Latest news with #Bubba
Fast Company
13 hours ago
- Fast Company
How the Internet of Things impacts everyone's privacy
Some unusual witnesses helped convict Alex Murdaugh of the murders of his wife, Maggie, and son, Paul. The first was Bubba, Maggie's yellow Labrador retriever. Prosecutors used a recording of Bubba to place Alex at the site of the murders. Given Alex's presence at the crime scene, other witnesses then revealed his movements, tracked his speed and explained what he had in his hands. Those other witnesses were a 2021 Chevy Suburban and Maggie, Paul and Alex's cellphones, which all provided data. They're all part of the Internet of Things, also known as IoT. The privacy implications of devices connected to the internet are not often the most important consideration in solving a murder case. But outside of criminal prosecution, they affect people's privacy in ways that should give everyone pause. The Internet of Things The Internet of Things includes any object or device that automatically sends and receives data via the internet. When you use your phone to message someone or social media to post something, the sharing is deliberate. But the automatic nature of connected devices effectively cuts humans out of the loop. The data from these devices can reveal a lot about the people who interact with them—and about other people around the devices. As an assistant professor of law at the University of South Carolina, I have watched as new kinds of connected devices have entered the market. New devices mean new ways to collect data about people. Connected devices collect information from different contexts. Take your refrigerator. As a non-IoT device, your fridge generated no data about your kitchen, your food, or how often you peeked inside. Your relationship with the fridge was effectively private. Only you knew about that midnight snack or whether you ogled a coworker's lunch. Now, smart refrigerators can respond to voice commands, show images of the items in your fridge, track who opens it, suggest recipes, generate grocery lists and even contact your car to let you know the milk has expired. All these functions require continuous streams of data. Device data and your privacy Connected devices generate lots of data in contexts that have typically produced little data to make those situations 'legible' to whoever can access the data. In the past, if you wanted to monitor your heart rate, blood oxygenation, sleep patterns, and stress levels, you might have undergone a battery of tests at a hospital. Specialized equipment in a controlled setting would have measured your body and make these parts of you visible to highly trained, licensed professionals. But now, devices such as the Oura Ring track and analyze all that information continuously, in non-health care contexts. Even if you don't mind sharing data with an Internet of Things company, there are privacy risks to using a device like this. In the health care context, a series of rules enforced by several groups make sure that connected equipment and the data the equipment generates have adequate cybersecurity protections. Away from that context, connected devices that perform similar functions don't have to meet the same cybersecurity standards. The U.S. Cyber Trust Mark program, administered by the Federal Communications Commission, is developing cybersecurity standards for Internet of Things devices. But the program is voluntary. In some states, such as Washington, state laws set standards for protecting health data from connected devices. But these laws don't cover all data from all devices in all contexts. This leaves the devices, and the data they generate, particularly vulnerable to unwanted access by hackers. Your inability to control who sees the data that connected devices gather is another privacy risk. It can give advertisers insights about potential customers. Absent a mandated opt-out, each device provider can decide what it does with customer data. Amazon, for example, recently removed the 'Do Not Send Voice Recordings' option from the privacy settings of its popular smart speaker, Alexa. Some connected-device providers participate in data markets, selling your data to the highest bidder. Sometimes those purchasers include government agencies. So, instead of needing a warrant to track your whereabouts or learn about activity in your home, they can purchase or access Internet of Things records. A connected device can also compromise the data privacy of someone who just happens to be nearby. Connected cars Cars have joined the ranks of the Internet of Things. The 2021 Chevy Suburban that helped convict Alex Murdaugh simply tracked information about the vehicle. This included the vehicle's speed, the turning radius of the steering wheel, and time stamps. Most modern vehicles also incorporate data from external sources. GPS data and infotainment systems that connect to cellphones also track the vehicle's movements. All of this data can also be used to track the whereabouts and behavior of drivers and other people in the vehicles. And as vehicles become increasingly automated, they need to make driving decisions in increasingly complex situations. To make safe driving decisions, they need data about the world around them. They need to know the size, speed, and behavior of all the nearby vehicles on the roadway, moment to moment. They need to instantly identify the best way to avoid a pedestrian, cyclist or other object entering the roadway. If you and I are driving in separate cars on the same roadway, it means my car is collecting information about you. And if my vehicle is connected, then data about you is being shared with other cars and car companies. In other words, if a Tesla had been present at the scene of the Murdaugh murders, its outward facing cameras could have captured footage. Bubba's testimony might not have been necessary. Spillover data collection Internet of Things devices generate data from similar situations in a highly structured way. Therefore, what data collectors learn about me from my connected device may also give them insights about someone else in a similar situation. Take smart meters that share information with the water utility every 15 minutes. Imagine a subdivision with a narrow range of house and yard sizes. Water usage should be relatively comparable for each household. Data from even just a couple of houses can give a good sense of what water use should be for everyone in the neighborhood. Without actually collecting data from each house, data from connected devices reveals potentially private information about similarly situated people. Data from IoT devices can also fuel insights into people who never use or make contact with these devices. Aggregated data from Oura Rings, for instance, could contribute to decisions a health insurer makes about you. Connected devices are also changing. In addition to collecting data about the person using the device, a growing number of sensors collect information about the environment around that person. Some of my research has examined what privacy means for people observed by vehicle sensor systems such as radar, lidar, and sonar. These technologies capture potentially very revealing information about people and their property. Even the most comprehensive privacy laws in the United States offer people little recourse for the impact to their privacy. Civilian drones are capable of gathering data about other people. But people observed by drones would have a tough time learning that data about them exists and an even harder time controlling how that information might be used. