Episode 1: How to build hardware that doesn’t suck

With the spread of COVID-19 and people staying home, robots are gaining ground in jobs, so Kevin and I discuss what jobs are at risk and what happened with automation during the last three recessions. We also talk about the rules that need to be in place if we want to track people during the pandemic in the U.S. and in other Western democracies. Then we cover a Russian botnet, racist digital assistants, confidentiality with Alexa, a new Arduino module, and the new scale and activity tracker from Wyze. Kevin and I take some time from the current worries about the coronavirus to envision the world we want when all this is over and discuss medical device privacy.  We end with a listener question about the new Nest subscription plans expected sometime soon. Ready for a new IoT prototyping device? Check out this Kickstarter project. Image courtesy of Frame.IoT. Our guest this week is Josh Datko, founder and chief engineer at embedded security firm Cryptotronix who is here to school us all in IoT security. We start with his advice for consumers, including advice on splitting off a separate IoT network in your home. We then discuss the difference between embedded security and IT security and discuss the importance of security engineers in product design. We end with Datko explaining the difference between secure enclaves, trusted execution environments and other security terms that may mystify you. Enjoy the show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Josh Datko, Cryptotronix Sponsors: MachineQ and LiveWorx Automation and robots get a boost from the coronavirus How to handle sensor data during a pandemic Yes, I bought the Wyze scale for some reason Here’s how to secure your smart home Why the embedded world needs security engineers The post Episode 261: Set up a secure IoT network and Wyze has new gear appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

26 Mars 20201h 5min

Kevin and I kick off this week’s show discussing COVID-19 again. We start with a virus tracker for Home Assistant, a handwashing sensor, relaxed healthcare rules, disaster relief networks, Israeli tracking software, and Kevin’s tips for connected workout gear and online resources to keep you fit while quarantined. We then talk about a partnership for smarter SIMs with Thales Telstra, Microsoft, and Arduino before talking about some scary security research. Smart speakers, Sonos’ new OS, Amazon open-sourcing its checkout-free shopping system, and a smart ring that doubles as an activity tracker, round out the news. Finally, we answer a question about whole-home smart lighting. Only 13% of connected device makers have any sort of bug reporting program according to a new survey. Our guest this week is Nick Dawson, who has had several roles at the intersection of medicine and design at places such as Stanford, Johns Hopkins, and Kaiser Permanente. We talk about the state of telemedicine today and where it may go after COVID-19 forces changes in the current medical system. We also talk about the role of connected health gadgets in these times, and advice for individuals who want to help solve some of the medical challenges facing us today. I learned a lot about why it’s 2020 and we still don’t have widespread telehealth. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Nick Dawson, designer Sponsors: MachineQ and LiveWorx Smart things for a viral pandemic Make ways for DuckLinks Smarter SIM cards are coming to the IoT What’s holding back telemedicine today Go ahead and buy an oximeter if you’re worried The post Episode 260: How to make telemedicine work in a crisis appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

19 Mars 20201h 2min

This week’s show starts off with Kevin and I explaining exactly what’s happening with the death of the first-gen Philips Hue hubs (which we mentioned way back in November) and the death of the cloud servers powering OSRAM’s Lightify products. We then talk about Kevin’s experience installing Home Assistant and mine with the Helium hotspot. In news, we’re discussing Amazon putting its Amazon Go tech up for sale, Google’s Jacquard finding a new home in sneakers, an update for Apple Watch, Google Assistant getting support for sensors, Arlo updating security, and new Ring doorbells. We end by answering a question from a landlord about monitoring his rental properties. Google’s Jacquard is now inside an insole designed for soccer fans. Image courtesy of Google. Our guest this week is Spencer Wright, the editor of The Prepared, a web site and newsletter dedicated to manufacturing (and other cool stuff). He’s sharing his and his community’s perspective on the COVID-19, what it means for Apple, big manufacturers and for companies starting on their product journey. It’s not all doom and gloom. He provides great reasons to get comfortable with making your product and suggests that like most crises, there could be opportunities. Enjoy the show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guests: Spencer Wright, the editor of The Prepared Sponsors: MachineQ and LiveWorx Two smart lighting platforms are shutting off support Kevin thinks Home Assistant needs some tweaks for normals Google Jacquard’s price isn’t crazy high COVID-19 could affect your holiday gift options and next year’s laptop Why you should try to manufacturer your product if you can The post Episode 259: Lights out for first-gen Hue hubs and Lightify appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

