'Free to Play' online games could point to the future of big data and the internet of things

Dr Aphra Kerr, Maynooth University and Dr Rachel O'Dwyer, CONNECT, Trinity College Dublin at the Data Politics, Data Markets & the Internet of Things workshop
Wednesday, November 30, 2016 - 16:00

The response to 'free to play' online games will provide a unique insight into how legislators will regulate businesses built around big data and the Internet of Things (IoT), according to Dr Aphra Kerr, Maynooth University Department of Sociology. Dr Kerr was speaking at the Data Politics, Data Markets & the Internet of Things workshop at Maynooth University.

Today many everyday objects are being redesigned to include sensors, actuators, computational intelligence and telecommunications. The development of IoT— a network of interconnected physical objects with the ability to sense, respond, and act on their environment, coupled to new forms of cloud storage and data analytics— is producing an abundance of data.

The rise of the IoT has the potential to make a significant impact for the public good; however, it also raises significant challenges about the kind of governance and the commercial business models currently being developed around this data.  It also poses a challenge for researchers trying to develop models around quickly changing markets and applications.   

Dr Kerr’s research focuses on emerging market logics in digital media industries with particular focus on the shifting business models for “free to play” online games brought about by the advent of big data. Traditionally, “free to play” online games made their money through an advertising model; however, the latest generation of online games have supplemented this with a new business that utilise data gleamed from player’s surrounding environment as well as in-game performance.

The business model for games such as Pokemon Go are built around in-game transactions based on a player’s real world location. In less than two months, Pokemon Go players spent more than $440 million on in-game transactions. 

Discussing her research, Dr Kerr observes: “As these businesses come under increasing scrutiny at EU level, because of data protection and child marketing concern, they will provide an important window into the kind of regulations that we can expect for others looking to exploit business models based around IoT.”

“Issues such as data protection, privacy, treatment of minors, micropayment models, and banking legislation are items that will be of concern to many future IoT business, and the behaviour of these first wave of companies will in many ways define the manner in which such businesses are regulated,” added Dr Kerr.

Professor Rob Kitchin, Maynooth University Social Sciences Institute (MUSSI), also speaking at the workshop, discussed his work on big data and smart cities.  Discussing his work with the Programmable City project and Dublin Dashboard, he highlighted the potential benefits big data could provide for the intelligent management of traffic flow in cities.

The Data Politics, Data Markets & the Internet of Things workshop brought together a range of international and local experts from engineering, computer science and mathematics with researchers from the social sciences, including sociology, geography, business and law to discuss the potential social, political, business and technical implications of the Internet of Things and big data. It was co-organised by CONNECT, MUSSI, and the Programmable City project.