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence systems are expanding the ways Internet of Things data can affect the privacy of other people by automating the process of training IoT systems. AI chipmaker Nvidia has created a digital environment, or model, where people can upload their connected device data. This environment can help train IoT devices to ' predict the outcomes of the device's interactions with other people,' according to Nvidia. Models like this make it easy for AI devices that you don't own to collect data or reach conclusions about you. In other words, IoT data processed by AI can make inferences about you, rendering you legible to the AI system even before you interact with an IoT device. Looking forward Internet of Things devices and the data they generate are here to stay. As the world becomes increasingly automated, I believe it's important to be more aware of the way connected devices may be affecting people's privacy. The story of how vehicle data combined with cell data in the Murdaugh trial is a case in point. At the start of the trial, prosecutors came ready to show 'phone call logs and texts, steps recorded, apps asking for information, GPS locations, changes when the phone went from vertical portrait mode to horizontal landscape mode and back, and—key to the prosecution's case—when the camera was activated.' But that was probably not enough to merit a conviction. During the trial, GM called and said something like ' oh wait, we found something,' according to the prosecution. That vehicle data, combined with the cellphone data, told a story that Alex Murdaugh could not deny. There are at least two lessons from this story. First, not even GM fully realized all the data it had collected in its vehicles. It's important to be aware of just how much information IoT devices are collecting. Second, combining data from different IoT devices revealed incontestable details of Alex Murdaugh's activities. Away from criminal court, combining data from multiple IoT devices can have a profound effect on people's privacy. If people's data privacy matters, how do we address this reality? One way of potentially protecting people's privacy is to make sure people and communities observed by connected devices have a direct say in what data the devices collect and how the data is used.
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
This massive steakhouse chain is about to open more restaurants in Arizona
Texas Roadhouse, the Louisville, Kentucky-based chain famous for its fluffy, pillowy dinner rolls, is expanding in Arizona and bringing its offshoot, Bubba's 33, along. According to Restaurant Business Online, "Texas Roadhouse is the biggest casual-dining chain in the U.S." as of April 3. A Texas Roadhouse spokesperson told USA TODAY that the company plans to open 30 new Texas Roadhouse and Bubba's 33 restaurants in 17 states, including two in Arizona: one in Tempe and another in Yuma. As of May 27, 12 of those locations have opened. This includes a Bubba's 33 in Tempe, which is Arizona's third Bubba's 33 restaurant. The others are in Peoria and Goodyear. Arizona has 10 Texas Roadhouse locations, nine in metro Phoenix and one in Prescott. Yuma's restaurant and opening date have not been announced. Yes. Texas Roadhouse owns Bubba's 33. The founder and CEO of Texas Roadhouse told Forbes that Bubba was his nickname and 33 stood for 1933, the year that Prohibition ended. Diners can find steak, burgers, wings, pastas and pizza on Bubba's 33 menu. Hungry for more? Sign up for our newsletter Dining with azcentral. The new Bubba's 33 location is at 1730 W. Ranch Road, Tempe. It joins locations in Goodyear and Peoria. Details: 480-493-2184, To see all the Texas Roadhouse locations, visit Reach the reporter at BAnooshahr@ Follow @baharcreative on Instagram. Yes, Huarachis has a secret menu: Here's what you can't skip This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Steakhouse restaurant expanding in metro Phoenix. See where Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Well, at least they ain't yellin' '
'What flavor is the Kool-Aid today?' Albino Alice the barber asked when Possum walked into Axe's True Blue American Café & Barber Shoppe in downtown Blue Ruin. 'What you talkin' 'bout?' he asked. 'The Kool-Aid Trump's got y'all drinkin' these days,' she said. 'Ain't no dang Kool-Aid,' Possum said. 'He's the greatest president this country ever saw. And we're standin' with him.' 'Is America great again yet?' she asked. 'We're gettin' there,' he said. 'I see where you gonna pay women $5,000 to have babies,' Alice said. 'Is that the same $5,000 Musk is givin' everbody or in addition to?' 'In addition to, I reckon,' Possum said. 'Why you actin' so snotty today?' 'It costs a quarter million dollars to raise a kid these days,' Alice said. 'The only people gonna fall for that is women that desperately needs $5,000. And then, they gonna need guvmint support to raise the kid.' 'We need more babies to get jobs and take care of old people,' Possum said. 'Then stop cuttin' guvmint programs that help them,' Alice said. Axe poured a cup of coffee for Bubba and one for himself before he sat down on a stool at the counter. 'I wish it was colder today,' he sighed. 'Then, the furnace would kick on and drown out some of that.' 'Well, at least, they ain't yellin' today,' Bubba said. 'Hey, I notice the price of eggs done come down.' 'Some,' Axe said. 'But not enough. Everythang seems to be goin' up except what we make.' 'Ain't that the dang truth,' Bubba said. 'If my Socialable Security check goes up, so does what I have to pay Medicare.' 'We need to remind them politicians that they work fer us, not the other way 'round,' Axe said. 'Yeah, but too many people ain't keepin' up with what's goin' on in the world,' Bubba said. 'They just vote fer a familiar name on the ballot.' 'You think Trump's gonna declare himself pope too?' Alice asked. 'He can if he wants to,' Possum said. 'You got any ear plugs?' Bubba asked. 'My brain needs a rest.'
