Topic: Internet Of Things

The City of Los Angeles is accelerating its "Smart City" strategy, utilizing an "Internet of Things" (IoT) data aggregator to manage urban challenges. Chief Information Officer Ted Ross detailed a five-point plan involving connected traffic sensors, digital inclusion, and a data marketplace. The I3 Consortium, a partnership with USC, aims to create an integrated intelligent ecosystem for the 2028 Olympics.

A controversial patent application reportedly filed by Pfizer discusses the use of graphene oxide and the Internet of Things for remote contact tracing of vaccinated individuals. The application mentions using 2.4 GHz frequencies to activate substances within the body. While the hosts remain skeptical, they include the link in the show notes for further producer investigation.

Amazon Sidewalk is rolling out a mesh network protocol that utilizes Bluetooth transceivers in smart home devices to share internet bandwidth across neighborhoods. This system allows Ring doorbells, Alexa devices, and smart thermostats to communicate with each other and passing smartphones within a half-mile radius. Concerns are raised regarding the inability of users to easily opt-out of this persistent RF grid that connects private devices to a centralized Amazon-managed infrastructure.

The "5G Space Appeal" warns that the deployment of 5G constitutes an experiment on humanity and a crime under international law. The plan involves millions of base stations and 20,000 satellites in space to connect one trillion objects to the Internet of Things. Critics argue the unprecedented levels of radio frequency radiation will cause widespread environmental and biological damage.

Technical difficulties with Skype and home networking were traced back to issues with IPv6 implementation by ISPs like AT&T and Comcast. The transition from IPv4 to IPv6 is reportedly causing connectivity problems for many users, leading some to disable the protocol entirely. This friction poses a challenge for the rollout of the "Internet of Things" (IoT).

The "Internet of Things" is criticized for creating unnecessary security weaknesses in household appliances like refrigerators and toasters. Additionally, the health risks of 5G are discussed, noting that a firefighters' union has blocked the installation of 5G sites on firehouses due to reports of dizziness and illness. The hosts jokingly suggest wearing Faraday cloth or aluminum foil to protect against electromagnetic frequencies.

Three new bills in California aim to regulate the digital landscape by requiring the labeling of social media bots, funding research into cell phone addiction, and regulating the "Internet of Things." The goal is to provide transparency so users know if they are interacting with a human or a machine and to give them more control over their personal data.

The hosts propose a "Blockr" product that would scramble GPS tracking data to protect user privacy. They discuss Adobe's findings that 28% of website traffic is non-human, driven by the Internet of Things and automated microservices. The conversation concludes that monetizing the network through advertising is becoming increasingly difficult as bot traffic rises and users resist tracking.

A localized power outage in San Francisco's financial district caused issues for residents using "Internet of Things" technology. Dog walkers were unable to enter homes because electronic door codes failed during the blackout. The hosts discuss the dangers of over-reliance on cloud-based services like Slack and Amazon S3 for basic communication and security.

A massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack targeted Dyn, a major DNS provider, causing outages for sites like Netflix, Twitter, and Spotify. The attack reportedly utilized a botnet of "Internet of Things" devices, including webcams and DVRs. Local news coverage of the event is criticized for technical inaccuracies regarding "smart stoves."

Director of National Intelligence James Clapper's testimony regarding the "Internet of Things" (IoT) is analyzed. While media reports suggested he admitted to spying through home devices, the hosts clarify that his written testimony actually highlighted IoT as a "new opportunity" for intelligence collection. The discussion also mocks Senator Dianne Feinstein's questions about ISIL's use of encrypted apps to launch attacks.

The UK-based internet service provider TalkTalk suffered a major hack resulting in the theft of 4 million customer records, allegedly perpetrated by a 15-year-old. This incident serves as a warning about the vulnerabilities of the "Internet of Things" and the fragile nature of global digital infrastructure. The segment also briefly mentions a new book by Theodore Kaczynski.

Cisco is promoting "Fog Computing" as a decentralized alternative to cloud computing for the Internet of Things (IoT), with an upcoming expo in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, the Einstein cybersecurity program has been approved as Congress prepares for its August recess. The House of Representatives is scheduled to leave on August 3rd, leading to a rush to pass pending legislation.

John Sculley discusses his book Moonshot and the shifting power dynamics in modern markets. He argues that technologies like cloud computing and data analytics have empowered customers, making traditional marketing less effective than technology-enabled word-of-mouth. Sculley emphasizes that transparency and customer experience now dictate the success of products over large advertising budgets.

The conversation covers alternative operating systems like Samsung's Tizen and Ubuntu's mobile Linux efforts. Sculley expresses skepticism about new phone OSs but sees a need for specialized software for the Internet of Things (IoT). He mentions his involvement with Misfit, a company focused on low-power sensors and extending battery life for wearable technology.

Cisco CEO John Chambers appears on Charlie Rose to discuss the "digitization" of countries like France and Germany. The hosts mock the "gobbledygook" and buzzwords used, such as "velocity of change" and "disrupt or be disrupted." Chambers predicts that the "Internet of Things" will connect 500 billion devices and fundamentally change healthcare and supply chains.

Google VP and "Father of the Internet" Vint Cerf is advocating for the rapid adoption of IPv6 to accommodate the 50 billion devices expected in the Internet of Things by 2020. Cerf's history with MCI Mail is cited as evidence of Google's "arrogant" philosophy of shutting down services regardless of long-term user reliance.

New York Times economist Paul Krugman published a column titled "The Big Meh," arguing that despite the hype surrounding iPhones and the Internet of Things, technological advances have not significantly boosted the U.S. economy. Krugman asserts that economic growth has reverted to the sluggish trends seen in the 1970s and 1980s.

Visa and a consortium of banks are reportedly developing technology to place ads on smart refrigerators and monitor their usage. The data collected would be used by banks to determine a consumer's creditworthiness based on their eating and shopping habits. The hosts describe this as a move to keep the public "stupefied" while increasing corporate surveillance.

The premiere of CSI: Cyber is criticized for its unrealistic portrayal of hacking and "cyber protocols." The plot involves Russian criminals hacking cloud-based baby cameras to auction off kidnapped infants. The hosts mock the show's use of stereotypes, including a "neck-bearded" programmer, and the dramatization of Internet of Things vulnerabilities.