1

Anthony Gambino
Mr. Kelleher
English 102
April 12 2018

Moral Implications of the Internet of Things

Most Americans have little to no idea what the Internet of Things entails, however, the

IoT is everywhere and is firmly embedded in daily American life. The Internet of Things or

“IoT” refers to any device, machine, or object connected to other “smart objects” in addition to

broader servers. Smart objects range from smartphones, to smart thermostats, to massive

connected power grid systems and even internet connected refrigerators. The data that each

object receives through usage is aggregated by larger servers in order to deduce trends in data

and usage. This broad data aggregation enables increases in efficiency and productivity. For

example, existing “smart-refrigerators” have the ability to check which needed groceries are

running low and monitor a home’s usage of each good; this data will then be interpreted and sent

to one's smartphone grocery list(Morgan). Simple examples like this exist to assist people in

everyday life by helping save time money and reduce food waste. Other examples such as smart

power grid systems have to capability to save entire cities millions of dollars each year.

Unfortunately, aggregated

data can be used to exploit

consumers. Often times

data is recorded and can

be used to pinpoint

consumer desires and

allows advertising

companies to focus efforts

to more precise groups. Jacob Morgan of Forbes explains that analysts predict by 2020 there will

be more than 30 billion devices in addition to the 5 billion already active(Morgan). Clearly the

IoT is here to stay and its prominence in American life will only grow. There are those that claim

that security and privacy risks render the implementation of the IoT immoral. However, the

possible realized benefits far out way the possible risks. The IoT must continue to be

implemented with caution in order to create a more efficient and connected society.

One specific example of

effective usage of the IoT involves

the connection of power grid

systems on the large scale. The city

of Chattanooga Tennessee has

already connected its power grid

system resulting in massive savings

of both energy and money. A research study conducted by David Talbot located in Harvard

University’s repository explains the benefits of Chattanooga's high-tech systems. Talbot explains

that the cost of retrofitting the cities systems costed 369$ million dollars. While this is a costly

investment Talbot states that the city has saved an average of 23 million dollars per year since

the implementation of smart sensors. He explains that through the installment of smart sensors

and switches the cities Electric Power Board is able to monitor all usage of power in its

jurisdiction. While effectively reducing waste, these sensors have allowed power outages to be

dealt with more effectively. Tabot explains that sensors allowing engineers to pinpoint problems

have resulted in, “decreased customer outage time by 55 percent and the costs to customers by
33 percent” (Talbot). He explains that previous to the new technology, repair crews would have

to drive around looking for damaged equipment wasting time and money. However, today

sensors can alert monitors instantly of any problem that arises. Furthermore, Talbot explains that

the new systems allows consumer to more effectively monitor their own power usage allowing

them to save energy and money. If systems utilized in Chattanooga were extrapolated into a

nationwide scale it would cost around 479$ billion dollars. However this massive investment

would be expected to save 2 trillion dollars over the next 20 years(Talbot). Analyzing the results

of one city wide implementation of IoT devices displays the vast projected benefits that a more

holistic utilization of the IoT could produce. Clearly the cost-benefit analysis shows that the

monetary cost of investing in this technology is belittled by the tremendous savings and increases

in efficiency.

In addition to the benefits resulting from the IoT being implemented into the public sector

as seen above, American industry has seen dramatic changes as a result of the usage of the IoT.

Andrew Meola of Business Insider in his article: “Automotive Industry Trends: IoT Connected

Smart Cars & Vehicles”, explains the benefits that have already been realized in the American

automotive producing industry. Meola explains that Business Insider research has projected that

there will be “381 million connected cars on the road by 2020, up from 36 million in 2015”

(Meola). Meola explains these internet connected vehicles have the ability to monitor gas usage,

contain built in Wi-Fi, locate the cheapest gas stations and even calculate the most efficient route

to a destination. Additionally, Meola cites the work of Tesla CEO Elon Musk involving his

progress in self driving cars. Musk claims these cars are up to 10 times safer than manual

driving. Meola explains that the advance of self-driving cars, enabled by the IoT, could make
traffic jams obsolete in the near future. Meola points out that the production of IoT connected

vehicles is extremely important for automakers. One important capability enabled by the

connection of vehicles is the ability to remotely update the software of the vehicle. This allows

producers to consistently optimize consumers vehicles. Secondly, automakers collect data from

their connected vehicles and analyze vehicle diagnostics(Meola). This allows companies to see

how people use the vehicles and check how the vehicles are performing. This is turn allows for

the production of future vehicles to be better prepared. The progress that the IoT has seen in the

automotive industry is only a small glimpse of the capabilities of this technology. The benefits

this industry has seen have also been realized in other industry in America. Increases in both

consumer and producer efficiency through the IoT will drive its increased involvement and

effectiveness in society.

