Your Digital Footprint

Do you have a digital alibi?

Have you ever stop to think – if you needed an alibi would you have one? With all the digital data collected today how likely is it that your digital data will provide your alibi?

Think about all your activities during the day, hmmm.

Your home security alarm
A Ring/doorbell system (or other outdoor motion sensor cameras)
Your vehicle’s GPS navigational system
Cellular GPS
Connected game console
Activity on your Echo or Google Home
Appliances connected to the internet (IoT)
Check-in at the gym
Credit card receipt

On average you are caught on cameras uptown 20 times a day.

Comment below with your digital alibi(s).

Your voice – the newest member of personal digital data.

Our vocal cords are now an instrument for the digital age. Our voice is transformed into digital content in two ways. Voice assist that allows you to active a device hands free. And voice security, uses your vocal cords as a unique identifier for a user.

Lets start with voice assist. Simply put it is a hands free device waiting for your next command. These devices can listen carefully and translate your speech into text, assist in turning a device on or off, or taking dictation. It decodes the human voice without having to use a keyboard, mouse, or press any buttons.

As we fill our homes with appliances that are smart/connect via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth we give ourselves more freedom by providing the ability to control the device with our voice.

Technology has increased the confidence factor in understanding the intent of the request. Smart technology weeds out the ‘ums and hums’ from the dictation or command. Eliminating the unnecessary words, allowing people to speak naturally in a comfortable conversation with a device.

The most interesting and beneficial things about Voice Assist is the ability to be hands-free. We can now turn lights on/off by shouting across the room, instead of walking over to the wall switch. We set kitchen timers with our voice when our hands are messy or full.

Voice assist tools (like Amazon Echo, Google Home Assist, Apple Siri & Comcast TV remote) use a wake word to activate the beginning of a request. A wake word is a word that signals the device become active and is followed with a request. For the Amazon Echo, there are a handful of wake words the factory installs, you pick one during the set up. The most popular is “Alexa.” A typical request may be “Alexa, what time is it?” She will respond with an answer.

These devices are always on, waiting for the wake word. And like any connected device, there are security factors to address. If the device is always listening, the bad guys can also hack into the device and listen, without your knowledge. Similar to a baby monitor.

And if the device controls other home applications is the possible the hacker can gain control and manipulate the gadget.

To continue to protect yourself, always reset the factory passwords in any device. This may not prevent all hacking but make it hard for them to access your personal devices.

If you are wondering what data is stored, Amazon states the only history recorded from the Echo devices are requests and answers provided by Echo. To date, Amazon has stated that they have not released any access of anyone’s Echo activity to the government. Amazon reports it only stores the data accessed by its cloud-based storage system and does not consistently record or listen when not in use. However, in theory, a government agency could request a warrant to listen in even before you use the wake work.

Another use of your voice becoming data is thru biometrics. Biometrics is the means of verifying a personal identity thru physical characteristics, much like a fingerprint or retinal scan, your voice can be used as an identifier.

Voice security systems store your voice print data similar to a fingerprint and can be used to authorize or verify an individual. It is another form personal identify, much like a drivers license. It can distinguish similar voices from one other. Banks have been using voice recognition as a second step validation process for clients over the phone for over a decade.

Today voice assist devices do not use your voice a security mechanism. But they are getting smarting, providing the ability to distinguish between different voices in a household. So that when you ask it to “read my horoscope,” it knows who is asking and reads the correct zodiac sign.

To keep your voice assist devices safe:

- Know what devices are always on, and always listening.
- Watch what you say around a voice assist device.
- Change all factory passwords on all devices.
- Give each device a unique password.

Net Neutrality

On July 12, 2017 – Amazon, Reddit, Netflix, and many other internet organizations announced that they would hold a simultaneous “Day of Action to Save Net Neutrality” on July 12 in a final attempt to persuade the Republican-controlled FCC to keep the current net neutrality rules.

Net Neutrality is the idea that all ISPs (internet service providers) should treat all data on the internet the same. It states cost, network performance, speeds, movement of data or throttling should be equal and cannot be blocked or discriminate based on the user, content, platform or application.

In 2015, the U.S. Government classified ISPs as a “common commodity,” and regulated under the FCC’s Title II policy. Title II governs all common utility entities on what services they must offer, to whom, and at what rates. (Other common utilities include water, gas, telephones.) Customer privacy and data laws fall under the jurisdiction of the FTC.

