IoT- Public-Private-Society

We’ve come a long way since Darpanet.

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I have been saving up this subject for a while. Because I wanted to be able to provide it a unique spin. Unfortunately, the spin is not really the one I was hoping to provide, but it needs to be discussed.  But, first, some introduction.

Enough suspense. I am talking about the “internet of things” (IoT). About four months ago, Samsung announced a truly big investment- more than a billion bucks over four years- in US-based R&D (research and development) to promote this newish business segment. Samsung called this their “Vision for Tomorrow”- using technology to bring a better quality of life. And, Samsung is not the only player in the field. (Thankfully.) There actually is an Information Technology Industry Council (ITIC), which has some 61 member firms, both large and small. Samsung, Intel, and the ITIC have formed a “National IoT Strategy Dialogue”. And, the US government has its own acronym (of course) to describe this business segment- DIGIT- Developing Innovation and Growing the Internet of Things.

IoT- Public-Private-Society

The key consideration agreed to by most of the vendors is to ensure that IoT and its various technologies will afford the ability of the devices, sensors, and controllers to communicate and share information- despite the vendor involved. This means that sector-specific regulations and standards will only serve to make IoT that much harder to accomplish. So, the standards have to be for all of IoT and not a specific application.  And, that means working the DIGIT to ensure that regulators understand the whole situation.

OK. Those are great buzz words. But, what is IoT? It’s a combination of sensors, processing power, the internet, and devices that let folks do almost anything from anywhere.  (So, IoT standards will be for device action, for internet connection, etc.) It’s a combination of the digital and physical environments to act as one (almost). IoT will be making home life, our offices, and our factories smarter and working better. Iot will be one of the tools to let us drive system performance, cost efficiencies, even time-to-market.

IoT includes things I’ve already discussed- because they’ve been around a while. Remember when we talked about a real-time health tracker, automobile interlocks with alcohol sensors , or aging in place enablers? But, there’s more. The “NEST” units and “Echo” devices that turn on our lights, air conditioners, heaters, etc. (My home thermostat was controllable via the net for years before IoT was a “thing”.) To this bunch, we will be adding devices to goverment vehicles that will track the health of our roads and bridges- reporting back problems for repair. (Maybe they’ll be using this automatic road repair device, too.)

Let us not forget that IoT is a “smart” device; and a smart device means ‘surveillance’.  Sure, a smart thermostat or lighting unit helps keep our house attuned perfectly to our desires, but it also provides the vendor with an open link into our homes.  Or, to a criminal who hacks into the vendor’s database- and now those folks know when we are home and when we are not.

Or, the vendor can sell this data its been accumulating to others or hit us up with advertising on their own.  After all, they (will and do) have a ton of data about us, data we didn’t quite realize we authorized them to collect and use.  It gets worse if we employ Siri (Apple) or Alexa (Amazon) or Assistant (Google) which are also linked to IoT, since we “want” those “intelligent agents” to anticipate our wants.

Remember, we don’t own the network we use; moreover,  we employ these IoT devices under the conditions the vendor imposes.  You do remember those ubiquitous software licenses (the small print that began appearing with our software purchases in the 90s) that alleged we don’t buy the software, but we rent its use, right?

Vendors can alter the software at their discretion, or be hacked by almost any Tom, Dick, or Mary.  After all, everything is interconnected via the web.

I’ve already written how some auto dealers install “starter interrupt devices” on the cars they sell us.  Be a minute late on payment and you have a two ton rock, not a vehicle.

Or, consider your EZ Pass. (Not quite a real IoT, but it makes the point.)  It’s not for nothing that the TV cop shows depict officers and detectives determining where we were or where we are- with nary a subpoena or court authorization.  After all, we are passing through or under state owned toll collectors.

Or, we use fitness trackers that let insurers and corporations (under the aegis of wellness programs) determine our lifestyles.  Without their once providing assistance to eradicate obesity.

Yes, Virginia. I hereby lay waste to another myth. That of the ‘savvy consumer’.  You know, who thinks they are making the best choices, adorning their lives and bodies with devices that let them control their environs.  Instead, they (you do realize that’s read as “we”) are advising corporate America and/or our governments of every aspect of our lives.

Now, one of the things that the IoT Strategy wants to implement is a cybersecurity framework- and that will require private and government entities to work together. Which already seems to be too late.

But, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow for the rest of this sad story.

After all, this post is already too long at 900 words.

 

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13 thoughts on “We’ve come a long way since Darpanet.”

  1. I totally agree about the intrusiveness of the “smart” devices as well as the hacking risk. It reminds me of the scene in Minority Report where Tom Cruise is walking through a store and the advertisements keep speaking to him by name and changing according to his past purchases. Thanks, but no thanks, Big Corp! Not to mention, what the government could decide to do with the data.
    Sarah recently posted..Have Homestead, Will Travel?

    1. Having been a fan of William Gibson, I know that story well. And, that one scene in the movie should have made everyone think twice before succumbing to their little hand-held toys.
      Maybe tomorrow’s post, Sarah, will finally give them pause..

    1. Come on, Martha. 🙂 I admit it’s long- about twice as long as my normal blog. But, I didn’t want to drag out this discussion for a week.
      But, the Fog Index, the readability index are pretty normal.
      Except the acronyms like IoT and the government agency abbreviations… Which I need to include

    1. It can help make our lives easier and perhaps more fulfilling, Subha- but it doesn’t mean that we can’t design in some true safeguards to protect us from those who wish to do us harm.
      Thanks for the visit AND the comment.

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