While private and public-sector advances of the IoT present proof of possible monetary

and time saving, the IoT has already began to help save something for more valuable: human

life. The medical field has realized enormous avail as the IoT’s capabilities have begun to to be

explored. Professor M. Brian Blake of Miami University details how the IoT has already began

to reshape the medical field, as well as provide projections for the future. Blake begins by

explaining the impact that smartphones have had on everyday medicine. Blake states that

“Google searches indeed play a major role in the current practice of self-diagnosis”(Blake).

Blake suggests that people's ability to research possible ailments has allowed the average person

to play in active role in maintaining their health. Blake goes on to explain how increased

connectivity has allowed doctors and patients to more effectively and efficiently communicate.

He states, “IoT techniques for promoting better health could interact with interfaces in the

doctor’s office and emergency room” (Blake). Additionally, sensors that patients can wear
outside the hospital allow for doctors to monitor vitals from the office and be alerted if

something is wrong. John Glaser of the Hospitals and Health Networks states there is “a

remarkable 64 percent drop in hospital readmissions for patients whose blood pressure and

oxygen saturation levels were monitored remotely” (Glaser). This is just one specific instance in

which doctors have used the IoT to monitor patients health without need for an appointment.

This increased connectivity allows doctors to be more attentive to each patient while saving time

money and most importantly, lives.

Although this data creates an extremely strong case for the wide scale implementation of

the IoT, many still reserve doubts involving the IoT. One fault of the IoT is that is an extremely

new area in technological advancement and has very little government regulation. With so much

of people’s data being collected, concerns of personal privacy are justly common. Michael

McFarland of Santa Clara University explains the controversial concept of “transaction data”.

This concept refers to the idea that companies record personal data given from websites or from

the daily usage of IoT devices. This data can be utilized to deduce how to better serve

consumers, however this data is often used to more precisely advertise to consumers. McFarland

describes the existence of aggregation companies whose sole

purpose is to collect personal data from consumers and sell them

to advertisement companies. He cites the aggregation company

Acxiom receiving a yearly revenue of 850$ million from simply

collecting and selling people's data(McFarland). Without

knowing it, many Americans freely give their personal information on the internet, this

information is collected over time and is used to create a in depth profile of the consumer. While

this data is not used maliciously it can unsettling to some. So much information can already be
collected through normal internet use, and it will only continue to grow as the IoT expands.

Because the IoT is so new there is very little legislative regulation on it. It is crucial that

regulation be put in place to safeguard the sale of personal data received from IoT devices.

In conclusion, after reviewing specific examples in which the IoT has already been

utilized to benefit society in different ways, it is clear the possibilities of the IoT are virtually

endless. The projected benefits shown through the usage of the IoT in power grids, automotive

industry, and the medical field provide a glimpse of what the IoT could do when implemented on

a large scale. It is clear that the IoT is here to stay and we must continue utilizing this

extraordinary technology to provide abounding benefits to society. Nonetheless, it is of

imperative importance that society hold individual privacy to a paramount concern as this

extraordinary technology unites with mankind.

Bibliography
Blake, Brian. Internet of Things for Health Care. University of Miami, Aug. 2015

Glaser, John. "How The Internet of Things Will Affect Health Care." H&HN. N.p., 4 June 2015. Web.

22 Oct. 2017.

McFarland, Michael. “Ethical Implications of Data Aggregation.” Markkula Center for Applied Ethics,

Santa Clara University, 1 June 2012.

Meola, Andrew. Automotive Industry Trends: IoT Connected Smart Cars & Vehicles. Business Insider,

6 Oct. 2016.

Morgan, Jacob. “A Simple Explanation Of 'The Internet Of Things'.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Apr.

2017

Talbot, David and Maria Paz-Canales. 2017. Smart Grid Paybacks: The Chattanooga Example. The

Municipal Fiber Project, Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society Research Publication.