Your Digital Footprint

Autonomous vehicles

When you think about an autonomous car what do you picture in your mind? Something like the Jetsons or KITT form Knight Rider. When we talk to our friends and co-workers about autonomous cars – the conversation gets heated. Some against it, are for it, some think they will never see it happen. What does autonomous really mean? Automated? Self-driving? Handsfree? Does it pick up your Starbucks before you?

Well we know autonomous cars are vehicles that are capable of sensing its environment and navigating without human input. And I believe the number one selling point for an autonomous car is the safety factors. But I’m still not sold that in my near life time (2020/2025) there will be 100% autonomous communities. We have different ideas of what to expect out of autonomous and transportation. My vision is more like the Jetsons. Flies through the air and is quick.

Are you thinking about how an autonomous car would affect your life?

Changes to our neighborhoods:

What happens to our garage attached to our house? Parking structures and handicap parking spaces?
Are they fuel efficient & environmentally friendly?
Do they just appear and dis-appear as needed?
Does it eliminate Valet parking?
Are they self charging?
Truck drivers?

Vehicle Ownership

Does everyone car-share?
Can an average individual afford their own autonomous vehicle?
Will there be as much as an emphases on customization of vehicles?
Will it create value in the collector cars – ie ’66 vet?

Respondents to an independent survey were found to be most concerned about software hacking/misuse, and were also concerned about legal issues and safety.

Sensors and data will play a part in the infrastructure designed for autonomous cars. 2012, Computer scientists at the University of Texas in Austin began developing smart intersections designed for autonomous cars. The intersections will have no traffic lights and no stop signs, instead using computer programs that will communicate directly with each car on the road.

But even after all the technology is built, we have rules that conflicts with innovation. The Vienna Convention on Road Traffic This international treaty, designed to facilitate international road traffic and increase road safety, was agreed upon at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s Conference on Road Traffic in 1968 and came into force on May 21, 1977 (http://www.unece.org/trans/conventn/ crt1968e.pdf). The convention states that “Every driver shall at all times be able to control his vehicle,” which conflicts somewhat with the automatic control concept. Systems such as antilock braking systems or electronic stability programs are acceptable because they do not take full control of the vehicle but rather help the driver to follow a desired path, possibly in situations where control of the vehicle has already been lost. Wider use of technological advances, however, will require amendment of the convention.

Happy Summer 2016. I’ve been spending it at the library.

Sorry I haven’t been around for a while. I promise it is for the best. I’ve enrolled in a bunch of classes on building websites, blogging and databases.

Even after years of customer data and marketing technology projects, I’m still confused on some of the basics of website development and social media. The classes I’ve been participating in are all geared to help me move forward with particular skill sets. Bring you a better user experience on my site.

A lesson learned this summer: I rediscovered my library. It took me years to convert to digital books, around 2013. My eyes didn’t adjust easily. But for the last 3 years I’ve been reading 90% digital. Now with Alexa/Echo and Audibles I began exploring what my digital library has to offer me again. They have access to a variety of digital content – college level classes, books on audible. And my library has converted a lot of the space once storing heavy hard covered books into work spaces and offices supporting 2 to 200 people, equipped with projectors and white boards. I even took a Texas holdem poker class at the library a couple of weekends ago, it was fun.

I’ve been considering hosting a class at the library myself, for some of the question I get asked by friends ‘my parent’s age’. They are on their second iPhone, have grandkids, and still don’t know how to use FaceTime. My mom who still can’t create an email by starting from new email (only because my 8 year old nephew hasn’t had a need), loves FaceTime, but still doesn’t know why it only works with certain people. My parents just got an Echo. My 8 year nephew my have something to do with that, he thinks of my Echo as a friend. Here you have 72 year old grandparents learning personal technology from an 8 year old. It may provide some interesting ideas for future posts.

Do you manage your own personal data?

We often talk about how the data is used or could be used. We argue about the sensitivity of when data becomes so detailed it becomes ‘stalking’. We hurry to move past the introduction of the ‘terms and conditions’ just to get the app, the game, the connection. We hear a lot about identity hacking and stolen personal information. We talk a lot about keeping your data safe. Your network secured.

So their customer data is your data, data collected about you. Your likes, your behaviors, your preferences, your triggers, your digital footprint. Not only is it used to keep you safe, it is used to predict the future. But what happens when you are ‘done’ with the equipment or vehicle, is your mile by mile driving history in someone else’s hand? I want to talk to you about these things, from our perspective. Not from the perspective of customer data, but from mine and yours – personal information. Who controls it? – you know who controls your finance and money, why not your own personal information.

There are rules and laws that companies must be transparent in their terms and conditions. They have to be clear on how to opt out or into communications. But each channel has different rules and even the largest of companies haven’t figured out how to manage the communications across their business units. Making it necessary for you to manage multiple user ids and passwords. Is a digital wallet easy and safe? I want to have open conversations with you on what information exchange is happening between you and the information about you.

