18
Mar, 2016
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The LG Rolling Bot Can Patrol Your Home or Office [VIDEO]

b2ap3_thumbnail_lg_rolling_bot_400.jpgConsumer technology continues to grow more versatile and connected, allowing users to perform functions previously unheard of. One such piece of consumer tech is the latest in rolling security bots, the LG Rolling Bot. Basically, what you see is what you get; it’s a rolling security robot that can be controlled remotely through a smartphone.

The LG Rolling Bot can handle many small tasks with relative ease. The Bot connects to your home or office WiFi connection, and it’s controlled via a smartphone app. The Rolling Bot is equipped with a camera that lets you see what it sees on your smartphone screen, and the Bot’s microphone lets you listen to what’s going on at home through your phone’s speakers. You can also speak through the device if you’d like, allowing you to broadcast your voice through the Bot into the room it’s in. Furthermore, the LG Rolling Bot can connect to and interact with other smart home appliances via Bluetooth. In some instances, this can work to your advantage, such as for turning off appliances or other devices that you accidentally left operational, or turning up the heat before you head home.

Another feature that you might find fun with the LG Rolling Bot is the built-in laser pointer. While this might seem like a relatively useless feature, just think of how much fun it would be to mess with your pets while you’re not home. By wirelessly monitoring your cat, dog, goldfish, or other pet, you can help keep them entertained, even while you’re not there. Using the voiceover feature can let you communicate with them even when you’re not there, which might be fun for you, but confusing for them.

You can see the LG Rolling Bot in action in this video from DigitalTrends:

Granted, if you do choose to use this device, there’s always the issue of security. Many Internet of Things devices run into the same problem. Since you’re using your home or office WiFi connection, there’s always the possibility that your LG Rolling Bot could be hacked or infected with viruses or malware. If this happens, hackers might be able to commandeer your camera and spy on you through the device. Having a toy like this get hacked might seem like it holds little consequence, but considering how it has a camera, speaker, microphone, and can control Bluetooth-enabled devices, it could be more dangerous and unsettling than you might think.

Or, worse yet, what would happen if a hacker were to take control of your device? If this happens, they could perform any of the features that you would be able to. There’s a precedent set for this type of hacking activity; there are horror stories of devices like baby monitors, garage doors, and even Internet-connected vehicles being hacked. In general, however, the Internet of Things devices most likely to get hacked are the ones of very little consequence. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take precautions when working with web-connected devices, though.

Can you think of some less conventional ways you could use the LG Rolling Bot? Let us know in the comments!

7
Aug, 2015
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A Dark Shadow is Cast Over the Good Work Robots Do

b2ap3_thumbnail_manufacturing_robot_mistakes_400.jpgThe point of living in a world where technology takes over everything is that it’s supposed to make life easier. Although, keep in mind that imperfect humans are responsible for creating these technologies. Therefore, technology is flawed, maybe even to the point of putting people in harm’s way. This fundamental truth makes for an uneasy trust between man and machine.

Take for example a tragic incident that occurred last month at a Volkswagen plant in Germany, where a robot was actually responsible for the death of a worker. This robot was designed to piece together cars by moving and manipulating auto parts. According to The Guardian, the error occurred while the robot was being set up by a team of technicians. Due in part to a human error (supposedly), the robot grabbed the worker, instead of an auto part, causing critical injury.

A second example of why we should be suspicious of robots comes from the road. Led by the efforts of Google, several major technology companies are developing and testing self-driving cars. As great as it sounds to sit back and play magnetic travel chess while a robot chauffeurs you around town, the high number of reported fender benders from the testing phase gives us good reason to be a little nervous. Think about it, how do you feel about being on the same road as fast-moving, metal-death traps that are vulnerable to hacking attacks?

Buried deep in the human psyche, connected perhaps with our survival instincts, is a mistrust to give up too much control to something (or someone) that we don’t fully understand. When it comes to machines and computers, just how much do you understand about how they work? Unless you’re a computer programmer or an IT technician, it’s likely that you don’t know enough about these machines to totally erase the fear that robots will one day rise up and enslave us all. This is why science fiction movie franchises are exploring this narrative in fantastic detail, like The Terminator and The Matrix, have connected so deeply with people’s imaginations (and wallets).

Just how safe are you from the technology that you’re dependent upon? While it’s unlikely that you work with battlebots equipped with saw blades and flamethrowers, or that you play traffic roulette with a driverless car, you’ve got a lot riding on your company’s data. In fact, it would take just one major disaster for your system to crash, causing major data loss. This kind of a data loss disaster can potentially ruin a business, and by extension, your livelihood.

A disaster like this can happen at the hands of an incompetent user, an error from an imperfect machine, or even something else entirely, like a random act of nature. One way to gain peace of mind while living under such a looming threat is to learn more about the machines that you trust with so much responsibility, and it’s unlikely that you’ve got the time to analyze and understand the inner workings of your computer network. Alternatively, you can outsource the care and maintenance of your machines to the knowledgeable IT professionals at NuTech Services.

Because, at the end of the day, who do you trust more; man, or machine?