August 2019
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This is a bi-monthly compilation of some of the questions that our clients have asked us recently! This issue is running a little late because we wanted to research an interesting question...
Client C.W. recently wrote to ask "Recently I have borrowed two different kitchen appliances which are part of the Internet of Things [IoT]. As soon as I turned them on, they connected to the WiFi network in my house... I am trying to understand “what’s in it for me” if I operate an appliance in my own house via WiFi." This question is far broader than we can hope to cover in this newsletter but we've done some research into the concept of the Internet of Things and hope to give you a place to start your own evaluation. A good starting point is on Wikipedia where you will find an exhaustive discussion of the concept of the "IoT" and what questions and issues it raises. Very simply, the IoT is "...a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction." For most of the folks we deal with, the IoT might come down to a refrigerator that keeps you apprised of its contents on your cell phone or that sticker in your car window that pays the toll on the Southern Connector or maybe your home security system that calls police if your home is broken into. The IoT is far larger, of course, with estimates that the number of IoT devices and systems surpassing Earth's population more than ten years ago! In the near future, the IoT will embrace self-driving vehicles, many health management systems, grocery store oreders and other aspects of our lives which have yet to be imagined. Our read of the literature suggests that privacy, security and reliability are the greatest concerns as the IoT proliferates. What will be the trade-offs in personal privacy when devices share so much information about our daily lives with groups we have no control over? Will personal security be enhanced or compromised by that information being shared? And are there fail-safes built into these systems in the event that one or more parts in a long chain of hardware, software and communications doesn't perform as expected? We certainly don't have the answers to these questions and suspect that no one really does, as the IoT landscape is constantly changing and growing. The Internet of Things holds the promise of making our lives better, especially as we grow older. Still, the profit motive behind this phenomenal expansion of this technology into our every day lives gives rise to concerns that should be addressed. Groups like AARP and Consumer's Union have far greater resources to monitor this issue and we'd strongly suggest that you rely on them for guidance in the future. One Click Wonders is a tiny local company and we strive to help all of our clients understand and appreciate issues related to computer technology and we are very grateful for the faith that customers have put on us for guidance for more than fifteen years. What do you want to know more about? There are still many other topics we could talk about here or in a personal consultation. We welcome your comments and questions for future issues of the OCW Insider. You also can give one of us a call or shoot an e-mail and we'll set up an appointment to meet with you! |
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phone: 864.710.7009 email: dave@oneclickwonders.com |
phone: 864.633.6707 email: terri@oneclickwonders.com |