12 Mars 202056min

This week we continue our discussion of the coronavirus, because a week later, things are still getting canceled. Plus, Kevin shares some tips for having your smart home help you avoid infection. We then continue our case against Telnet with a report from F-secure and say goodbye to Cortana’s consumer-oriented skills. We also check in on the dystopian future of robots monitoring human workers before pivoting to cheerier news of Alphabet trying to use computer vision to help fish. In smaller news, we talk about a new tire from Goodyear, Somfy teaming up with OSRAM, a new heavy-duty computer for less, Allegion’s investment in Openpath and a new video doorbell at Vivint. On this week’s IoT hotline we answer a question about a smart lock that doesn’t actually lock or unlock. Alphabet’s X group has created Tidal, a project to help understand what’s happening underwater so we can protect fish. Image courtesy of Alphabet. Our guest this week is Johanna Huggare, manager, Intelligent Machine Platform at Volvo Construction Equipment. We talk about Volvo’s new business unit devoted to autonomous systems, and why it’s not devoted to autonomous vehicles. She also shares her take on the value of 5G, 4G and even 3G, and explains how Volvo CE is trying to change how it does business now that it sells services and not just heavy trucks. It’s a fun show featuring haulers, pavers and remote mining. Enjoy. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Johanna Huggare, Volvo Construction Equipment Sponsors: MachineQ and LiveWorx Alexa and Google can help keep your family healthy Please, just stop using Telnet Robot bosses could be a nightmare Volvo CE is selling autonomous systems, not just massive machines Why 5G matters for teleoperations The post Episode 258: Coronavirus help from the IoT appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

5 Mars 202058min

We start this week’s show talking about the hit the tech conference circuit has taken because of the new coronavirus before segueing into some good news on the security front with the move of Microsoft’s Azure Sphere product to general availability. Then we move back into somewhat grim news discussing the trend toward the usage of facial recognition in schools. We can offer a bit of hope in a new mobile app created by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University that scans for data-snarfing devices nearby. Then we discuss new products from Wyze, Lutron, Semtech, and Amazon. We also discuss an industrial IoT deal in the chip space and let Kevin rant about the Nest outage. Finally, we publish a listener request for more multi-factor security options on Moen devices. The Wyze band, according to the Wyze APK art. Founded by Dave Zatz. Our guest this week is Om Malik, a venture partner at True Ventures and my former boss. He came on the show to discuss his recent diatribe against the tech media, which he accuses of flipping from fawning over the industry to hating it without much thought. We talk about the lack of nuance in coverage, our more nuanced relationship with technology and what regulation is the only real solution to the problem of tech companies’ overreach. Enjoy the show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Om Malik, True Ventures Sponsors: DigiCert and Very Why we’re so excited about Microsoft Azure Sphere LoRa gets a cloud-based location-tracking capability Kevin’s pining for local failover options for cloud cameras Tech isn’t all bad or all good, and we need to cover it that way Regulations will be essential for ethical technology The post Episode 257: Microsoft’s IoT security play is finally here appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

27 Feb 202053min

This week Kevin is back and we’re digging into Ring’s decision to listen to its critics and change some of its security features. It’s a welcome sign of overall maturity in the tech industry. At the same time, it’s unclear if the Ring cameras are that helpful to law enforcement. We then discuss the rise in smart speaker sales, a privacy-focused bracelet, funding for cool new technology, and how China’s handling of the coronavirus shows off the pros and cons of IoT in society. We hit some news bits related to 5G networks, a way for ISPs to make sure your IoT gear is working, funding for Bluetooth chips, and a cybersecurity warning for healthcare. Kevin also shares his planned Home Assistant project. We end with a way to keep your Google Assistants on your home devices from fighting with your Pixel. The prototype is a self-contained wearable comprised of ultrasonic transducers, a signal generator, a microcontroller, a battery, a voltage regulator and a 3W amplifier. Image courtesy of the University of Chicago.  This week’s guest is Taj Manku, CEO of Cognitive Systems, who comes on to share details of the firm’s technology and to discuss how the company is trying to respect user privacy. Cognitive Systems has developed technology that measures disruptions in a home Wi-Fi network and uses those disruptions as a way to track actions in the home. Currently, ISPs and router makers can use the technology to offer motion sensing for security purposes, but eventually, it might offer a way to detect falls or even motion as subtle as a baby breathing. That level of insight also creates privacy concerns, so Manku explains exactly how the firm handles consumer data and the steps it has taken to ensure even law enforcement can’t see inside the home. Enjoy the show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Taj Manku, CEO of Cognitive Systems Sponsors: DigiCert and Very Ring has decided to listen to consumer security complaints China’s surveillance state is one version of our IoT future Kevin’s planning to embrace Home Assistant How to see inside a home without using cameras A cloud-to-cloud approach and encryption are some ways to protect your privacy The post Episode 256: The tech industry is growing up appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

