ÖIAT Research

The Austrian Institute for Applied Telecommunications (ÖIAT) has been promoting the competent, safe and responsible use of digital media for more than 20 years. Together with our partners, we conduct research on current topics related to the digital world. On this page we provide an overview of past and current research projects.

Internet of Toys

Coordination
go to saferinternet.at
Funding
go to netidee.at
Results
Contact

Österreichisches Institut für Angewandte Telekommunikation (ÖIAT)

research@oiat.at
+43-1-595 2112

2016/12 – 2017/12
Children & Young People

The Internet of Things affects children in their everyday lives - not only in the form of so-called 'smart' and connected toys. In the Internet of Toys project, we are investigating the risks and opportunities of this development. What should be the role of dolls and cuddly toys in the development of children? How does it change the play experience when a doll answers questions? How can digital technology be packaged in toys without turning them into spies in the nursery? What should children be protected from and where can new forms of learning be found?

Robot playmates, listening dolls, baby laptops: the Internet of Toys represents fascinating play and educational opportunities, but also new ethical and fundamental rights challenges, such as data profiling from birth, world views moulded into algorithms, or robots in education.

To analyse the opportunities and risks of connected toys, the legal framework and the educational and developmental implications of these developments were examined, and recommendations for action for parents, toy retailers and game developers were drawn up.

Based on an analysis of the Austrian toy market, a typology of Internet of Toys was created and five toys were selected for case studies and legal analysis. Using a secondary analysis of literature and expert interviews, the possible effects of connected toys on child development and play in general were analysed. 
 

 

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