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190 6 Mobile Commerce and the Internet of Things

Digital (Smart) Glasses 6.9 IMPLEMENTATION ISSUES
IN MOBILE COMMERCE:
A digital glasses is an optical, head-mounted device that FROM SECURITY AND PRIVACY
looks like regular eyeglasses. It was pioneered by Google TO BARRIERS TO M-COMMERCE
(see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Google_Glass). The device dis-
plays Internet information and it responds to voice com- Several issues need to be considered before applying mobile
mands. Smart glasses are closely related to virtual reality and applications. Here, we discuss only a few of them.
augmented reality (see Chapter 2). The most well-known Despite the vast potential benefits for mobile commerce to
glasses are Google glass. For the best smart glasses for 2016, change the way many companies do business, several barriers
see Lamkin (2016b). are slowing down the deployment of m-commerce applica-
tions. The major barriers to m-commerce are security, perfor-
Google Glass mance, availability, cost-benefit, lack of clear strategy, difficulty
in integrating with wireline IT, and difficulty in customizing
According to Petroff (2013), Google Glass (and other “smart applications. In this section, we examine only some of these
glasses”) may save companies $1 billion a year by 2017 due barriers, starting with the issue of security. For more on imple-
to increased productivity of employees, especially those who mentation issues, see the three-part video series on Mobile
need to use both hands to perform complex tasks (e.g., by Commerce. Part 1 is titled “Mobile Commerce: Part 1: Where
surgeons, technicians). Also the devices can be used, for Are We Now?” (8:03 min), available at youtube.com/
example, by insurance agents to video damaged property watch?v=aO--a5yhJCg. Part 2 is titled “Mobile Commerce:
while simultaneously checking on the costs of replacement. Part 2, The Evolution” (8:51 min), available at youtube.com/
Several of the benefits of smart glasses are the same as those watch?v=fBlLxVeCouo. Part 3 is titled “Mobile Commerce:
of all wearable devices. Part 3, How to Make mCommerce Work” (8:23 min), available
Some people love the glasses; others hate them. A 2014 at youtube.com/watch?v=DsDGNLjYPxQ.
poll, conducted by the research firm Toluna, found that 72%
of Americans did not want to wear Google Glass due to pri-
vacy and security issues (see mashable.com/2014/04/07/ M-Commerce Security and Privacy Issues
google-glass-privacy). Google is trying to counter what they
call “the 10 myths about Google glass.” In 2004, Cabir became the first known wireless worm that
infects mobile phones. It spreads through Bluetooth devices.
Google’s Smart Glasses Since then, attacks on phones, including smartphones, have
In 2012, Google introduced its Project Glass, which takes the increased rapidly. For more on the Cabir worm, see f-secure.
major functionalities of a smartphone and embeds them into a com/v-descs/cabir.shtml.
wearable device that looks like virtual reality glasses. Google Most Internet-enabled cell phones in operation today
Glass has a smartphone-like display, allowing you to take have basic software embedded in the hardware. This makes
basic smartphone features (messaging, e-mail) and making programming malware difficult. However, as the capabilities
them hands free. For more on the features of Google Glass, see of smartphones and tablets improve, the threat of malware
gizmag.com/google-glass-review/30300. The Google Glass attacks increases. The widespread use of smartphones opens
Field Trip app can now be activated by voice commands up the possibility of viruses coming from Internet down-
(mashable.com/2014/04/29/field-trip-google-glass-update. loads. Although m-commerce shares some of the same secu-
Other companies in the USA, Japan, and Korea have rity issues as general e-commerce (see Chapter 10), there are
smart glasses (e.g., Sony). Note that Google Glass is getting some differences between the two.
more stylish by adopting the look of Ray-Ban and Oakley The basic security goals of confidentiality, authentication,
eye glasses’ top brands. authorization, and integrity (Chapter 10) are just as impor-
tant for m-commerce as they are for e-commerce, but they
are more difficult to ensure. Specifically, m-commerce trans-
SECTION 6.8 REVIEW QUESTIONS actions usually pass through several networks, both wireless
and wired. An appropriate level of security must be main-
1. Describe wearable computing devices. tained on each network, despite the fact that interoperability
2. What are the benefits of wearable devices? among the various networks is difficult.
3. What are smart glasses? Why do some people have issues In general, many of the defense mechanisms used in IT and
with them? e-commerce security are also used in m-commerce. However,
4. Describe smartwatches. given the unique nature of mobile security, additional defense
5. Define fitness trackers. methods may be needed. For example, there are many anti-