20 Feb 202054min

This week’s show features Chris Albrecht, editor in chief of The Spoon, as a guest host, which means there will be a review of a connected kitchen gadget — in this case, a connected smoker from Traeger. We kick off the show discussing the FTC’s surprising antitrust review and discuss IoT acquisitions that might get scrutinized. We also mention the Sprint and T-Mo merger and what that might mean for IoT. From there we dive into Nest’s plans to require two-factor authentication, ARM’s new AI edge chip designs, a new product from LIFX, and an NB-IoT module from Tuya. Chris then discusses the sale of a connected brewing appliance called PicoBrew before reviewing the Traeger smoker. We also answer a listener question about which connected doorbell to buy. The new LIFX switch is pricey but beautiful. Image courtesy of LIFX. Our guest this week is Naomi Lefkovitz, senior privacy policy advisor and lead for the Privacy Framework in the Information Technology Lab at the National Institute of Standards and Technology. She comes on the show to explain what the many, many pages actually mean and how companies should think about and adopt the framework. She also shares why she avoids connected devices in her own life. Unsurprisingly, the complex user agreements aren’t inspiring a lot of trust.  You’ll want to hear this show. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Chris Albrecht of The Spoon Guest: Naomi Lefkovitz, senior privacy policy advisor and lead for the Privacy Framework at NIST Sponsors: DigiCert and Very Apple and Google could see some smart home deals come under review Nest’s two-factor decision could lead to better two-factor authentication methods Should I spend $800 on a smart grill? Breaking down the NIST privacy framework with a connected fridge The new framework won’t make you legally compliant, but it can build user trust The post Episode 255: A deep dive into NIST’s new privacy framework appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

13 Feb 202058min

This week Kevin and I start the show with a focus on Google’s new Glass product for the enterprise, and a newly discovered smart hub from the Craftsman brand (h/t Jimmy Hawkins). We also cover the Starling smart hub that can link your Nest gear to your HomeKit account, and discuss Kevin’s reaction to Ring partnering with his local police force. In smaller news, there’s a new industrial hardware board for IoT, Google can help find your Tile, MIT has doubled wireless carrying capacity with a smart surface, and Philips Hue fixes a security flaw. We also muse on Google’s hardware numbers  — or lack thereof — and close with a question about Zigbee devices falling off a SmartThings’ network. The Paranoid device turns off the mic on your smart speaker or spouts white noise that interferes with the speaker until you want to ask Alexa or Google for something. My guest this week is one of the creators of a new device designed to stop your smart speaker from listening to your conversation. Demian Pimentel is an electrical engineer with Pleasant Solutions. The Candian software development firm has launched a device called Paranoid that sits on top of your smart speaker and either physically turns off the microphone or uses white noise to block the mic from listening in. When the user activates the Paranoid device using their voice the Paranoid either physically unmutes the smart speaker or stops generating white noise so Google or Alexa can hear the request. Pimentel explains why Pleasant built this and how it works for our listeners. It feels like a security blanket for people who are worried enough about their smart speaker to spend $49 for a Paranoid device but are still enamored by the convenience of their smart speaker. Hosts: Stacey Higginbotham and Kevin Tofel Guest: Demian Pimentel is an electrical engineer with Pleasant Solutions Sponsors: Digicert and Very Can Google’s new Glass cut it in the enterprise? Kevin discovers that Ring doorbells in his neighborhood may share with police This industrial IoT board may double as a space heater What is Paranoid, and will it protect my privacy? Is this a necessary device or a patent grab? The post Episode 254: Google goes enterprise with Glass appeared first on IoT Podcast - Internet of Things.

6 Feb 202049min