Internet of Things

Internet of Things

How smart is your stuff?

Brief

The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the increasing number of devices that can connect to the Internet and communicate with each other. While the Internet began as a series of computers connecting to other computers, it expanded to connect smartphones and has continued to connect increasing numbers of devices beyond dedicated computing machinery. The IoT encompasses such connected devices as smart refrigerators, thermostats, lights, interactive speakers, and security systems in our homes, as well as manufacturing robots, automated inventory trackers, and remote sensors, to personal wearables and vehicles.

These devices offer new capabilities and raise new and on-going questions about privacy and security: Who has access to the data these devices generate?  Who should have access? How can these devices offer security benefits to users without risking attacks by unauthorized users?

Learning Objectives

  • Learn what the term "internet of things" refers to and key examples of it in practice
  • Understand the history of domestic technology and the role it has played in defining private life
  • Learn about the risks and potential exploits for specific examples of these technologies

Options and Variations

  • Read "There will Come Soft Rains," by Ray Bradbury and create a film or audio adaptation of Bradbury's story, updating it with contemporary technology
  • Take an inventory or create a map diagramming all the items you interact with in one day that are connected to the internet. Write about this experience and reflect: Why are these things connected, and in what ways does that connection help you (or not)? Who else does it help?
  • Consider what the Internet of Things is now. Describe how it affects daily living, security, and work, among other areas. Then, consider what the IoT will be like in the future. How might it affect daily living, security, and work, among other areas? Create a short, fictional story presenting a day in the life of this future.

Resources and Tools

Bibliography

beanz Magazine. “What Is the Internet of Things? | Kids, Code, and Computer Science Magazine,” September 30, 2015. https://www.kidscodecs.com/what-is-internet-of-things/.
Hsu, Jeremy. “The Strava Heat Map Shows Even Militaries Can’t Keep Secrets from Social Data.” Wired. Accessed February 13, 2023. https://www.wired.com/story/strava-heat-map-military-bases-fitness-trackers-privacy/.
Mattioli, Dana, Sebastian Herrera, and Jessica Toonkel. “WSJ News Exclusive | Amazon, in Broad Cost-Cutting Review, Weighs Changes at Alexa and Other Unprofitable Units.” Wall Street Journal, November 10, 2022, sec. Tech. https://archive.is/4IdFA.
Ng, Alfred. “IoT Hacks Are Rising -- and Older Gadgets May Be Most at Risk.” CNET. Accessed February 11, 2020. https://www.cnet.com/news/iot-attacks-hacker-kaspersky-are-getting-worse-and-no-one-is-listening/.
Saner, Emine. “The Smart Toilet Era Is Here! Are You Ready to Share Your Analprint with Big Tech?” The Guardian, September 23, 2021, sec. Life and style. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/sep/23/the-smart-toilet-era-is-here-are-you-ready-to-share-your-analprint-with-big-tech.
Serbezov, Stanislav. “Smart Speakers Sort of Know More about You than You May Dare to Think.” Phone Arena, February 6, 2023. https://www.phonearena.com/news/smart-speakers-sort-of-know-more-about-you-than-you-may-dare-to-think_id145393.
Wallen, Jack. “Five Nightmarish Attacks That Show the Risks of IoT Security.” ZDNet. Accessed February 11, 2020. https://www.zdnet.com/article/5-nightmarish-attacks-that-show-the-risks-of-iot-security/.