What information is aggregated and what is uniquely tied to you as an individual.

WHAT MAKES YOU UNIQUE

When you give an email with an online order, what happens to the email information? What are the rules? I think if more individuals know what to expect, and how to turn off ‘unwanted’ emails and exchange or their own contact details, and the companies are forced to oblige then we can really make the system work for us – the individual.

I like to think this is a conversation between my friends and family and myself. I want people to know what options are out there, what to do with personal digital content

Our digital world is running at lightning speed. This change in our ecosystem has us opting in and out, for what? Our digital world gives us wearables, vehicles and smart homes. All the same time it is collecting and measuring inputs and outputs. I want individuals to understand the laws and how these companies are ‘allowed’ to store and use it.

Echo – my newest gadget

I’m not sure what exactly sparked my interest in Echo. I was listening to a podcast where the host was bragging about the thing. And then my Jawbone speaker started acting up. I’m already an Amazon Prime customer, so I went for it (without any deep research into the product).

What is an Echo? It is not as helpful as Rosie Jetson, but it can tell a joke when you ask. Echo is a gadget similar to a smart watch but for your house. She responds to the name Alexa, and responds to your verbal questions (I say she – because it is a women’s voice and a female name). It looks like a small speaker. A little bit Siri, Google, and a Radio. It is hands free, you can shout out commands (or just ask politely) as you move from room to room in your house (Alexa order soap; Alexa set timer for 5 minutes). It is an Amazon product and has a lot of features that you find on Amazon. You can order, buy and have delivered any product from Amazon. (Alexa, ‘order my dishsoap’. A couple of ‘yes’ confirmations and your Amazon box will arrive on your porch.)

I do have a couple of disappointments regarding the Echo. First the marketing material was too grand and general (connects to any smart home devices – ‘any’ has been misused.) Second all the help and how-tos are tucked in the Echo product page on Amazon shopping site, most of the information is a sales pitch and not detailed owner instructions. and there is not a lot of information available. Ironically some of the information is found in the Alexa app – but you have to have a Echo otherwise why would you need the app.

Here are some of my thoughts on Echo:

The number of devices compatible with Echo are still limited. Most of the equipment I already own are non-compatible. I currently use a Comcast security system, which includes the thermostat and lights. It would nice to be able to use the Echo voice control for these setting or even play the security notifications through the Echo speaker.
Past tech conferences and journalist have discussed the end-less possibilities of integration. But a lot of the cool features are still in the works. I guess I still have to use my mobile app to start my car in the morning. Maybe when Echo is a little older she will be able to start the car.
I currently use Apple products at home. Echo connects your Google accounts for calendars and reminders. And that is the only calendar Echo connects to. So I now have to either start using Google calendar on my Apple devices. Or to use the Echo for my personal scheduling and reminders.
Echo is a household item, it does not recognize different voices or preferences. Everyone is equal, including company.
You can not talk on the phone using Echo as your Bluetooth receiver.
Echo will not read your incoming text to you.
Echo cannot read horoscopes. Not everything you ask on Google is available on Echo. Similar to mobile apps someone has to develop the app for Echo to so something (like search and read horoscopes) and then you have to download (install) that to your Echo. There will be lots of young developers (and maybe older) playing in this space. Providing joke apps, affirmation apps, recaps.
- Although we have this information available via an internet browser, Echo has to convert it from Text to Speech. The search results on a web page might be too ‘tangled’ for a machine to find the right content and ‘read’.
You can not ask Echo about Echo. It does not support questions regarding its own tech help. For example if you ask: ‘how do you connect a new device?’ Answer: I do not know who to answer that question.
It does record every question and answer you ask it. And on your Echo app (or Alexa App) you can rate the response. I’m confident this data is being captured and mined for machine learning.
Echo is learning and adding all the time. Last week they announced the integration of Domino’s and Uber. Unfortunately, I only order pizza about twice a year and not from Domino’s. And well in the D, we tend to be attached to our vehicles, so it will be a long while before I become a regular home pickup Uber user. I’m sure there will be a new feature for me to use soon.

There are a lot of possibilities and apps for Echo, they are just not yet integrated into the software yet. Echo should be able to control my garage door (Craftsman), adjust my thermostat (Comcast) or even remote start my car (OnStar) via my Echo.

Echo is part of the whole environment of Internet of Things (IoT), as well as Craftsman, Comcast and OnStar. They all produce products that are controlled digital as long as you have an internet connection. And basically anything that can be connected or powered by a (mobile) app – should be able to receive commands from Echo.

You send a voice command to Echo. Echo connects to the IoT and access the digital app that controls the garage opener. This sends a command to open/close the door. To remotely access the garage opener, it will require you to set up your accounts and logins for the applications. And along with this convenience we open digital data to be vulnerability.

As for the developers on this product, they have a so many products to connect to Echo. The list may have them working for decades. And I don’t think this technology will go out of style soon. Yes, robotics are on the rise and there will be moving smart things in our homes (beyond Roomba). But right now I’m happy with Echo has my home command center and I’m happy to get easy access to updated news stories, weather reports and scores without having to sit at the computer (or tablet) and open an app or browser.

