Why?
This lesson equips students with a critical understanding of the rapidly evolving landscape of smart home technology and its integration into daily life, building awareness about privacy, security, and ethical implications. By exploring the practical applications and potential challenges of AI in residential settings, students learn to navigate the benefits and risks of digital advancements responsibly. Engaging with these topics prepares students to become informed and conscientious digital citizens, capable of making educated decisions about technology use in their own lives and society at large.
Materials Needed
Printouts of simulation handout
Time needed
45 - 60 Mins
Objectives
- Students will be able to identify and describe the functions of various smart home devices, from common to lesser-known gadgets.
- Students will be able to analyze the potential privacy and security risks associated with smart home technology.
- Students will be able to evaluate the ethical considerations of using AI-powered devices in residential settings.
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
- Smart Home: House equipped with interconnected, internet-enabled devices for automation and control.
- IoT (Internet of Things): Network of physical objects embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies.
- Autonomy: Devices operating independently, without human intervention.
Lesson Components
- Before You Watch: Connect lesson to background knowledge of smart homes and get students’ attention
- Video: Show the pedagogy.cloud video explaining the ethical considerations in the topic of AI in smart devices
- Case Study: Detail a real-world scenario that relates to the issue of smart homes and AI use
- Simulation: Lead students through an interactive activity exploring the possible ethical considerations
- Discussion: Ask whole-class questions to reflect on experience and consider perspectives.
- Assessment: Verify student understanding with an exit ticket
Warm Up
“Real or Fake” Quiz
The list below consists of some real and some fake smart home devices. Have students guess which are real and which are fake by the descriptions.
- Smart Thermostat (Real): Adjusts temperature to your preferences.
- Intelligent Egg Tray (Real): Alerts when eggs are low.
- Smart Blender (Fake): Analyzes nutrition and suggests recipes.
- AI Laundry Sorter (Fake): Automatically sorts laundry by color.
- Voice-Controlled Curtains (Real): Opens and closes with voice commands.
- Intelligent Food Composter (Fake): Analyzes waste and turns it into best possible compost overnight.
- Smart Door Mat (Fake): Alerts when it needs cleaning.
- Smart Toothbrush (Real): Monitors brushing habits and technique.
- Robotic Window Cleaner (Real): Cleans windows autonomously.
- Self-Watering Plant Pot (Real): Waters plants based on moisture level.
- Smart Mirror (Real): Displays news, weather, and notifications.
- Holographic Home Assistant (Fake): Projects 3D holograms for interaction.
- Pet Emotion Analyzer (Fake): Detects and reports a pet’s mood.
- AI Closet Organizer (Fake): Suggests outfits based on projected weather.
- Smart Sleep Tracker (Real): Monitors sleep patterns and quality.
Video
Transcript
Hello Young Innovators! Today we’re discussing the ethics of gendered voices of AI assistants.
Artificial Intelligence is becoming a bigger part of our lives every day. From smartphones to smart homes, AI voice assistants are everywhere, helping us with tasks, answering our questions, and even keeping us company. But have you ever wondered why most of these voice assistants sound female?
AI voice assistants haven't always been around. In the early days of technology, computers were large, clunky machines that certainly didn’t talk. As technology evolved, so did the ability for machines to interact with us using voice – a feature that is becoming increasingly common.
Imagine asking your AI for the weather, and a deep, authoritative voice responds. Or, picture a soft, gentle voice helping you with homework. Why do these differences matter? Well, they bring us to our main topic: the ethics of gender representation in AI voice assistants. For a long time, most AI assistants like Siri or Alexa had female-sounding voices. This wasn’t just a random choice.
Research showed that people generally found female voices to be warmer and more welcoming. And people were used to hearing women’s voices from back when operators connected phone calls.
On the flip side, some people prefer to hear male voices for authoritative roles, like GPS navigation or voiceovers in documentaries. But this leads to ethical concerns. Are we reinforcing traditional stereotypes about gender roles, stereotyping men in roles of power and women in roles of service?
One method of dealing with this issue is to use gender-neutral voices. These are designed to not clearly sound male or female, aiming to represent a wider range of human experiences and identities. It's a step towards inclusivity, and an attempt to avoid the stereotypes of gender from previous generations.
When AI voice assistants reinforce gender stereotypes, they might also impact how we view gender roles in real life. But when we make these voices gender-neutral, are we erasing gender differences that are a real part of many people's identities?
Some people argue that having a range of gendered voices in AI can reflect the diversity of human experiences. Others believe that breaking away from gendered voices entirely is the key to challenging stereotypes and promoting equality. There’s no easy answer, and technology is constantly evolving to reflect our changing society.
So, what do you think? Should AI voice assistants have a gender? Or should they be gender-neutral to avoid reinforcing stereotypes? As we continue to integrate AI into our daily lives, it's important to think about how the choices we make about technology today shape our future.
Let’s discuss: How do AI assistants impact our attitudes toward gender in the real world?
Case Study
Distribute or read Case Study handout.
Summary: The Rivera family upgraded their home with AI-powered smart devices, enjoying increased convenience but facing dilemmas around privacy, security, and autonomy. They contemplated solutions like enhancing privacy settings, boosting security measures, and setting boundaries for AI’s decision-making capabilities. Their experience underscores the need to balance the benefits of smart home technology with considerations for privacy, security, and personal control.
