Episode 187: It’s time to take privacy seriously

We’re nearing the end of 2018, which is as good a time as any to relaunch the smart glasses concept. We discuss the new new Focals glasses, tie them in with Qualcomm’s new chips for Alexa-based ear buds and then tackle the Google Home Hub. From there we cover Amazon’s face recognition software, Tim Cook’s statements on privacy and use GM and Alphabet’s Sidewalk Labs as a case study to explain why privacy is so important. After that, we talk about a new device to detect falls, a resource article for those dealing with domestic violence in smart homes and a new chip company using a novel form of energy harvesting. We conclude the news segment by answering a listener question about issues with Apple’s iOS 12 update making it difficult for some IoT devices.

The new Focals glasses cost $999 and have limited functionality. Image by North.

Our guest this week is Hugo Fiennes, the CEO of Electric Imp, who shares how a connected product made by a company that no longer exists can still operate and get security updates. For fans of the Quirky egg minder this is great news. We also talk about the rush of new IoT platforms that have cellular connectivity and why they are so popular now. We end with a fun workplace IoT project involving Slack, some code and connected speakers. Enjoy the show.

Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel
Guest: Hugo Fiennes, CEO of Electric Imp
Sponsors: Cognizant and Auklet

  • New AR smart glasses test the market for connected eyewear … again
  • Privacy will be the defining issue of the IoT
  • Walabot is designed to detect falls
  • How the Quirky Egg Minder works even after the company that made it failed
  • Can cellular take over the IoT?

Published by

Stacey Higginbotham

I am a journalist who has covered technology for over a decade at publications such as Fortune, PCMag, Gigaom, The Deal and BusinessWeek.

One thought on “Episode 187: It’s time to take privacy seriously”

  1. Stacey,

    I’ve been a fan of the IoT Podcast for some time now and I have enjoyed all of the useful and informative data you have provided with regards to IoT and the IoT industry. However, I was saddened to hear you spread the lies and misinformation regarding the law enforcement, let me emphasize that, Law Enforcement agency ICE. These are hardworking US Citizens that are putting their own lives on the line to protect the other Citizens of the country, which unfortunately includes you, from others entering the US illegally or bringing in contraband such as drugs. Their job is NOT to separate families from their kids nor do they do so. Many of the kids being sent from South America are being sent without parental supervision and are subject to human trafficking or used as drug mules. The job that ICE does is to protect these kids from this type of experience. It is irresponsible for someone like you to use a platform such as your podcast to continue the spread of the lie the Left have created regarding what ICE does for this country. The unfortunate thing is that I served 8 years defending this country and its laws just to have someone like you crap all over the constitution and laws of the land.
    The only positive thing is that I now have one less podcast to listen to since I can not subject my mind to such rhetoric.
    Thanks.

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