Inquiry Unit Project  

Christina Petersen - 05/24/2020

SUBJECT AREA OF INTEREST

Technology is an integral part of our daily lives, so it is no surprise that

companies have invested time and money to make it convenient and helpful for its
users. The main way advancements in technology have changed is by allowing for more
safety measures to be implemented, especially in the home, workplace, and in schools.
Safety programs, apps and gadgets make people feel more protected. These measures
keep people, their information and their personal devices safe.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial intelligence is “​the theory and development of computer systems able to

perform tasks that normally require human intelligence.” Many scientists ​have been
testing new technology in this system to find ways to make driving safer. Once it is fully
developed, I think this technology will change the way people learn how to drive. I also
think that if people do not have to take the time and energy to learn how to drive and
can just have someone do it for them, they will never get a license. This could impact
the driving world because people would have someone, or something, to rely on every
time they need to go somewhere. In “Artificial Intelligence Safety and Cybersecurity: a
Timeline of AI Failure,” author Yampolskiy and Spellchecker, recount the numerous AI
failures that have occurred due to technology's inability to keep up with the real skills
required to complete certain tasks. Furthermore, driving technology is still in its initial
stages, but is developing and getting more advanced everyday. Siva Narla discusses
the technology already put into place in cars, like GPS and ITS in her article, “The
Evolution of Connected Vehicle Technology: From Smart Drivers to Smart Cars to...
Self-Driving Cars.” The technology used for these is being redesigned and reinvented to
support self-driving software. Unfortunately, some shortfalls currently associated with
this technology are the “inadequate assessment of risk and its ineffective oversight of
backup drivers who were susceptible to becoming distracted and over-reliant on
imperfect technologies” (Narla, 25). To reach its potential, self driving cars first need to
be legalized and the software needs to be developed to manage the capabilities a real
driver has as well. Outside of making driving more convenient for normal drivers, self
driving cars can also decrease the number of traffic collisions caused by driver error.
This can be helpful because small accidents can sometimes spiral and hurt a lot more
than just the people involved. However, if these cars were to ever be hacked, they can
also cause purposeful harm or lead to increased crime. This is something we should be
wary of because when people don’t have to endanger themselves to do something, they
are more likely to. The introduction, in the near future, of this technology is being
welcomed and strongly supported by many companies. Self driving cars and their
advanced technology can help a lot of people save time and make the driving world a
safer place.

Extended Reality (XR)

Extended reality, also known as virtual reality, offers new opportunities and
settings that can create a more immersive and safe learning experience for students.
One way safety plays into learning is by allowing students to practice career skills in
high-risk jobs, like aerospace. I think this technology can change the way people learn
because it will make learning new tasks easier and safer. For example, before actually
flying a space shuttle and going to space, astronauts practice controlling the shuttle and
bracing the flight through simulations and virtual reality. This helps them assess their
abilities to control it successfully as well as confirm their readiness when the time
comes. Without this technology, I don’t think space travel would be as widely studied
and practiced. Extended reality allows for space travel to be safer and gets the pilots
ready for what to expect before it actually happens. I think some shortfalls connected to
this technology is that virtual reality can never compare to actual life experience and
practice. Sin-Ye et al describe the reliance people have on computers and other
technologies to learn in his article “Interactive solution approach for loop layout problem
using virtual reality technology.” Their studies examine how beneficial the “reduce[tion
of] the gap between numerical results and the real situation through enhanced
human-machine interface” to teach students real skills they can apply and practice in
real life (Sin-Ye, 2375). Like in space travel, knowing how to accurately and safely
operate the machinery based on extended reality training can save many
lives.Furthermore, this technology can help workers gain new skills when they are
physically unable to do it in person. During a time of lockdown, like the one we are
experiencing now, college students are able to use virtual reality technology to continue
learning and expanding their skills. Software has been designed so students can
practice building, medical procedures and much more. In “Designing an Android-based
Space Travel Application Through Virtual Reality for Teaching Media,” Borman et al.
explains “there are studies in the scientific literature that connect virtual technology with
improvements in academic performance and student... performance (Borman et al., 1).
The ability to practice real skills greatly elevates a students learning capabilities.
Learning dangerous skills through extended reality greatly minimizes the danger of the
task while greatly increasing a student or worker’s skill set. This safe technology is an
important and emerging toll that more educational facilities should utilize.

Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things connects people and devices to one another through the
internet or other bluetooth devices. These safety devices can be used to locate people
who are lost or in danger, like someone who calls 911 or someone who becomes
trapped if a building collapses.

