This study designed an interactive IoT (Internet of Things) service on mobile devices based upon the
concept of Social Web of Things (SWoT), with which users can interact with IoT in the same way they use
the social network services. In order to integrate IoT into Chinese daily use, this study also investigated
how Chinese users interact with things and IoT technologies. A four-phase study among users living in
Beijing was conducted with a lifecycle of user-centered design. Results revealed that SWoT could activate
users' intuitive understanding of social network services, and make the interaction with SWoT natural in
their own ways. Users living in Beijing tended to be utility-oriented and highly emphasized efficiency;
they were distinctive in uncertainty avoidance and preference of hierarchical way of managing things.
Our results suggested implications for the design of user-centered IoT systems in China, and shed light
on improvements for the performance of IoT systems and balance of requirements between users and
system design