Yeah, I thought your post was funny, but I guess it bombed.Originally Posted by Jim Koepke
Member
Yeah, I thought your post was funny, but I guess it bombed.
Contributor
Man, This is one for the record books. I hope it stays in the archives. Some seriously wild big brother paranoia in this one. Zoikes.
[OP]
Contributor
My worries are less about big brother and more about bad actors who might exploit a vulnerability in my home network.
Is there some other reason to install a gadget in my home that seems to have no current use?
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Member
Three things that are all over this thread:
"This is stupid and I can't imagine why anyone would want it."
"I've looked into this and can't find a way it would help me."
"OMG but hackers scary!!!"
Only one is rational.
[OP]
Contributor
To each their own 'thing' seems rational.
To me,, seems a rational reason to not spend money on something that doesn't appear to have a way to make my life any better.Is there some other reason to install a gadget in my home that seems to have no current use?
That some are already working on ways to hack into it is even more reason to not jump on the latest home gadget bandwagon.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Member
A very good reason to utilise technology in the home....https://www.smh.com.au/technology/fo...15-p4zfeh.html
Chris
Everything I like is either illegal, immoral or fattening
[OP]
Contributor
Yes, there are some wonderful things technology can do.
jtk
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty."
- Sir Winston Churchill (1874-1965)
Contributor
I would give it some time and continue to watch the smart home device space before deciding that they are just gadgets that hold no way to make your life better.
I remember a lot of people not that long ago who declared they didn't need a cell phone, or smart phone for that matter, because they don't talk on the phone a lot.
I once saw a documentary that talked about how the original developers of the home computer (Xerox I think) shelved the project as non-marketable because the scientists could provide no example applications to the managers other than a housewife being able to keep and file recipes on the device. This was in the 1960s.
My point - a lot of the time the applications of technology are very difficult for most people to imagine when they're looking at it through the lens of the world they live in today. A lot of things in my life today would have been preposterous to the younger version of myself not that long ago. This is why I try to stay out of the "nope not me" camp and remain in either the yes camp or in the watch and wait camp.
The interesting article that Chris linked reminds me that elderly and aging people can look to this technology to enable themselves to stay independent at home longer, maybe much longer. I think the key might be keeping an open mind and acclimating to the technology early enough so one is proficient with it before you need to depend on it.
Regarding hackers, I suppose that will always be a risk, surely diminishing over time as security continues to improve. Sometimes I wonder if a hacker who is talented enough to hack someone's smart home device has enough to gain by hacking a normal average person's home. You would think even a thief is mindful of wasting their time.
Just a bunch of rambling thoughts...
Edwin
Member
Something very sad happened in my life recently that reinforce why I encourage my close friends to keep their phone with them at all times.
I am in my 70's and am acutely aware of how vulnerable older people are to medical emergencies. If I suffer a medical emergency and am able to put my finger to the phone fingerprint indentation on the back of the phone to unlock it and then say "ok google" I can then say call 911 or who ever I want. If I say call "Bob", and there are two "Bob"s in the directory, it asks which one and I simply say which one. This happens much faster than dialing the number or looking it up, assuming I can see (glasses in place) and manipulate my hands enough to hit the little numbers or pick the correct person out of the directory. Of course if I just suffered a pulmonary embolism or some other situation where I have difficulty talking, the phone may not understand what I am saying and I will have to dial the number or pick the person out of a directory. That quite literally is life.
I posted earlier on this thread about my experience with changing technology. After someone quoted one of my sentences out of context to make a negative point, I almost posted an argument about how unfortunate some people are who live with a negative attitude about change. Instead of doing that I will keep it simple. Crossing the road to see what is on the other side may not be for everyone but when 1/2, 3/4, or more of the population has crossed that road and didn't look back, maybe there is something there to at least take a look. Taking a look includes making a positive effort. Of course there are reasons why changes in technology are not for everyone but there is a lot out there that does make life easier and safer. Someone commented about how they can walk to their thermostat and change the temperature implying they see no use for a smart thermostat. I should probably not get personal but this is a simple example of how someone looks for what they want to see without trying or even learning about something before they pronounce a verdict.
Member
I may be "old school", but I'm with Ken. Seems like we can't do much of anything these days without being monitored & secretly invaded.
Thoughts entering one's mind need not exit one's mouth!
As I age my memory fades .... and that's a load off my mind!
"We Live In The Land Of The Free, Only Because Of The Brave"
“The problems we face today are there because the people who work for a living are outnumbered by those who vote for a living."
"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery." Winston Churchill
Contributor
I find it a bit ludicrous that people can have this perspective yet willingly participate in a forum such as this with real names, email addresses, living locations, and commentary all for public dissemination, yet pretend some sort of line in the sand being drawn with "smart" devices. I hope you don't pay your bills online, or attempt to access your banks or the SSA accounts for that matter.
Administrator
On May 1st 2014 I experienced what is called the Widowmaker heart attack. I was returning to my shop from a meeting in the county and made it to the door of my workshop where I went down onto the floor just three steps inside my shop. I had my cell phone in my shirt pocket so I was able to contact my youngest daughter and told her to call 911. I beat the odds big time on that day and the only reason I am here today is because I had a cell phone in my pocket.
I am not a fan of the so called smart devices available these days other then cell phones obviously. IMO its just to early for me to consider integrating these type of devices into my home, probably because I am skeptical about how easily they might be abused. I admit that my cell phone is without a doubt the most vulnerable device in this category but the risk versus benefit ratio makes cell phones worth owning no matter what your age IMO.
A Friendly Note:
All of you young guys and gals take my words seriously. When I was in my Cardiac Rehab Program I was very surprised at how many young people were in the program right beside me and a few other oldtimers. Honestly it was very sad to see so many young people who were now burdened with many changes in their life with so many years ahead of them.
Administrator
Pat,
We don't allow access to anyone's email address here. As far as real names and locations that information is publicly available from a number of resources. Additionally if you consider the number of databases that have been hacked from very large companies and government institutions over the last few years its likely that much more sensitive information is available publicly these days than any one of us is comfortable knowing exists.
Contributor
Why did you not call 911? was it because she was on speed dial and 911 wasn't?
Bill D.
Last edited by Dennis Peacock; 05-19-2018 at 3:40 PM.
Member
The medical emergencies made me realize that I should probably give my mom an Echo or similar. She lives alone, and while in good health, isn't exactly young. Sort of an "I've fallen and I can't get up" that is always listening and responding, but you don't have to wear a thing around your neck which you could forget to do.
A few weeks ago a friend of a friend went to the ER because his Apple Watch alerted him to unusual heart rythms and heart rate while not active. Since the Watch knows your exercise level and your heart rate as well as some of the actual pulse rhythm details, it can make those decisions. Turns out he was in a pre-arrest condition, and the Watch saved his life.
But yeah, who needs that junk?
The majority of smart devices are smart enough to prevent hacking. You can see that since, well, they are still working and unhacked. We do a lot of security work on our servers to make them smarter and prevent hacking. A real basic one is to monitor logs for too many failed connection attempts from any one IP address, and blacklist it automatically.They will never make a "Smart device" smart enough to prevent hacking.
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