Dowse
The Privacy Hub for the Internet of Things
Dyne.org exists since 2000 as a foundation committed to research and development of free and open source software and services.
For the first block of the Summer Academy, which we call 'Soft Work' Dyne.org will tie a workshop around 'Dowse. The Privacy Hub for the Internet of Things'.
"Running a network in the age of the Internet of Things means hosting the connectivity of multiple devices owned by a diversity of subjects. Often such devices have full access to private, common and public information about humans operating them. Furthermore, devices can talk to each other without humans being consulted, and such interactions are not even manifest. This situation raises issues that are not just technical, but socio-political, about the way connections happen without human consent, within local networks and towards the outside, to and from the Internet.
The centrality of the gateway device in the home/office puts it in a position of unique power and future opportunity. It is the locus of discovery, communication, and regulation between connected devices. It forms the fundamental structural matrix for the Internet of Things at the most basic scale.
We see an opportunity to create a hub which is a part of the experience of the networked person, the networked household, the owner of devices, the Internet participant. While the term “hub” belonged to the era of 10Base-T, it seems appropriate to revive the term now, as we seek a new set of generic non-authoritarian terminology to talk about the device which joins the other devices in our local network."
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Dyne acts in support of artists, creatives and engaged citizens in the digital age with tools, practices and narratives for community empowerment. Ranging from radio makers, humanitarian organisations, artists, medics, activists and educators, a large amount of people employed and redistributed our software worldwide and free of charge. Sharting peer reviews, mutual support and resources for peace and equal rights, operating outside the logic of profit and competition. Supporting cooperation within social contexts to leverage on-line and on-site community values, to empower people with the hacker attitude to re/think, re/ mix and re/design to circumvent limitations and find a way out from economies based on scarcity and privilege.