Personal devices are increasingly being used across enterprise IT, from smartphones to wearable devices, and these are becoming the true edge. This episode of Utilizing Edge brings Field Day delegates Mark Houtz and Jim Czuprynski together with Stephen Foskett to discuss the personal side of the edge. Mobile Device Management (MDM) has been used to manage smartphones and similar technology is used for personal computers, but it seems inevitable that there will be a mixing of business and private data. The mix and match of personal devices at the edge is sure to be a topic of future focus.
Personal Devices and Ethical Implications in Enterprise IT
In this episode of the Utilizing Edge podcast, the discussion revolves around edge computing with a focus on the integration of personal and professional use of mobile devices. Stephen Foskett, Jim Czuprynski, and Mark Houtz discuss the growing trend of personal device utilization across various sectors, potential ethical concerns regarding data acquisition through wearable tech, and the significant task of real-time tracking. The conversation explores a future that continues to be influenced by the prevalence of edge technology, while also shedding light on critical aspects related to privacy and security.
Personal devices are having a huge impact on the modern workspace, as employees appreciate the flexibility these devices offer. This trend is seen not only within office environments but also in industries such as medical, manufacturing, and retail. One significant concern is the lack of control organizations have over devices owned by employees and the protective measures necessary to safeguard personal data. Particularly, the growing popularity of wearable technology within workplaces for health monitoring raises critical legal and ethical queries.
There are many potential difficulties with real-time person and object tracking in the context of edge computing. As technology continues to advance, introducing more health monitoring wearables and enabling remote healthcare capabilities, the need for a robust ethical framework grows increasingly important. A key concern is the risk of over-dependence on these technologies, which, if they fail, could potentially cause significant disruptions.
We are also seeing pilot projects involving Raspberry Pi devices for physical asset tracking, demonstrating how inter-device connectivity can deliver life-saving data and even predict natural disasters. LoRaWan, a low-power, long-range connectivity technology ideal for edge-based sensors and devices, helps to address the challenge of maintaining consistent connectivity, particularly in areas with limited network capabilities or remote regions.
Despite the privacy, security, and connectivity challenges of personal devices, it is inevitable that these devices will play a role in the future of edge computing.
Podcast Information
- Stephen Foskett, Publisher of Gestalt IT and Organizer of Tech Field Day. Find Stephen’s writing at GestaltIT.com and on Twitter at @SFoskett.
- Jim Czuprynski, Oracle DBA and Oracle ACE Director. You can connect with Jim on LinkedIn and on Mastodon, and learn more about him on his website.
- Mark Houtz, Senior Network Engineer with a passion for Private LTE/5G and Wifi networks for Education and Business. You can connect with Mark on LinkedIn and on Twitter, and learn more about him on his website.
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