The spatial turn in internet of things: a digital contouring

The internet of things (IoT) refers to a network of digital devices that can be managed and controlled through various means, including voice commands, web interfaces, remote control protocols, mobile applications, near field communication, Bluetooth, and physical interactions. These IoT devices are equipped with Bluetooth technology and a variety of sensors, enabling communication with users across a diverse array of applications in home, industrial, automotive, and healthcare sectors, effectively replacing conventional electrical and electronic devices such as doorbells, clocks, tube lights, and bulbs. Unlike traditional electronic devices that operate in a decentralized manner, requiring individual control and management, IoT devices are designed to work in harmony with other digital devices, allowing for centralized control and regulation. This interconnected system of IoT devices creates a framework of spatial understanding that manifests in various cognitive forms, with each contour representing a distinct aspect of spatial comprehension observable in both public and private spaces. This paper explores three key research questions: In what ways do IoT devices manifest spatial contours? How are IoT devices interconnected in a spatial context? How does the spatial turn in IoT devices exhibit the concepts of space and place in a virtual continuum?.