Mint
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Mint
Filipino actor, director Ricky Davao dies at 63, girlfriend Malca heartbroken
Veteran Filipino actor and director Ricky Davao passed away after fighting a battle with cancer. He was 63. His children confirmed the news of his death via a joint post on social media on Friday. Ricky was surrounded by his children when he took his last breath. The late veteran's daughter Ara Davao wrote on Instagram: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved father, Ricky Davao. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his children and loved ones, after bravely facing complications related to cancer. 'For more than four decades, he dedicated his life to the craft of acting and directing. His remarkable body of work and award-winning performances have left a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire. Most of all he was a loving father, brother, son, and friend.' 'We are deeply grateful for your prayers, love, and kind messages during this difficult time. Details about his memorial service will be shared soon,' she added. Reportedly, Davao suffered from a terminal illness since 2024. Davao is survived by his three kids: Arabella, Rikki Mae, and Kenneth. He was previously married to actress Jackie Lou Blanco, with whom he had his kids. In 2023, he introduced his non-showbiz girlfriend named Malca to the public after being together for over a year. Mourning the loss of Ricky, Malca posted a heartbreaking letter on Instagram. It read: "To My Dearest Bubba, You were the bravest and strongest person I have ever known. From the very beginning up to your last breath, I saw how fiercely you fought. The best decision I have ever made in my life was to be with you and never leave your side all throughout. 'I can still vividly remember how you would ask me, again and again, 'Are you tired na?' And I always had just one answer for you, Bubba: 'I will never get tired of taking care of you—because we are in this journey together.' You would smile and say, 'Thank you. I love you, baby.' Those words alone gave me all the strength I needed to keep going. I didn't fully believe in the idea of unconditional love. But loving you changed that. Through you, I discovered a deeper part of myself—a part capable of doing anything and everything because of love. Because of my love for you. ' 'I have to admit now… I lied when I told you I'd be okay. I lied when I said I'd be strong. Because the truth is, life doesn't feel right without you. There's an emptiness now that nothing can fill. And I miss you more than words will ever be able to express. But I carry you with me, always. In my heart, in my memories, in every quiet moment. I love you forever, my man, my Bubba @rickyad,' she also added. Meanwhile, social media is filled with condolences for Davao's family and close ones. First Published: 2 May 2025, 06:39 PM IST
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Humboldt penguins arrive at Roger Williams Park Zoo
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — The Roger Williams Park Zoo officially welcomed a dozen 'quirky' and 'sun-loving' new residents to Providence Friday. The zoo announced on social media that six pairs of Humboldt penguins will soon be moved into a brand new exhibit called 'Penguin Point,' which is slated to open Memorial Day weekend. The penguins were flown in from Peru and will need time to adjust to the colder climate and become familiar with one another, according to the zoo. The zoo is still in the process of renovating its former seal pool, which is where the penguins will eventually take up residence. SEE ALSO: Roger Williams Park Zoo elephants moving to new home in 2027 The harbor seal that used to live in the exhibit, named Bubba, was transferred in September 2022 to the Woods Hole Science Aquarium. The zoo chose to rehome Bubba so he would no longer be alone. (His beloved buddy Action passed away in May 2019.) The Roger Williams Park Zoo last had penguins in 2013 and will now be one of only 24 facilities in North America to care for this specific species. The zoo announced three years ago that penguins would be returning to Providence in the near future. The capital city gifted $1.5 million in COVID-19 relief funds to the zoo to renovate the old exhibit in hopes that the penguins would attract more visitors. Initially, the zoo expected the penguins to be on exhibit by summer 2024. But 'unforeseen circumstances' with the penguin habitat pushed the opening date back to 2025. Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
