IOT and Human Interaction
Old Dominion University
IDS 300
Dr. MaryAnn Kozlowski
April 18th, 2023
Edwin Wells
Abstract
Humanity is currently in the fifth era of the internet which is characterized by the interconnection of physical devices over the internet. This era has become known as the Internet of Things (IOT). This technology changes the normal conventions for which humans interact and communicate with one another. The IOT’s adoption by businesses and households increases the efficacy of multitasking. However, constant digital information input is not necessarily beneficial when it comes to an individual’s mood or workflow. There is also the constant need for vigilance and situational awareness of security risks. Policy changes should also reflect the adoption of the IOT with development and implementation of public policy to protect information. Utilizing multicausal integration we can thusly see that the IOT has changed information into valued good which spurs the advancement of urban environments but must be approached with forethought and caution.
Introduction
Since the first development of the internet there has been a great deal of advancement in the technology. Currently we are in the fifth age of the internet or otherwise known as the Internet of Things (IOT). This era is characterized by the interconnectivity of heterogenous physical devices over the internet to perform a task with increased efficiency. The IOT has proven effective in many industries like healthcare, critical infrastructure, and agriculture. While the IOT is effective and beneficial for industry, how well does it perform for social change? When examined for an urban environment the IOT is shown to affect human interaction positively with urban development.
Why Interdisciplinary Research
Examining a topic such as social changes within an urban setting, it is important to consider many aspects to reflect the complexity of societal changes. This is not simply a technical question that can be answered with an analysis of computer science on task efficiency. Rather, an analysis that includes the formal sciences, social-sciences, and professional disciplines are necessary to determine an integrated, broad, and inclusive understanding. Interdisciplinary research allows for such comprehensive insights to truly recognize the effects of IOT on human interactions. After multicausal integration it can be shown that information itself has become an object with value which spurs the development of urban environments into the digital era versus that of outdated and slow brick-and-mortar in cities that choose to adopt such technologies.
Computer Science
Many advances in how humans communicate have been developed, especially since the first use of the internet in the 1980’s. The first age of the internet was the Pre-Internet age characterized by fixed phone lines and short message services. Transitioning to the second age, the age of internet content, with e-mail and other large file transfers being possible over the internet. The Internet of Services is the third age where more electronic commerce and productivity began to take place. Then the Internet of People, which most internet users know as Facebook, Myspace, YouTube, and other social media platforms, is the fourth age of the internet. Currently in the fifth age, the Internet of Things, is characterized by machine-to-machine communication otherwise known as smart devices. Even though machine-to-machine is the prevailing characteristic some guidance from humans is necessary. Thus, there is an intersection between the communication of the internet, machines or devices, and humans. Eventually “everything that exists physically [will] be connected over the Internet with the basic objective of interaction and precise evaluation” (Khanna and Kaur, 2020, p. 1754). With increasing numbers of physical devices being interconnected over the internet human communications and tasks become quicker and more productive.
Economics
Traditional businesses which utilize brick-and-mortar structures have been gradually phased out for online stores or services. This has occurred with the wide and prevailing adoption of the IOT in recent times affecting the way humans interact with one another. With physical borders becoming invisible and increasing ease of access to quality services becoming the norm the development of smart cities, smart grids, and smart farms has begun. This occurs because of what linear social change theory states “that linear social change occurs as a result of cumulative, continuous and permanent change in the society” (Shenkoya, 2020, p. 2).
In these new smart cities, the effects of IOT on their economy have prospered as well. In the analysis of Japanese, German, and Australian societies there have been increases in many aspects of their economy due to the integration of IOT. The IOT has allowed the development of new jobs and increased research funding. The adoption of the IOT into businesses and households is advanced due to the increased ease and efficiency of multitasking the IOT affords. Lastly, the hours worked by the population have been seen to increase as well. “The impact of the IoT on social innovation is positive and its developments should be encouraged by governments seeking to make progress in the living standards of its people. The IoT must be tailored to solve a particular need in countries willing to adopt the technology.” (Shenkoya, 2020, p. 8)
Psychology
Notwithstanding obvious positive changes, we can see with the development of industry, economy, and how businesses are operated it is important to point out how the constant stream of digital information from the virtual world affects an individual’s emotions. Panksepp’s Affective Neuroscience Theory describes seven primary emotions mammalian brains possess as tools for survival. The seven primary emotions are seeking, lust, care, play, fear, sadness, and anger. The first four are considered positive emotions and the rest are considered negative emotions. All the primary emotions can interact with the virtual world for both positive and negative experiences.
There is an abundance of research available on the overuse of digital sources linked to disorders like depression, ADHD, lower life satisfaction, and addiction. Thus, it is important:
to design digital worlds according to our emotional needs. [I]t needs to be made sure that digital workspaces, online platforms and future developments in AI are designed in a way to not activate negative primary emotions deeply anchored in the ancestral parts of our brains. Activation of our ancient negative primary emotional systems results in negative affect and therefore counteracts our well-being. (Montag and Diefenbach, 2018, p. 12)
In designing the digital world and workspaces the flow-concept must be considered as well. The flow-concept, as psychology describes it, is when a human is totally absorbed into their current task that they forget about time and space around them. A perquisite to enter such a flow state of mind is a high focus level which can be easily lost with even a short disruption in focus. “Therefore, constant incoming messages via diverse technological devices might hinder entering the flow-zone” (Montag and Diefenbach, 2018, p. 7). If individuals are not allowed to enter this zone due to constant short distractions this can cause a decrease in efficiency and possibly increase their anxiety and frustration with work.
