thesis type RESEARCH
Description People can customize their smart homes and their Internet of Things (IoT) devices and web applications thanks to services like IFTTT.
Such services allow non-programmers to compose trigger-action rules like “if someone is at the door, show me a notification on my smartphone”. Despite apparent simplicity, such services fall short in different areas, and are too complex for non-programmers. Errors in trigger-action rules, moreover, can lead to unpredictable behaviors and security issues, e.g., infinite loops, inconsistencies, and redundancies. For this reason, there is a need of assisting users in foreseeing the behavior of their rules and identifying any potential problem.
The thesis aims at exploring new visual languages and graphical interfaces for end-user debugging of IoT-based environments. The goal of this work will be reached by applying a strong user-centered approach. Different visual languages and approaches, in fact, may be adopted to easily recommend, explain, and avoid the most frequent "bugs" present in trigger-action rules for the IoT, i.e., loops, inconsistencies, and redundancies.
Examples of research questions that the thesis aims to answer, include:
- Which is the best visual language to allow end-users debugging their trigger-action rules?
- How can we design a user interface to make users understand programming concepts such as loops and inconsistencies?
During the thesis, novel visual languages (e.g., jigsaw-based, form-based, etc.) that incorporate various debugging features will be designed and the most suitable ones will be implemented as graphical interfaces. Such interfaces will be also evaluated with real end-users during in-lab studies. The outcome of the thesis, if satisfying, will be made freely available as an Open Source project.
See also https://elite.polito.it/thesis/offers/434-end-user-debugging-in-the-internet-of-things
Deadline 18/05/2018
PROPONI LA TUA CANDIDATURA