killer^W mildly annoying robots [pb]
This afternoon I gave a five minute presentation on what I'm doing for the security group, as part of a lunch where a whole bunch of people (15 or so) did the same thing. I got disproportionately stressed about it (like I do), but I guess it went all right? I got a couple of good laughs, anyway.
So what have I've been doing? Well, according to my presentation, "exploring the security implications of ubiquitous robotics."
Assume our houses and workplaces gradually fill up with robots over the next decade. What does that mean from a security perspective? Could our privacy be damaged? Could bad guys steal all our stuff or burn our houses down (more than they could before)? Could a poorly-designed robot accidentally ruin our belongings? Or is the biggest risk that we'll trip over them?
Why do I ask? Because our lives will fill up with robots, and soon. Look at the sales numbers for Roombas and Scoobas, RoboSapiens, telepresence robots... hell, just go to Toys Backwards 'R' Us and look around. We're right on the brink of having little robots everywhere, quietly integrating into society. They'll be small and cheap and special-purpose; a Roomba here, a phone there - no Rosie, no need for one. Many will be toys (which means they'll be made by people who are used to thinking about lead paint and choking hazards, not encrypted web interfaces).
On the brink. It will be a big change - a big, quiet change that we don't notice. In ten years, vacuuming your own carpet will seem quaint, and we won't notice it happening. And just for once, it would be nice to figure out how to do it safely and intelligently before it happens, instead of playing catch-up. Will that happen? I don't know. But if it doesn't, it won't be because I'm not banging the gong.
So what have I've been doing? Well, according to my presentation, "exploring the security implications of ubiquitous robotics."
Assume our houses and workplaces gradually fill up with robots over the next decade. What does that mean from a security perspective? Could our privacy be damaged? Could bad guys steal all our stuff or burn our houses down (more than they could before)? Could a poorly-designed robot accidentally ruin our belongings? Or is the biggest risk that we'll trip over them?
Why do I ask? Because our lives will fill up with robots, and soon. Look at the sales numbers for Roombas and Scoobas, RoboSapiens, telepresence robots... hell, just go to Toys Backwards 'R' Us and look around. We're right on the brink of having little robots everywhere, quietly integrating into society. They'll be small and cheap and special-purpose; a Roomba here, a phone there - no Rosie, no need for one. Many will be toys (which means they'll be made by people who are used to thinking about lead paint and choking hazards, not encrypted web interfaces).
On the brink. It will be a big change - a big, quiet change that we don't notice. In ten years, vacuuming your own carpet will seem quaint, and we won't notice it happening. And just for once, it would be nice to figure out how to do it safely and intelligently before it happens, instead of playing catch-up. Will that happen? I don't know. But if it doesn't, it won't be because I'm not banging the gong.