Civilizing the Internet of Things 

Abstract: The Internet of Things (IoT) is a deeply interconnected ecosystem of devices, sensors, and systems, all generating a tsunami of data. IoT technologies such as self-driving cars, connected medical devices, and smart home environments deliver optimization, customization, and efficiency, but can also be used to bias, intrude, and exploit. Is the IoT a potential utopia or dystopia? In this talk, Fran Berman explores what is needed to develop the IoT to promote the public good, individual protections, and planetary sustainability.

Bio: Dr. Fran Berman is the Hamilton Distinguished Professor at RPI and former Director of the San Diego Supercomputer. She is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the Sloan Foundation Board of Trustees, and the National Council on the Humanities. Dr. Berman received the 2009 ACM/IEEE-CS Ken Kennedy Award for national-scale cyberinfrastructure leadership and the 2020 Paul Evan Peters Award from EDUCAUSE, the Coalition for Networked Information, and the Association of Research Libraries.