“While we cannot totally escape from technology, an important challenge is to reflect on one’s personal way of use and deliberate limitations, thereby taking responsibility for one’s own and others’ wellbeing” (Montag and Diefenbach, 2018, p. 15). Even though there are advantages for industrial sectors with increased efficacy and expansion of operations that adopt the IOT however it is important to balance and create environments the promote the psychological well-being of individuals.
Cyber Security
Concerns of user well-being are not the sole reason to worry when it comes to adopting the IOT. Security and the detection of cyber-attacks in the critical infrastructure of smart cities is another significant worry. One such example of critical infrastructure is the power grid, or “smart” grid when it has IOT technology, which benefits greatly in terms of efficiency and power generation. “However, the integration of digital and information technology into the smart grid and the increased complexity of the system increases the possibility of cyber-attacks and failures propagating from one system to another” (Sakhnini et al., 2020, p. 2). The sheer volume of attack the happen and new exploits that are developed daily require a shift in the thinking of security and protection against such attacks. Thus, “security … [needs to be] explored at every level including adequate situational awareness at all times” (Sakhnini et al., 2020, p. 5).
All physical devices will eventually be connected via the IOT to create and enhance urban environments and social interactions. However, such advances must be approached with forethought towards specific goal attainment with the checks for constant vigilance of security and the well-being of individuals. These sorts of global controls will not happen at the commercial level but rather by the public administrations of the cities who choose to adopt IOT technology.
Public Administration and Law
The public administrations that choose to implement such technologies gain the advantage of transferring large amounts of information quickly. This allows for the increased efficiency and convenience of remote communication for administrative tasks. “The amount of data contained in ICT systems is so great that the government must introduce special safeguards, thus preventing information leakage, network disruptions or in extreme cases its complete breakdown” (Skoczylas, 2021, p. 95). Thus, a “smart” government that can “sens[e] the needs of the public and the communities they serve … responding to these contingent demands and situations in an agile and governed manner” (Chatfield and Reddick, 2018, p. 2) will need to implement complementary IOT cybersecurity policies and digital technology policies.
Government can transform itself into smart government by developing and deploying IoT-enabled dynamic capabilities in not only sensing and responding to citizen service needs and technological changes with agility and flexibility, but also strategically shaping the future of public services of public interest and public value. …Such IoT-enabled dynamic capabilities need to be governed by forward-thinking, strategic IoT use policies and IoT cybersecurity policies. This in turn requires shared vision to create smart government that not only can deliver intelligent public services according to the citizens’ needs but also can legislate intelligent policies of greater public value (Chatfield and Reddick, 2018, p. 3)
The positive relationship between IOT cybersecurity policy and digital technology policy develops the key aspect of dynamic capabilities for a smart government.
This legal prerequisite for smart government directly impacts the performance of public tasks along with logistical organization and implementation of new information and communication technologies. The establishment of the IOT has changed the conventions of using and processing information. As more physical devices become interconnected, with consideration regarding policy, security, individual well-being, and goal orientation, “information has become a value and a good that should be subject to special legal protection” with public administration bodies having the greatest responsibility as both a right and an obligation. (Skoczylas, 2021, p. 94)
Conclusion
In the age of the IOT it is plain to see that computer integration of physical devices over the internet is a new normal for human beings. Socially, this fosters the innovation of development on all fronts. Businesses, government, and individuals are now transitioning from the old brick-and-mortar limitation to entities without boundaries in cyberspace. With all the benefits of the IOT also comes many dangers but this does not mean we should avoid such technologies. However, it does mean that countries should be prudent and carefully plan out an approach towards integration to receive the full benefits of information as valuable good over the IOT.
References
Chatfield, Akemi & Reddick, Christopher. (2018). A framework for Internet of Things-enabled smart government: A case of IoT cybersecurity policies and use cases in U.S. federal government. Government Information Quarterly. 36. 10.1016/j.giq.2018.09.007.
Khanna, Abhishek & Kaur, Sanmeet. (2020). Internet of Things (IoT), Applications and Challenges: A Comprehensive Review. Wireless Personal Communications. 114. 1-76. 10.1007/s11277-020-07446-4.
Montag, Christian & Diefenbach, Sarah (2018). Towards homo digitalis: important research issues for psychology and the neurosciences at the dawn of the internet of things and the digital society. Sustainability, 10(2), 415.
Sakhnini, Jacob & Karimipour, Hadis & Dehghantanha, Ali & Parizi, Reza & Srivastava, Gautam. (2020). Security Aspects of Internet of Things aided Smart Grids: a Bibliometric Survey.
Shenkoya, Temitayo. (2020). Social Change: A Comparative Analysis of the Impact of the IoT in Japan, Germany and Australia. Internet of Things. 11. 100250. 10.1016/j.iot.2020.100250.
Skoczylas, Dominika. (2021). The Act on the National Cybersecurity System and Other Legal Regulations in the Context of Ensuring State Cybersecurity. Selected Issues. Roczniki Nauk Prawnych. 30. 93-113. 10.18290/rnp20302-7.