Towards an Interaction Model for the Programming of Devices by Children in the Age of Internet of Things

The emergence of new paradigms, such as the Internet of Things, allowed the creation of a set of computer systems embedded in everyday objects such as dolls and balls. Some of these systems are not only for use, but offer possibilities for customization through programming by children. However, especially for small children (4 to 6 years), this universe of differentiated interactions, where different intelligent devices with particular specifications coexist, may require greater cognitive effort, making it difficult to use programming functionalities. In this scenario, this article proposes a model of interaction to guide the offer of programming devices for children. For the construction of this model, Participatory Design techniques were used with 30 children, in order to understand how they would like to program different devices. From the solutions created by the children, the interaction model was specified and represented in the Stamper's Semiotic Ladder.