Newer digital photo frames can connect wired or wirelessly to a homeowner’s wireless network, and download images directly from their smart phone, social media (e.g. Facebook, Picassa, Flikr) account, or cloud storage (e.g. dropbox) website. In some cases, these updates can occur automatically (e.g. once per hour), or delivered by others to a custom email account. Some photo frames also include subscription services that enable remote storage. More advanced photo frames even include microphones and cameras in order to support video conferencing.
Device Type: Home
Toys
Some children’s toys include microphones and cameras that simulate conversations, and record video of their play time. The toys use the microphone to listen to a child’s question, relays the speech over the home’s wifi network to the vendor’s cloud computers. The question is then analyzed, and a response is provided back to the child. The speech can also be viewed and recorded using a smartphone application.
- Examples: Hello Barbie, My Friend Cayla,
Toll passes
These devices are active RFID transponders and primarily designed to record a vehicle’s travel time between locations. In some cities, the devices are also used to collect position data for traffic management purposes, as well as to pay for parking. The amount of information collected, and the duration the information is retained by the toll collection systems is not disclosed publicly.
- Examples: E-ZPass, Quick Pass, I-Pass, I-Zoom, TransPass, MTag
- Technologies: RFID
- More information: See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_toll_collection and https://www.aclu.org/blog/free-future/newly-obtained-records-reveal-extensive-monitoring-e-zpass-tags-throughout-new-york,
Large appliances
Many new appliances such as refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, washers, and dryers will include outward facing cameras, built-in tablet computers, and network capability. Fridges can use these cameras to track each user who opens the fridge, saving the image to a local storage unit. Washers and dryers that are wifi enabled will send text alerts to the user when the washing or drying cycle has completed. Washing machines, for instance, can be configured to send alerts (text messages or emails) to the owner when the cycle has completed.
In-car cameras
In-car cameras (aka dash cams) are small cameras mounted in the front or back of a vehicle in order to record high definition video and sometimes audio information. They can record day or night driving, and reasonably quality ones cost less than $100. If professionally installed, in-car cameras are powered from the car battery and able to record even with the car turned off. In addition, some units are equipped with special sensors that will activate the camera when a sudden movement is detected (either from a crash,
Fitness Equipment
Many new treadmills and exercise bikes are manufactured with a web-enabled tablet computer, enabling the user to browse the internet or stream television shows while they exercise. Peloton Cycle, for example, produces a stationary bike with a camera that allows users to communicate with fitness instructors using an interface similar to a Skype or FaceTime. This exercise machine includes 16 GB internal flash storage which stores activity information, such as the classes taken, distance ridden,
Medical Devices
Some medical devices may provide evidence for an investigation, such as insulin pumps or pacemakers. These devices are becoming increasingly sophisticated and even allow the user to monitor activity via a smart phone or tablet. Remote monitoring will prove very useful for patients, but can also provide crucial information for investigations, such as heart rate or blood sugar levels, which may inform officers on an individual’s pattern of life activities.
- Examples: Insulin pumps,
