Slides by Alison Gow and Tom Metcalfe for newsrewired on 22 November

1. NewsThings
The Internet of Things+
design+journalism+readers

2. What is NewsThings?
Using a multi-disciplinary and
user-centred product, and
service design approach,
NewsThings explores the
potential for domestic and
professional Internet of Things
objects to convey journalism,
media and information

3. ● How could the Internet of Things work for journalism?
● How/ would local news audiences want to use IoT?
● What ways could a newsroom usefully incorporate IoT?
● What could audience-led IoT design create for news delivery?
In other words…

4. Q. What do readers want?
I virtually don’t
read newspapers
I would like
topicality with
location
I realise now
how much of
my news I get
online
I’d like the
chance to
influence future
‘gadgets’
We can/do react to different news
or themes or news of the 'day' - we
watch it or hear/read this and know
we may get angry, only tune into
etc. things we are interested in and
miss or are unaware of very
interesting/important news/
information
Inner feelings, beliefs and personalities may have a bearing on our
preferences and habits, and vice versa - a correlation, perhaps
The more I think
about it, the less I use
papers for news, and
more for information

5. A. More puffin
photos

6. "I saw more physical
newsprint than I
expected."
...on being asked to
snap photos of the
news being read
"People don’t
know what to
make of you
when you
wield a
disposable
camera."
...on being
asked to snap
photos of the
news being
read
"Outside
Starbucks
using the free
wifi"
... where did
you see the
most people
consuming the
news?
"Trump, May, Non-Royal Wedding: First 3 Pages. This is why I don’t buy a
newspaper. But nice puffin pic in the middle."
...on being asked to buy their favourite paper and spend the day reading it
“I experienced difficulty finding a
person to discuss an article with, in
person. This may demonstrate how
accustomed I have become to
electronic/online communication or
to consuming media without
involving other people."
...on being asked to share stories in
the newspaper over lunchtime"I saw lots of people on phones on the train. I assume a large % of
them were reading news through social media."
...on being asked to snap photos of the news being read
"When a big story
happens in Ireland – my
friends and I tend to
comment in a Whatsapp
group."
...on being asked to map
the news for a day
"The Daily Mail is despicable."
...on being asked to buy their least favourite
paper and spend the day reading it

7. PrinterThing
Personalised and printed daily newspaper, at a time that is best for the reader
Links Pocket app, newspaper design layout and bespoke IoT printer
Choose when your newspaper is printed
Why?
● Audiences found online news reading distracting
● Does physical form news impact on well being?
● Do audiences with physical form news read more deeply?
● How shareable is physical news?
● Does delayed reading impact on how we view the news?

8. RadioThing
Personalised spoken-word delivered news based on sentiment/feelings
Tailor delivery and choose where bad/serious news appears in reports
Changing how news is filtered/issued will test how willing audiences are to
hear bad news
Why?
● Responds to reader awareness of ‘news anxiety’
● Lets user find an emotional level, so they can listen and engage with types
of news on their terms
● Encourages more mindful listening? Deeper engagement?

9. ConeThing
ConeThing is a small ‘glanceable’ that provides journalists with an ambient
view of the public’s sentiment towards their stories on Facebook. It performs
sentiment analysis on audience comments, and starts moving around
depending on how the emotions detected.
● Why?
Do people report less negatively towards the end of the day?
● Can we spot emotional trends during the day?
● How does the audience’s emotional state impact upon the reader
● Does enhanced interaction between reporter and reader enhance trust
and reduce the propensity for fake news

10. Next steps
● What do readers make of PrinterThing and RadioThing?
● How does ConeThing perform in a newsroom?
● What can we learn from our IoT news delivery and engagement devices?
● How important is device form to users?
● What role do analytics metrics have to play in IoT devices?
● How important is user control of the news?
● What does it mean for filter bubbles - do they grow or shrink?