I think one way this technology will change the way people learn because it can allow
people to do more risky experiments and tests, like environmental ones, with the
knowledge that they are safe. In their article, “Sensor Signatures: AI Assisted
Co-Location Detection of IoT Devices,“ Mako et al. describe the devices associated with
ensuring safety. The devices “​are equipped with a variety of sensors that can measure
the local environment for example, inertial motion sensors, microphones, vibration
sensors, magnetic sensors, temperature sensors, light sensors” (Make et al., 1). These
measures can greatly increase a person’s safety, regardless of where they are. Some of
the shortfalls with this technology currently is that not all people are comfortable with
being followed and watched as much as we are. Phones, computers, street lights all
track where a person goes and what a person does. Devices like fitbits or apple
watches that are worn on a person’s body, “monitors and tracks physical activity and/or
sedentary-related metrics, such as number of steps, overall physical activity, sedentary
time, distance walked or ran, and in some cases, heart rate, flights of stairs, calories
and sleep patterns” (Macridis et al, 1). In the article, “Consumer physical activity
tracking device ownership and use among a population-based sample of adults,”
Macridis et al describe the different trackers, specifically fitness ones, that record every
single thing a person does in a single day and reports the data through connected apps.
Although many people don’t like that someone knows where they always are because
of devices like this, they could potentially save someone’s life. This technology could be
used for bad if a person were stalking another. They would have complete access to
everywhere a person went, how long and what for. This is why, although the technology
promotes safety, users should not be over reliant on it’s abilities. We should be wary of
trusting these devices too much. If used properly, IoT tracking devices can promote
safety and well being of people all over.
Research Conclusions

Artificial technology, extended reality and the internet of things have a great
impact on people’s safety. Whether it be for driving, learning or locating, the devices can
make the world a safer and more educated place. It is important that people utilize this
safety technology in a safe way and not be too trusting.

I think the future will have the same sort of technology, but more advanced and
developed to ensure even more safety in these areas. However, people may take
advantage of the ease and convenience provided by these devices. They will continue
to be utilized and developed as time goes on making humans more reliant on it, until
technology can do everything for us.

Personal Learning experience

Researching safety measures in these three emerging technology areas

expanded my knowledge on how much they are implemented into daily life. Safety is a
necessity regardless of who a person is or where they live- we all want to feel safe.
Technologies in artificial intelligence were very interesting to research because I didn’t
realize how many there actually were. I chose to focus on self-driving cars because they
are a big topic of discussion and lots of people want them to become a real thing. Even
though I would probably never use one, I would love to see how they work. In my virtual
reality research, I thought looking into alternative learning technologies would be
interesting given the world we are living in right now. I have seen new educational
software that allows students to apply what they are learning and I think that it is a very
constructive way to learn. The internet of things was a little more difficult for me since I
had never heard of it before, but I do see why it is such a crucial technology. I wanted to
look at tracking devices because I have learned a lot about how much we are being
monitored and I want to understand it better. I think safety in these technologies was a
really interesting topic because I learned a lot about what measures are being taken
and what technologies are being developed to ensure people’s safety all over the world.
I look forward to seeing the new technologies that will arise in the area of safety in the
upcoming years.

Additional Comments (optional)

Safety technology is a very interesting field and should be better explored to

develop new devices. I can’t wait to see what the future of safety holds.
 Works Cited:

Borman, R. I., et al. (2018). Designing an Android-based Space Travel Application

Through Virtual Reality for Teaching Media," ​International Conference on Applied
Engineering (ICAE)​, pp. 1-5, doi: 10.1109/INCAE.2018.8579394.

Macridis, S., Johnston, N., Johnson, S., & Vallance, J. K. (2018). Consumer physical
activity tracking device ownership and use among a population-based sample of
adults. ​PLoS ONE​, ​13(​ 1), e0189298. Retrieved from
https://link-gale-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/apps/doc/A521120064/HRCA?u=reno&sid=
HRCA&xid=052185f0

Mako, D., Haga, P., Kenesi, Z., Szebenyei M. and Veres, A. (2019). "Sensor
Signatures: AI Assisted Co-Location Detection of IoT Devices."​ IEEE Globecom
Workshops (GC Wkshps),​ pp. 1-6, doi:
10.1109/GCWkshps45667.2019.9024422.

Narla, S. R. K. (2013). The Evolution of Connected Vehicle Technology: From Smart

Drivers to Smart Sars to... Self-driving Sars.​ Institute of Transportation
Engineers. ITE Journal, 83(​ 7), 22-26. Retrieved from
http://unr.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.unr.idm.oclc.org/doc
view/1417587025?accountid=452

Sin-Ye Phoon, Hwa-Jen Yap, Taha, Z., & Yun-Suen Pai. (2017). Interactive Solution
Approach for Loop Layout Problem Using Virtual Reality Technology.​ The
International Journal of Advanced Manufacturing Technology, 89​(5-8),
2375-2385. doi:http://dx.doi.org.unr.idm.oclc.org/10.1007/s00170-016-9219-7

Yampolskiy, R. V. & Spellchecker, M.S. (2016). Artificial Intelligence Safety and

Cybersecurity: a Timeline of AI Failures. ​Google Scholar. ​Retrieved from
https://arxiv.org/abs/1610.07997