The GOP wants to roll back Title II, allowing internet access as a competitive, dynamic market, not a static utility. But this would also enable the ISPs to control content, cost, speed, or access to their users. Possible limiting access to a competitor’s sites, allowing you to only access content from their own opinions, news stories, or partners. Or slowing download times of varying content, prioritizing sites and articles that support their view(s). These rules may affect the innovation of IoT (internet of things), preventing the ability to connect devices in your home via the internet.

The GOP says they want to start from scratch regarding the regulations around internet access and create a clear new policy for ISPs. The internet is transforming human behavior at a quick pace. Today’s statutes and rules are playing catch up to the marketplace’s innovations. These regulations are an evolving process.

On May 18, 2017 – The FCC voted 2-1 to start rolling back net neutrality regulations; this vote marked the beginning of a lengthy process required to modify the existing rules, and it did not change said rules.

The questions you should ask yourself: should we regulate the internet like a standard utility? Should internet service providers be governed to provide equal service to all communities and all content? (Note: this does not include illegal activities.) Do companies have a right to throttle broadband usage based on their priorities?

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: To make things slightly more confusing, the FCC regulates ISPs, and the FTC regulates services such as Facebook, Uber, and Google. The FTC also enforces laws regarding hacking (online and office line), customer data privacy, and protects children’s laws (i.e., inappropriate content).

Which VUI devices do you use?

VUI (voice user interface) is a device that on command using human voice to communicate. Another word for this is intelligent voice agent or voice assistance.

Technology has increased the confidence factor in understanding the intent of the request from the speaker. Programs have been built to weed out the ‘ums and hums’ from the dictation. Eliminating the unnecessary words from the speaker. allowing people to speak naturally in a comfortable conversation of setting with technology.

Like any other data, there is a security factor to be aware of. The devices are always on and listening which can allow for hackers to listen in. Also data is passing thru the servers the input and output from questions asked and information given. The device is active when a wake word is used. (For example, Alexa is mostly used as the wake word for the Echo device.)

You can reference the criminal case with evidence from Amazon echo.

To date Amazon has not released any access of anyone’s echo to the government. Amazon currently reports it only stores the data access by its cloud-based storage system. However in theory a government agency could request to listen in even before you use the wake work. A warrant is necessary by a federal judge to access this information, same as phone records and email. Although the Net Neutrality laws will give permission for providers to sell access history, making it accessible in aggregate information.

Location, location, location – it’s tracked as your data footprint

Did you know there are multiple features and apps on your smart phone that track your location data? This information to personalize your experience. In some instances you are capable of disabling this feature, and sometimes you don’t it’s just there.

This feature that stirred up a lot of commotion among tech fans who are concerned with privacy.

Apple says this data is well protected though, and it’s actually quite useful if you’re comfortable with it.

Want to see the places you visit most often – they are captured on your iPhone?

Go to Settings >
Privacy >
Location Services >
System Services >
Frequent Locations

You’ll see everywhere you’ve been recently. You can easily disable the feature if it makes you uncomfortable.

Other apps that use your location data: camera apps (location is embedded in the metadata), web browsers, maps, weather alerts, Facebook, Tinder. Programs can use a function called geo-location to help identify when you are close to their facility, they will use this data to send messaging (to you or an employee). One day, in the near future, we will have “instant check-in”, once your phone crosses the threshold, the system will be notified that you have arrived.

What makes VUI new and unique – its hands-free!

VUI – Voice User Interface, is the audio equivalent of GUI ( graphical user interface = visual). VUI uses voice commands, giving us a conversational and hands-free experience. We have been using IVR for a long time, especially call centers (press or say 1 for location…) And remember the Clapper? (Clap on, Clap off, THE CLAPPER!) I used one for a long time, it wasn’t the most technical piece of equipment, but it was practical for me. Today I can ask my Echo to control multiple lights with having to clap my hands. And it is the best when you are elbow deep in the kitchen and need to set a timer.

Growing up int he 70s we changed the TV channel by getting up from the couch and twisting a dial on the TV set. Soon we had remotes controls (aka ‘the clicker’ – because of the clicking sound it made with the buttons). Today, you can opt for a voice controlled TV. A simple shout and the TV will turn on, off, or the change the channel.

