How cam'st thou in this pickle? - SHakespeare, The Tempest
|
|
|
MEPs want an 'Internet of things'
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT has started calling for something it says is an "Internet of things".
The "things" are stuff that combine electronic chips and Internet addresses.
Just so "things" do not get out of hand, MEPs also want a proper assessment on health, privacy and personal data protection. It also wants "things" run in the general interest of society.
The logic of "things" was outlined by Maria Badia i Cutchet who said that the Internet of things involved revolutionising "person‑to‑thing and thing‑to-thing interaction".
She said in future it will be possible for all the information on a product to be stored, received and transmitted in wireless mode via a chip stuck on the product and measuring just a few millimetres in size.
She added that with real-time information set to be available on a vast range of things, from tyre pressure to inventory management, from the organisation of public transport to pollution levels and waste collection, the economic and research opportunities will be immense.
MEPs called on the Commission to get their "things" out and help the EU play a pioneering role and continue funding pilot projects.
They also feel that the European consumer should have the right to opt for a product that is not equipped or connected if they do not want their "things" exposed.
In a separate resolution drafted by Francisco Sosa Wagner (NI, ES) and also adopted by a large majority, MEPs call for more attention to be given to questions of Internet governance.
The Internet, they say, is a global public good and should be run in the common interest. Governments should avoid involvement in day-to-day Internet management, which is carried out by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), a non-profit organisation subject to California law. However, they would like to see improvements, including a gradual diversification of the organisation's funding structure. µ
Share this:
Share
This is a worthwhile subject to open discussion about, and timely. Although in early days of development, this may sneak up on us all. Here is a thought piece I did on the topic for IBM (video): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfEbMV295Kk
I wonder how long that bright idea will last.
Because given the trouble I've gone through to ensure that one bloody PC is not hacked or zombified every time I connect to tha Intartubes, I sure as hell will do without the same headaches concerning my fridge, my TV, my oven, my DVD recorder with hard disk, my dishwasher, my washing machine, etc, etc..
On top of that, when something goes wrong with a PC, at least I have a mouse, a keyboard and a shiny install disk to take care of things if worse comes to worse.
I don't see a keyboard on a fridge, and I sure don't want to be able to connect one to it.
What would it say?
As long as it did not start commenting on my choice of cuisine, in particular I would prefer it should not make helpful brand related suggestions to inform my purchasing decisions... unless it was freeware of course.
The way statements are *always* opposite of intents these days. -- Well, except for the implied scheme of global taxation, THAT I believe.