From fitness trackers to internet-connected insulin pumps, more companies are marketing “smart” devices that gather, track, and store digital data on a person’s health metrics, body functions, location, and movement. Together, these devices comprise what is now called the “Internet of Bodies” (IoB). In this October 29, 2020 article from the RAND Corporation, Maria Gardner and Alyson Youngblood describe the benefits and risks of IoB devices and detail policies that could regulate how data from these devices are used by corporations, the health care system, and the government
- According to the authors, there are three major risk areas for IoB devices: data privacy, cybersecurity, and ethics. Choose one of these three areas, which are described in detail in the second half of the piece. Explain what the specific risks are for this area, drawing on the examples illustrated in the graphics. The authors offer policy recommendations to mitigate this risk area. Which policy recommendations do you think have the best chance of being adopted? Why?
- This article focuses primarily on the risks of IoB devices, yet Gardner and Youngblood also detail several benefits of these smart devices. Name three specific ways IoB devices have improved people’s lives, explained in the body of the essay as well as in the text that accompanies the graphics. Point to one place where you see the authors introducing and making concessions with these naysayer arguments. How well do you think they balance their views with the views of others?
- This article begins with a narrative introduction that highlights some of the larger issues of tracking devices connected to the human body. Do you think this was an effective introduction? Why or why not? Revise this introduction so that it follows a more traditional “they say/I say” format, using templates from Chapter 1 and Chapter 4.
- Gardner and Youngblood focus on how IoB devices and technologies might put individuals at risk. However, as New York University law professor Erin Murphy argues, one kind of IoB technology – DNA kits and ancestry testing – might expose others beyond the individuals who purchased the kits or signed up for the testing. Listen to this podcast, in which Murphy details these privacy issues. Then, respond to her argument. What policies, including those suggested by Gardner and Youngblood, do you think should be adopted to account for these privacy risks?
The article, The Internet of Bodies Will change Everything, for Better or Worse, is about introducing certain devices that can improve the quality of living and health care for people. The internet of bodies is the internet connected devices that monitor the body and collect health and personal information. However, these devices can be a risk to privacy because some companies sell your data to others. You can own a watch that tracks your health. It also talks about how our smartphones are eventually going to become our own personal doctors. If we lost the devices that we use on a daily basis already, then life with technology will go backwards not forwards. For example, if we could not monitor the health of people today then the death rate would be really high. Gladly these devices are changing everyday and more devices are being made to reach the full potential of technology.
Posted by: ZH | 12/01/2020 at 12:47 PM
The Internet of Bodies Will change Everything, for Better or Worse, is an article about teaching people that there are devices that can allow someone’s life style to be healthier. They have made a device that can collect all of your health qualities and can read your entire body to record personal information. For instance, if the person has this device and has a certain disease the device reads it and stores it as someone would call it, your health journal. The down fall is your privacy. Since this device tracks pretty much your entire body, your personal information is technically still on the internet and everyone knows what goes on the internet isn’t private anymore. The article also explain how advanced technology is getting that one day our iPhone will be our healthcare providers. The Internet of Bodies will honestly change everything in the future and technology will one day be able to control our entire health.
Posted by: Bridget | 12/01/2020 at 01:05 PM
“The internet of Bodies will change everything, for better or worse” is an article that’s talking about, how technology in the medical field is advancing, and how it can be a bad but also a good thing. They call it Internet of bodies because they’re devices that monitor the human body and collect information to send that data over the internet. A great example of a IOB (Internet of bodies) are fitness watches like the apple watch or the Fitbit. Not to mention technology has advanced so much so that we have created artificial organs, such as an artificial pancreas that automatically give insulin doses for diabetics. However, all of this technology is great and all, but there’s a concern on how people’s personal data can be sold to literally anyone. IoB devices are great and all but it can cost us our privacy. As, Technology advances and the more the impossible become possible, we got to be careful because we never know if our privacy is guaranteed.
Posted by: Derek R | 12/02/2020 at 08:25 PM
The article, The Internet of Bodies Will Change Everything, for Better or Worse, is teaching people that improvements in technology can allow them to live a healthier lifestyle with less complications. The internet of bodies (IOB) is the devices that are connected to your body that processes information and collects data. Some example of these devices are smart watches, digital pills, and even artificial organs. Although there are so many benefits with IOB’s, there are also many risks involved. Privacy is the main risk when it comes to IOB’s because companies may sell the data they collect from the device to others. These IOB’s allow people to track their health with just a smartphone device at any moment. In the article, it talks about how because of this, eventually smartphones are going to become our personal doctors. The benefits still outweigh the risk when it comes to IOB’s and improvements are being made every day to the technology.
Posted by: Raymond A | 12/03/2020 at 11:57 AM
“The Internet of Bodies will Change Everything, for Better or Worse” is an article that explores both the benefits and drawbacks of IoBs or smart devices. These mechanical devices exist to provide essential health information, monitor vitals, and most of all, improve quality of life. Examples of these include fitness watches, internet-connected insulin pumps, digital pills, or even artificial organs. Despite this advancement in technology, there are a few underlying ethical concerns that question the use and access to one’s personal information. Since IoB devices are connected to the internet, this can provide an entry for potential hackers and lead to tampered data, faulty devices, or even subject the patient to medical inquiries from insurance agencies. To mitigate this risk, a few policies have been proposed. For example, federal and state government intervention could place regulations for data brokers, restrictions on who can obtain the data, and determine whether data can be sold to third parties. Unauthorized data sharing poses a considerable risk which can reveal sensitive information that could be used against the patient. In consideration of what’s at stake, informed consent, and a national regulation response should be adopted as the capabilities of IoBs grow in our technology-advanced world. The debate between technology and privacy is one that continually exists.
Posted by: Emily | 12/07/2020 at 12:16 PM
The Internet of Bodies is something that we should probably be worried about in our future. They are able to save and store your data which can means that they can see exactly what you do on your phone or what you browse on the internet. However these devices can be used for good keeping track of your health and diet. Unfortunately this stuff is not private just to us and I believe there needs to be some regulation on what of your personal information is available to these types of devices.
Posted by: Matthew Usrey | 04/15/2021 at 10:45 AM
The article, The Internet of Bodies will change Everything, for Better or Worse, this is an article about different devices that can alert, monitor, and record a person's health like smart watches and smart phones with lifestyle apps that can tell you your blood pressure or blood sugar level. The technology being used today can cut down your visits to the doctor. By using these devices you are subject to your information becoming stolen by hackers on the internet. Aswell as company's selling your information for profit. It is crazy to think that your own health information could be used against you in a court of law an example of this very thing explained in the article. I have been using a fitness tracker to record my steps, miles walked, heart rate, and completed time of miles. This has been very helpful in my fitness journey and motivates me to continue to better myself. I do not agree with company's selling your information without consent or the courts using your private health information in a case against you.
Posted by: Randy L Johnson | 09/11/2023 at 02:23 AM