The scary things about the internet of things
auntblabby
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Joined: 12 Feb 2010
Gender: Male
Posts: 113,605
Location: the island of defective toy santas
Do they post directly to Facebook so you friends know if you've just done a number 1 or a number 2?
they are meant to connect to doctor's offices, they somehow analyze the content of the "contents" therein, checking for disease, and if the computerized toilet detects ill urine or poop it tells a doctor.
Some issues:
1. Hackers are constantly evolving, finding new ways to hack previously "unhackable" systems/software.
2. Not everything needs this level of automation. It adds more cost, and another point of failure and frustration.
3. It's mainly about marketing. If they can get something "new" out the door, they surely will do it. Even if it isn't much of a help on the customer's end (making their life better ... for how much it's worth).
-Ben
Reading some of the industry write ups on IoT tech, it seems a big, unspoken part of it is in fact intended to be data collection. We'll trade you the convenience of being able to turn down the thermostat from an airport...in return for knowing your personal daily patterns of activity. Just think of what can be tracked when an entire household of IoT's is analyzed in aggregate. And when you look at the products being pushed...it certainly doesn't seem like there is quite enough benefit for the consumer, IMO.
Now, if I were paranoid I'd think the NSA/Google (but I repeat myself) had a hand in the push. But really, it's not necessary as most tech corporations today already know the value of selling -or trading with 'partners'- their users' personal data.
_________________
“For small creatures such as we the vastness is bearable only through love.”
―Carl Sagan
mr_bigmouth_502
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Age: 30
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Location: Alberta, Canada
lol, I personally don't really care if someone can tell what I'm doing by monitoring my power usage (smart meter for example) and the temperature set on my thermostat.
I don't really know why, but it just doesn't bother me.
I like the idea that the collected data can be used to make reductions in energy usage, etc...
And, I'm willing to take the risk. Hell, I'm sure the NSA is seeing everything we post on these forums here.
Now, if there is a hidden camera, that is something I can't agree on.
Also, I can't agree with reading thoughts, if we ever get that advanced as a civilization. XD
That's gone over the line, when it comes to privacy (for me at least).
Oh not that...!
I think it's just plain silly, and VERY unprofessional!
I actually intern with a small start up business that makes devices that you can put on your electric meter. You can then monitor your power usage from a computer or smartphone. It doesn't give you extremely precise measurements, but it's plenty good enough to tell when the AC is running, etc...
It allows you to easily keep track of your daily, even hourly power usage, so you can shut things off when they aren't needed, hence saving you money, and reducing pollution! It's like a win-win! (except when it comes to the NSA "spying" on you XD)
The company doesn't sell personal data either, it's all confidential, like it should be!
-Ben
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