IoT: The Internet of Things

- The screen on your refrigerator tells you that your blood sugar is running low, so you grab some fruit. 

- While flying to your vacation destination, you realize that you forgot to turn the thermostat down at home, so you do it from your smartphone.

- Your car is about due for an oil change (using that fancy synthetic oil you like), and your mechanic is ready for you because he monitors your engine, as well as his supply of synthetics.

This might sound like the future, or maybe you've heard of one of these things already happening - both are true. They're examples of what things might be like with the "Internet of Things".

In the IoT, EVERYTHING is connected via the internet (cloud): cars, appliances, planes, security, hospitals, animals and.....yes, you. The idea is that everything will communicate, and, in the end, this communication will help us to lead better lives.

"The Internet of Things is the next generation of personal computing, whereby objects interact, potentially independently, with each other and with their environment,”

"The Internet of Things is the combination of sensors, actuators, distributed computing power..."

"Tiny detectors that can gather and relay data about location, activity, and health...", "The IoT makes it possible to monitor and control the location, condition, and behavior of objects, machinery and devices through networks."

Here are some resources to look at that will help you understand the IoT. Take a look at them, and talk about what you think about the idea. Pros and cons.

Diagram: What kind of things are/will be connected?

We Need To Get The IoT Right

A Hacker's-eye View of the Internet of Things

The Data Brokers

The Data Brokers

After watching these 60 Minutes videos, discuss how you feel about the business of selling private information:

1. Should it be legal? People willingly put their information into questionnaires and online surveys, so marketers or "data brokers" are just using information that people have put out on the internet.

2. What, if anything, should be done about the practice? 

3. If you've filled out a survey or shared personal information with a company, did you have any idea that they'd be able to sell your information?

4. From the second video, what do you think about the steps the woman takes to protect her privacy?

Link: "The Data Brokers"


Link: "How To Defend Your Privacy Online"

Your Online Image #2

Your Online Image #2

You are the young manager of a local ice cream parlor that is beloved by local families. You are looking to hire some teens for the summer when the shop is open late every evening. You require an application and at least one reference. It occurs to you that you could look on Facebook to find out a bit more about the applicants.

What might you find that would make you not hire someone?

Is there anything wrong with using Facebook in this way?

Below are a couple of articles that talk about how employers use social media to help screen applicants.

70% of employers are snooping candidates’ social media profiles

Employer’s using social media in hiring process: Why do they do it?

Your Online Image #1

Your Online Image #1

You've discussed in your Keynote presentations about how important it is for you to be very careful when you're online.

- be careful with your personal information

- be careful about what you say about others

- be careful about language, images, etc

- be careful about secrets, embarrassing or other personal info about others

Things that you post on line can also be damaging to your reputation - now, or in the future.

We're going to handle the blog differently the next couple of weeks.  You will be presented with different scenarios, that involve online social networking.  Respond to the question(s) asked. Give your answer some thought. 

First Scenario:

You are finally old enough to join a social networking site and set up your own profile. You spend a lot of time adding pictures and connecting with things that you "like", and you have links to many friends. Your mom makes her own profile and asks you to be her “friend.” What do you think about that? Explain your thinking.