In my previous post I mentioned potential problems with IoT devices, including the possible threat of a hacked Amazon Echo. So today, I have to share this, an Echo hacked by developer Brian Kane. He was able to embed the functions of the Echo into a Big Mouth Billy Bass (usually known for singing “Take Me to the River” or “Don’t Worry, Be Happy”). It was put together as an in-class demonstration on rapid prototyping for his design course at Rhode Island School of Design in the industrial design dept.
It is funny, makes me laugh every time I watch it! But to bring the topic back to TSCM, it is also indication of things that are possible by hardware hacking of the many devices we surround ourselves with every day. Someone with a little electronic skill could install a listening device (or a talking device?) in almost any object you have on your wall or bookshelf.