It’s fascinating when we can turn hardware into software.

The other night I went to a UX presentation on VUI. With today’s technology the capabilities and functionalities for voice assistance are constantly developing new use cases.

VUI also called voice assistance or intelligent voice agent relays on speech recognition technology to provide a high confidence factor in understanding the ‘intent of the request’ from the speaker. Programs weed out the ‘ums and hums’ and other unnecessary words from the speaker.

Always-on allow the devices to respond when give a wake word or prompt. For my Echo (brand) device, the wake word is defaulted to Alexa (name).

Are you wondering about big brother, fraud or hacking? Like any other data points or apps that you use, there are security factors to be aware of.

First, VUI devices are ‘always-on’, this allows for the device to respond when necessary. But because it has the ability to listen – if someone was looking for a back door this could be it (remember when baby monitors were new). Keep your router and Wi-Fi secure, this will help eliminate intruders.

Second these devices create, collect and store your history data. Each request is captured similar to your browser search history and click thought and saved on cloud-based storage systems.

In both security cases, a warrant is needed before a government agency may request to listen in or see your history files from these VUI providers. It is similar to a request for a mobile phone call history. (To date – Feb 2017 – Amazon has not released any access of anyone’s Echo to the government.)

Another always-on device is Google Home. Applications such as Siri and Comcast’s voice remote control require you press a button to start the commands. Highlighting the hands-free benefit of always-on.

A ‘skill’ is a command using human voice to communicate. Echo recently released its open API at CES 2017 – it now has over 10,000 skills. By having an open API, it allows any developer to create skills that can integrate with other electronic devices. Like shouting from your bed to have Alexa to start brewing your coffee.

Next on the horizon is biometric voice identification. This voice recognition can distinguish who is talking or making the request. So when I say ‘play my favorite song’ it knows the difference between my favorite song and yours based on who gave the request.

Desktop, tablet, phone, app – whats the difference?

Not every website is built equal. Believe it or not a good looking website may look completely different between a desk top and a mobile device. The code use to build the back end of the website may differ from device to device (desktop to tablet), platform to platform (android to IOS) and each software version may have it’s own features.

This is way a website looks different between a desktop and mobile. A desktop has slider bars to be used with your mouse. On your phone you use your finger to scroll through the site. These both need to be programed for the different viewing devices. There are tools to allow you publish templates that auto format for multiple combinations of devices + platforms + software.

And then there are apps (or applications), there have features and functions completely different from the website. This is depended on the code use to create the tool. which platform it is released on, and software versions.

Mom if you are listening – your Fitbit app and the Fitbit website have different capabilities. Not everything is equal in both places.

Coding can be come complicated the more advanced you are in the features. So when something new is launched, it may not be available across all interactions for that brand. I know it sucks – for the younger people out there – there is a whole industry around customer experiences, journey map (what needs to happen where) and design (making it easy/natural/seamless).

What is Big Data?

I’ve been working with customer data for over 20 years now. I’ve seen good data, bad data, black data, red data, big data and bigger data.

Big data is not lots and lots of data; well actually it sort of is, but that not all it is.

Big data has 3 components. These three components must provide value and insight to the user.

Let me explain…

A group of data programming geeks were consulting on site for a large airplane manufacture. They were creating a large data warehouse to store all sorts of details about a planes engine, parts and maintenance details. Each part was to be tracked and available for complex queries. It is big data but it is not Big Data, yet.

A lot of information is collected regarding an aircraft. Mandatory maintenance schedules and updates are recorded. All maintenance (scheduled or unscheduled) must be recorded, commercial and private. This is not a requirement for cars/trucks; cars don’t fall from the sky, yet.

Side Note: Should autonomous cars have mandatory maintenance schedule to be used? Like an aircraft? For example a check point for the vehicle may be required to be road worthy a scheduled intervals.

With tons of data being entered into storage, where to you begin? This is new data to the user, there needs to be exploration to find new patterns that provide insight to decision making. Add lots of information together, so that it is accessible to ask ‘what if’, ‘when if’, ‘why if’… and answering that question is BIG DATA

The geeks, analysts, programmers had already defined that an unscheduled repair is 1000x more costly than a scheduled repair. A well known statistic in transportation. What what can you do about it? How do you find new scheduled repairs that prevent costly unscheduled repairs? Using the data to define benefit or advantage is BIG DATA.