Student Handout
Case Study: The Smart Home Dilemma
Introduction
In the city of Techville, the Rivera family decided to upgrade their home with the latest AI-powered smart devices. They installed smart locks, lights, thermostats, and even a fridge that could order groceries online. But they soon faced a dilemma: How much control should they hand over to their smart home?
Background Information
AI in smart homes uses technology to make life easier. Devices can learn from your habits to automate tasks like adjusting the thermostat or playing music. However, these conveniences come with questions about privacy, security, and control.
Problem Analysis
The Rivera family enjoyed the comforts of their smart home, but they encountered several challenges:
Privacy Concerns: The smart devices collected data about the family’s daily routines. Who else could access this information?
Security Risks: The more devices connected to the internet, the higher the risk of hacking. Could someone outside the family control their home?
Autonomy: The smart thermostat adjusted the temperature based on past preferences, but sometimes the family wanted something different. Should they always adjust settings manually, or let the AI decide?
Possible Solutions
To address these challenges, the Rivera family considered several solutions:
Enhanced Privacy Settings: They could customize their devices’ privacy settings, limiting the data collected and shared.
Improved Security Measures: Installing security software and using strong, unique passwords for each device could reduce hacking risks.
Balanced Autonomy: They might set guidelines for when AI could make decisions and when to override automated choices, maintaining a balance between convenience and control.
Conclusion
The Rivera family’s experience highlights the delicate balance between embracing AI’s conveniences and maintaining privacy, security, and personal autonomy in a smart home. Reflective questions for consideration:
Discussion Questions
- How would you manage privacy and security in a smart home?
- Should there be limits on what AI can control in your living space?
- How can we ensure technology benefits everyone, regardless of their economic status?
Simulation
Objective:
Students will explore the challenges and considerations faced in maintaining privacy and security while utilizing a variety of smart home devices, including some lesser-known gadgets.
Distribute the Simulation Handout to groups (approx. 4 students).
Scenario:
A family is wanting to upgrade their home with an array of smart devices to enhance their living experience. From common devices like smart thermostats and locks to more unique gadgets like smart plant monitors and intelligent kitchen appliances, they aim to create a seamless, efficient, and enjoyable home environment. However, they need to ensure their smart home is secure and their privacy is protected.
Roles:
- Tech Enthusiast Parent: Enjoys integrating the latest gadgets.
- Privacy-Conscious Parent: Values the benefits of smart devices but is wary of privacy implications.
- Gadget-Loving Teen: Excited about using smart devices for entertainment and convenience but unaware of potential risks.
- Security Savvy Child: Interested in how devices work and ensuring they are safe to use.
Tasks:
Device Audit: Have students come up with smart devices that may be in the home, including and assess their function.
Suggested Devices: If students need suggestions for devices to list, here is some possibilities: smart thermostats, smart locks, smart lights, smart fridges, voice assistants, smart TVs, smart cameras, smart doorbells, robotic vacuum cleaners, smart ovens, smart blinds, smart mirrors, smart plant monitors, smart pet feeders, smart beds, smart showers, smart toothbrushes, smart fitness mirrors, smart aroma diffusers, smart egg trays.
Security Check: Have students identify potential security vulnerabilities for each device and suggest measures to safeguard them, such as two-factor authentication and encryption.
(The students representing the different roles should be focused on their portion of this analysis – opportunities or concerns)
Privacy Plan: Have students consider what data the different devices might collect, and determine whether they are a big enough concern to keep each device out of their homes.
Educational Presentation: Each group talks about their smart home setup and safety
Student handout
Simulation Activity: The Security Challenge
A family is wanting to upgrade their home with an array of smart devices to enhance their living experience. From common devices like smart thermostats and locks to more unique gadgets like smart plant monitors and intelligent kitchen appliances, they aim to create a seamless, efficient, and enjoyable home environment. However, they need to ensure their smart home is secure and their privacy is protected.
Roles:
- Tech Enthusiast Parent: Enjoys integrating the latest gadgets.
- Privacy-Conscious Parent: Values the benefits of smart devices but is wary of privacy implications.
- Gadget-Loving Teen: Excited about using smart devices for entertainment and convenience but unaware of potential risks.
- Security Savvy Child: Interested in how devices work and ensuring they are safe to use.
| Device | What it offers | Security risks |
Discussion
These questions are designed to be used in whole-class discussion. Ask questions that relate most effectively to the lesson.
- Which smart devices posed the greatest security challenges, and how were they addressed?
- How did the family balance the convenience of smart devices with privacy concerns?
- What lessons did you learn about the responsible use of smart home technology, and how can these lessons apply to others?
- How can families ensure their privacy when using smart home technology?
- How can smart homes be made accessible and beneficial for people of all ages?
- What measures can be taken to prevent the digital divide from widening with the advancement of smart home technology?
Assessment
Exit Ticket: Provide a prompt for students to reflect on their learning, such as:
- How do smart devices change the way we interact with our homes?
- What are the potential risks of having so many connected devices in one household?
- What ethical considerations should be taken into account when designing new smart home devices?
Sources to Learn More
- Site discussing the ethics of Internet of Things (IOT) smart homes: https://www.housing-technology.com/the-ethics-of-smart-home-iot-devices/
- Article about smart toothbrushes being used in an online attack on a company’s servers – https://www.zdnet.com/google-amp/home-and-office/smart-home/3-million-smart-toothbrushes-were-just-used-in-a-ddos-attack-really/