Day 2 of SXSW really picked up and there was no time for slacking off. Once in downtown, it was clear that there were MANY more people than the first day. Also, it was MUCH warmer, but there is relief headed our way. Gotta love Texas Weather!

Death & Legacy in the Digital Age

There were many more topics discussed in panels today and the first one was, well, it was about Death.

Yes, I do mean death.

Many of us work hard to make our online self very strong, but what happens when we die? Well, there are a few things that may happen, according to Rebecca Blum.

The first, and most likely the most obvious, bots will just attach to our great online name and produce content using your name. The second option is a bit more difficult because there are numerous different options.

So, how can you attempt to get companies to protect your profile? It is a problem to think about, according to Blum there are roughly 10,000 Facebook users that die per day. Companies, like Google, Facebook, Twitter and Yahoo all have some sort of option that can take down your profile, or even make a remembrance page, like Facebook.

There are even ways where you can make a person have their own bot and allow for you to still talk to them.

One of the examples that Blum gave was a man and a woman who started a company together and talked pretty much every day. Then, the man passed away and the woman missed talking with him every day. So, she decided to make a bot that posed as him and then would be able text him when she wanted.

Besides texting, the bot can even have recorded messages or even be able to have conversations with the bot. There are bots that can actually learn someone’s voice and then be able to play back that voice once they have passed.

This is a topic that has been around for many decades. There has always been that sense of wanting to talk between life and the after-life. Blum keyed the term NecroTech term, which is exactly as it sounds. She said that individuals in the Victorian age, would pose with dead people to create that sense of still being able to communicate.

The next step in trying to figure out the crazy concept is trying to make sure you make it clear that there is a difference and make the clean distinction.

In the end, Blum said we all want to gardeners, we want to have done something with our life and be remembered for that.

SkyHacking: Nose to Tail on Aviation Cybersecurity

So many people fly now days. Some people don’t even think twice about flying, while other worry from wheels up to wheels down. Luckily, we have a wide range of technological advances that can help take our minds off things.

Thankfully, we have inflight-entertainment to, of course, entertain us. Technology even allows for airline engines to send diagnostics back to the ground. But do these awesome experiences bring forth the possibility of other problems?

The simple answer is yes. But it is not nearly as bad as you think. Allen Pellegrini says that since we are adding all of these features we are actually increasing vulnerability.

The aircraft is also becoming the internet of things. There are so many different aspects that are making planes so more advanced and even more likely to be “hacked.”

To keep things safe, there is a need to make sure airlines and other officials are always one step ahead and are ready for whatever may come their way. Airline manufacturers, Boeing and Airbus, are even taking these aspects in to consideration when it comes to cybersecurity.

Aside from the aircraft, airports are also becoming much more advanced in how the operate. Elizabeth Wharton, Senior Assistant City Attorney – City of Atlanta and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, says that airports are actually becoming a little like mini cities and have their own eco systems.

Hartsfield-Jackson International is even beginning to test news ways of facial recognition. They are also one of the few airports that are utilizing drone in their air field to inspect runways and other tasks. So, again, this brings up the fear of cybersecurity and the problem of hacking.

Luckily, airports like Hartsfield are trying their best to stay ahead. Wharton says that Hartsfield just makes sure they are testing everything to fullest and making sure they understand. She also believes that if you always chase the technology you will always behind.

Basically, we are ok. There are many things that must be considered, but airports, airline companies and manufactures are always staying on top of the newest technology and the ways they can pose problems.

It was pretty clear that technology and how technology change things in our lives was the main themes for today. But how can it not, its SXSW, so it is expected that these themes are explored.

Tomorrow will be another exciting day. The plan is Arnold Schwarzenegger, trade show, more aviation (duh) and the Texas State Innovation Lab.