BTW – you don’ t need lots of data to have Big Data. Just Big Value.

Weather forecasts are a user of Big Data. The weather data points have been recorded for centuries. We have applied analytics to this data to create weather forecasts (aka predictive analytics). Weather forecast are a result of Big Data – using history to find patterns to forecast the weather.

Big Data can come from all sorts of sources.

You can see from the chart below ‘every minute of the day’, we as individuals create tons of social data every time we use social apps.

domo-data-never-sleeps-30-600x954 — Amount of data captured every minute.

Data is not just created by website searches; is also also created every-time we take a digital picture, a doctor scans a patient on digital film, or a Fitbit collecting steps. This is new data that didn’t exist so long ago.

Side Note: There were pedometers when I was a child. They measured your steps the same way, by movement. Today ‘Fitbits’ are a rebirth of an old tool. The ability to report and share your metrics changed the industry.

If you are digital health geek, you create your own Big Data. Tracking your vitals, exercise, food intake and sleep patterns, gives you insight into goals.

What is the Invisible Net, Deep Web or Deep Net?

Today’s search engines, like Google are made for regular, everyday answer seekers. If you want to know about boats, whether big or small, they work well.

The Invisible Net (Deep Web or Deep Net) refers to content that is stored in databases accessible on the internet but not through search engines. For one reason or another it cannot be indexed by conventional search engines. The only way to access the information is to search the databases and web services themselves.

Before you try to access information on the Invisible Net, you may want to do a practice run. Various sites collect databases on the Invisible Net. For instance, as a card-carrying library user, I can my online library to access at least a dozen databases that I wouldn’t be able to get without it. I bet your library has much the same. I’ve told you before I ♥ my library.

Internet-research challenged? Many libraries and community colleges have free or inexpensive classes on how to use the Internet. You’ll find one offered by ed2go called “Research for Writers.” It’s excellent.

Home devices and your digital data.

NOTE – there is no way I can list every device that collects data in your home. But I’ll list the ones I use. You can add or delete to your list.

A digital device is one that has memory, via hardware/software. The memory can be local/internal or connect to external services via wi-fi, blue tooth, etc.

Data stored can be all sorts of information. From how often it is on to what settings. Something simple would be your home thermostat. If it may have connected to a website or mobile app.

My iPhone. Any smart phone.
My iPad. Any tablets, game consoles, laptops.
AT&T Digital life – aka my alarm system. Depending on the various components connected to your system, it knows when you are home, how often you leave the house. Commonly used doors and windows.
- Don’t let your guard. The alarm system is for my physical wellbeing. Which has a digital component, a website and app. So I only have cameras on the outside of the house. I also keep a sticker over my cameras on my MAC, laptop and tablets.
At&T internet and cable TV, And all streaming entertainment (Hulu, Netflix, YouTube). They know when you are watching, how long you are watching, what time you are watching, type of device you are using.
- There are some viewing devices that use voice commands and motion sensor, and would be able to determine when the room is occupied and the activities.
My Buick and OnStar. Besides the GPS information, where you go, how often and when, your vehicle’s diagnostics system collects; tire pressures and other engine conditions.
Alexa (aka Echo). This devices is always on and listening. FYI – all request you make to Alexa are captured in history within the Echo app (accessed online). Echo is an Amazon product, marring online shopping and at home activity into an individual’s profile.
GoPro and other digital cameras/videos. Time and location are stored in the memory with the photos. A camera that uses 35 mm film may have some memory within the camera software itself.
Printers. Did you know that trapped deep in the printer memory is a copy of everything that has been scanned and printed. There is a tiny memory chip that compresses the files to achieve. This chip allows the system to recall the last X copies and other fun features.
FitBit and other health monitors.
Craftsman Garage Opener. Wireless keypad and accessible via mobile app.
Roku
Wii and other gaming consoles.

That is a good list, considering I claim to be low tech (maybe I’m medium tech). I’m not an early adopter, but I am curious. It takes me time to commit to purchasing new tech gadget, but I do have a collection of digital devices.

You may have a baby monitor, automatic vacuum, anything that connects to a mobile app, website or router.