Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino discusses the practicalities, politics, and ethics of obtaining data through internet of things devices. There are three layers to obtaining data: embedding computers onto things, connecting things to networks, and managing data collection. Challenges include choosing how much to embed computers, ensuring reliable connectivity, and determining how to capture and analyze data. Data use also involves political considerations like whether an organization functions as a tech company. Ethical issues involve workplace impacts, environmental impacts, and responsible data management practices.

1. Better the devil you know
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
alex@designswarm.com
@iotwatch

2. About me
First UK distributor the Arduino
Founder of the Good Night Lamp
Consultant
Writing a book on the internet of things
Organise of London Internet of Things Meetup

3. Clients

4. What I’d like to talk about today
The practicalities of data
The politics of data
The ethics of data

5. The practicalities of obtaining data
The promise of the internet of things is a world fully connected.
But which world are we connecting and how?

6. Embedding a little computer onto a thing
Making sure that thing’s computer can connect to a network
Make sure the network can collect the data and lead to actionable
information
3 layers to obtaining data

7. Embedding a little computer onto a thing
3 layers to obtaining data

8. Embedding a little computer onto a thing
We must choose how deep we embed that computer.
Challenge 1: Little computers everywhere

9. We must choose how transparent or obvious the experience should be.
Challenge 1: Little computers everywhere

10. Challenge 1: Little computers everywhere
We must choose how much we’re willing to invest in manufacturing:
Partnerships or manufacturing from scratch?
Marketing?
Internal or external investment?
R&D or spinoff?

11. The good news is it’s cheap to try with the Arduino or the RaspberryPi
Challenge 1: Little computers everywhere

12. Embedding a little computer onto a thing
Making sure that thing’s computer can connect to a network
3 layers to obtaining data

13. Challenge 2: Connecting things
NFC: cheap but needs an antenna
Xbee: cheap and reliable
Bluetooth: cheap-ish but not great
Wifi: cheap-ish and reliable
GSM: expensive and unreliable
LoRaWAN: still under development

14. Challenge 2: Connecting things
There is no perfect connectivity solution, just good ways to manage it
when it fails.

15. Challenge 2: Connecting things
The minimum viable team for you to do this yourself:
Electronics engineer
Embedded software engineer
User experience designer
Testing on site, with real users is essential.

16. Embedding a little computer onto a thing
Making sure that thing’s computer can connect to a network
Make sure the network can collect the data and lead to actionable
information
3 layers to obtaining data

17. What do I need to capture and what will it tell me?
How do I know when things have gone wrong?
How do I know when I’ve been hacked?
Challenge 3: Data collection & management

18. What do I need to capture and what will it tell me?
How do I know when things have gone wrong?
How do I know when I’ve been hacked?
Do I build my own thing or do I use someone else’s platform?
Challenge 3: Data collection & management

19. Many platforms to choose from and integrations.
Challenge 3: Data collection & management

21. Security means profiling the products so they can be recognised and
their ‘normal’ behaviour assessed no matter where you send the product.
Challenge 3: Data collection & management
Ericsson IT #iot security platform

22. What I’d like to talk about today
The practicalities of data
The politics of data
The ethics of data

23. If this is over your head don’t worry, just hire a CTO.
Someone who will decide the best way to deal with these 3 challenges.
It doesn’t have to be a large cost centre, but you must realise you
are now a tech company, not a textiles one.
The politics of data

24. Litmus test for whether you are a tech company or not?
You need to track the use of a product (texiles?)
You need to track a complex supply chain process (cars/vans?)
You need to understand where you can make savings (fuel/staff?)
You are thinking of using technology for one or all of the above

25. How do you turn into a tech company?
You start building a diverse tech team.
You start to adapt to agile methods of product development.
You trust your tech team to tell you things you couldn’t tell even with
all your experience.
You engage with digital products to help you understand that team’s
culture, documentation, knowledge sharing and output.
(Github,Slack, etc.)
You finance this properly.

26. What I’d like to talk about today
The practicalities of data
The politics of data
The ethics of data

27. The ethics of data

28. Think about the work environment you’re creating.
What unintended consequences will this create for you, for your staff?
Is that creating a positive workplace?
Are you recycling the devices or just creating e-waste?
Are you holding your partners responsible for good practices?
Is that creating a fair workplace?
If you’re planning on managing people with the #iot

29. If you’re planning on managing people with the #iot
Think about it before the government thinks about it for you.

30. What I’ve talked about today
The practicalities of data
The politics of data
The ethics of data

31. Merci & bonne chance.
Alexandra Deschamps-Sonsino
designswarm.com
Get in touch at: alex@designswarm.com
@iotwatch on twitter and instagram