Things that Think: Designing Useful Connected Devices

Most connected devices fail not because the technology is weak, but because the thinking behind them is shallow. Things that Think: Designing Useful Connected Devices focuses on designing IoT products that are genuinely useful, context-aware, and intelligent—not just connected for the sake of it.
This book approaches IoT from a product and design perspective. It explores how devices sense their environment, interpret signals, and make decisions that matter to users. Rather than starting with networks and protocols, it starts with intent: what should a device notice, how should it respond, and when should it stay silent?
Readers are guided through the shift from “data-collecting objects” to responsive systems that adapt, learn, and support real-world workflows. The emphasis is on usability, reliability, and meaningful automation—not dashboards full of unused data.
Readers will explore:
• Why connectivity alone does not create value
• How devices move from sensing to decision-making
• How context improves usefulness and trust
• How to design behavior, not just hardware
• Why good IoT feels invisible, not noisy
This book is for designers, product managers, engineers, and innovators who want to build devices people actually rely on. If your goal is not more connected things, but smarter ones, this book reshapes how you design IoT from the ground up.