Originally published at: http://boingboing.net/2017/04/26/black-mirror-is-everting.html
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One of the main reasons I don’t want a digital assitant…
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Amazon Wants to Put a Camera and Microphone in Your Bedroom
To which I say no.
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My agent will be calling them. I get points on the gross.
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Isn’t this a “dog bites man” story? I mean, sure, I’m not surprised Amazon would want to do this. They can make some money. Why would they care about your privacy? There’s no story there.
Give me a story of how consumers want this – that’s the story. (Spoiler, I don’t think consumers do want this)
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I really enjoyed the Amazon Alexa Easter Egg they released this Easter:
Also, both those outfits look bad. Alexa has no sense of style.
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Given the stories I hear from coworkers where teenage daughters take a picture of the day’s outfit to post online before heading out the door, I’m guessing a lot of people will want this. Not smart people, but people.
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What could possibly go wrong.
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Live in the future, you said.
It’ll be fun, you said.
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In the dystopian universe in which I currently reside, it seem like people will give up any privacy, not for security (which is what the founding fathers feared), but for convenience. This seems especially true of younger people (people who grew up with the Internet). My 13 year-old daughter, for example, seems to have no issue at all surrendering some piece of information about herself to get some electronic bauble on her smart phone.
This is troubling.
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Many people will buy this simply because it is new and the latest “thing”. Many others will not have the slightest understanding of the implications of what they buy.
Years on there is an almost constant stream of people whining on Amazon that they didn’t know little Jimmy or Jenny could easily order hundreds of dollars of games or toys or videos on their Fire tablet, let alone Alexa, and who have no idea there is parental control software baked in that would prevent this. Major lawsuit settled recently in fact if I am not mistaken.
Until Amazon and others add on voice recognition that limits who can use the device and allow user-selected activation words and a genuine privacy policy that gives the end user full control over usage and retention and full disclosure from Amazon/Apple/whomever as to how the data is used and by who, I’d not have one in my home, even hose without a camera.
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In the dystopian universe in which I currently reside, it seem like people will give up any privacy, not for security (which is what the founding fathers feared), but for convenience. This seems especially true of younger people (people who grew up with the Internet).
Yeah, I’m being a bit glib about no consumers wanting it. No surprise that it seems most appealing to young folks though, since impulse control is generally harder for them (brains are still developing, and immediate wants are harder to overcome).
I guess my hope is that home automation devices are not generally purchased by the very young, and that by the time they are older they will be ore sensible. Looking at so much in our current world, however, that may be overly optimistic.
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And, Ambiguity, I think I will have to steal your “in the dystopian universe in which I currently reside” because it is so damn perfect. I think it will become my new catchphrase. Sums up my feelings about so many things.
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But will it chide us to watch our figure?
Many others will buy it because Amazon will practically give it away in their rush to get a foothold in some hardware market.
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Rule 34: Alexa Porn
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me: Alexa, does this [article of clothing] make me look fat?
Alexa: No, the [article of clothing] has nothing to do with it.
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Fixed etc.
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A friend bought a special camera and app that allows her to watch her dog while away from her smart phone, talk to it, and hear the dog’s barking. If she presses a button, the device throws a treat to the dog. Pretty cool, but I wonder what special treats the company is getting behind her back.
Every day, my ludditeness increases.
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