Your car, your car’s data and you.

Today’s vehicles are collecting data, whether it is validating that the vehicle is operating to standards, monitoring the drivers’ habits, or providing navigation. Some of this information is required by federal law and some is personally data to help you maintain your vehicle.

DATA REQUIRED BY US LAW

Clean Air Act Amendment 1990:

The EPA requires all vehicles built after 1996 must have On-Board Diagnostics (OBD). And newer vehicles have standardized computer systems (also known as OBDII). These continually monitor the electronic sensors of engines and emission control systems, including Clean Air buttons the catalytic converter, while the vehicle is being driven to ensure they are
working as designed.

Each OBD system is required to collect standard information that provides all current information and a snapshot of the same data take at the point when the last diagnostic trouble code was set.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA):

Also collected driving information is the Event Data Recorder (EDR), similar to an airplane’s black box. The EDR monitors the vehicle’s network of sensors for signs of a crash and stores a few seconds of the data stream, dumping and refreshing the information constantly. The type of information collected in the EDR varies among manufacturers, but it generally includes throttle and brake-pedal position, steering angle, yaw rate (the vehicle’s rotational velocity), speed, and impact-sensor data. This information is saved permanently following an airbag deployment and can be accessed through the OBD-II port by a technician using specialized equipment. No location data is stored in EDR.

EDRs have been used since the 1990s and have recently been standardized by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). EDRs are required equipment on all cars beginning in 2013, with the aim of making their data easier to obtain for crash investigations. Lawyers have used this data in court cases to demonstrate driver behavior during an accident.

EDR

Non-regulated data from your vehicle

The diagnostics systems actually has open the field to collect all sorts of vehicle information. Allowing each manufacture to define additional modes for vehicle data collection. A modern car knows hwere you are, is constantily tracking your driving habits and may even be able to call for help if you have a crash, or your airbags deploy.

Though not part of the EPA’s OBD II standard, the diagnostic read-outs used by dealership technicians are also read through the OBD II connector. These service codes show you such things as knock sensor operation, FI pulse width, ignition voltage, individual cylinder misfires, transmission shift points and ABS brake condition. There can be over 300 readings available, depending on the vehicle manufacturer and model. Vehicles vary in the readings they will support. Scanners vary widely in the number of these signals that they can read. Some show just the basic OBD or OBD II signals, others show the full range of service codes.

Image result for dongle for your car This is the type of information that can be gathered by the auto insurances via a ‘dongle‘, (see image). Think of this a Fitbit for your car: it measures input, output, distance, etc. A combination f the OBD and 2-way communication, the system lets companies like OnStar read the data and create reports about the driving history.With the help a hardware adapter and a mobile app, you can read the vehicle data your self.

This dongle is connected to your OBD port and records your driving experience: speed, breaking habits; it will read any data the vehicle is collecting. It can tell if you are wearing your seat-belt, how many hours the car is driven, what hours it is being used and the locations it visits.

Shows real-time data. You can see everything from how fast you’re traveling, how hot your engine is, the voltage of your battery, and a bunch of other information that most people don’t really care about as you drive.
Maintains trip history. You can see a history of your trips and all the accompanying data, including how long the trip was, average mile per gallon.

Most navigation systems are separate from a car’s computer. Now a days manufactures are adding features to vehicles such as providing GPS; which can collect your routes, frequently visited locations. Most vehicles have a one-way GPS system streaming to the car. But with the additional of telematics systems in the car (think OnStar), 3rd parties now have the ability to see where you are, your driving speed. and what state your care is in mechanically.

If you think your mobile phone is the only device collecting your location, think again. Your Vehicle has the same data collection services as your smart phone (gaming console, smart watch, Go-Pro camera).

What can you do about the tracking for a new-car buyer? Not much. Pay close attention to the terms in the user agreement for any telematics (cellular connection), and opt-out of the service.

The more you know about YOUR DIGITAL DATA the more you can control.

Here is what one OEM says:

We receive information about you through vehicle sales records provided by your dealer and we may obtain, with your consent, data obtained from your vehicle’s Event Data Recorder (“EDR”) as described in your owner’s manual (i.e., how various systems in your vehicle operate, the speed and distance of your vehicle). For additional information about EDR data, please see your owner’s manual. We also may obtain information about you and your vehicle from GM affiliates, GM dealers, GM licensees for consumer merchandise, GM credit card bank partners and other sources such as companies that provide lists of potential vehicle purchasers and current owners, if such companies are permitted to share your information with us pursuant to their privacy statements.

It’s becoming apparent that vehicles also collect a lot of interesting data on drivers themselves, placing their privacy at risk. Senator Markey found that most manufacturers collect data on customers, but often drivers are “not explicitly made aware of data collection and, when they are, they often cannot opt out without disabling valuable features, such as navigation”.