A smart device is an electronic device capable of sensing information from its environment and communicating with other devices wire or wirelessly. These devices are the primary objects interconnected within the Internet of Things (IoT) paradigm. They also enable the collection of data from users, and subsequently, offer a wide range of functionalities to consumers such as remote control or monitoring of their homes.
Despite their increasing use, researchers have been unable to agree upon a clear definition for the term smart device. Consequently, this paper seeks to define a clear and scalable concept for smart devices, which can be used by researchers around the globe. We have based our definition on three key features: context-awareness, autonomy and device connectivity.
In addition to the above features, we have taken into account the importance of ensuring that smart devices can update themselves with security fixes. The ability of a device to do this is an essential component of the concept, as a lack of updates can leave a device open to attack.
Furthermore, we have recorded the number of studies that explicitly recommend measures to mitigate digital harms resulting from smart devices. We found that 56 studies (88.1%) mentioned recommendations aimed at technical improvements, while fewer studies recommended prevention based on education (5, 15.9%) or change in policy (1, 3.2%).
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