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Privacy/Technology, (sdf.org), 09/21/2018
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Amazon threw a big shindig yesterday around their push for
global smart home supremacy recently[1]. They are,
apparently, hell-bent on creating a fully surveilled home
life, where machines see, hear, and analyze everything that
you do. You know, for your Own Good(TM). And as if the home
weren't quite enough, they want the public square (starting
with our grocery stores) to be an even more alarming
assortment of cameras than it already is.
Is anyone else dying inside? I know I'm not the only one. I
can't be the only one that finds this stuff abominable.
If you read the "Cultural perception" section in the
Wikipedia entry on electricity[2], you'll find an
interesting little sketch about how electricity came to be
an acceptable "necessity of everyday life." Electricity,
though not fully accepted at first, took on a salvatory role
in our modern lives.
In 2018 you could probably kick around in the dumpster and
find 10 or 15 folks that would argue against electricity in
the home[3]. I'm not going there; though, I would rather
love to see self-sufficient homes with solar and through
other means, versus the monstrosities of consumption that we
currently create. But how does this relate to the smart
home?
MONSTROSITIES OF CONSUMPTION, that's how.
The "smart home" is nothing but smart. It is invasive,
overly-complex, and needlessly expensive. It is energy and
connectivity dependant to a crippling degree. It promises to
expose your every action in exchange for a scant Star
Trekesque experience. You'll get blenders that you don't
have to touch (oh, except to fill with ingredients, the
dirtiest part of the job), microwaves that obey your every
whim (because pressing 1-3 buttons is a chore,) and
refigerators that tell you when they think you should go
spend more money (or, they'll perhaps just spend it for
you.) If you're really lucky, you'll get advertising all
along the way- oh wait, that's an absolute eventuality, luck
isn't a player.
All of our worst nightmares are coming true. Did you read
1984? Farenheit 451? Anything? The things that used to
appal an audience are now the hottest trends in consumerism.
A watch that can monitor your health and track your
location? A fridge that can help you "decide" what to eat?
"'Smith!' screamed the shrewish voice from the telescreen.
'6079 Smith W.! Yes, you! Bend lower, please! You can do
better than that. You're not trying. Lower, please! That's
better, comrade. Now stand at ease, the whole squad, and
watch me.'"
"... Winston, with a violent lunge, succeeded in touching
his toes with knees unbent, for the first time in several
years."
What bothers me most, I think, is that Orwell didn't go far
enough. Here we are- a bit past 1984, granted- sliding down
the hill toward the abysmally misrepresented Utopia. With
all its gadgetry and abuses, I'm really not sure it will be
as pleasant as we think it will be.
[1] Google it, for a full non-private experience. Go on.
[2]
gopher://gopherpedia.com:70/0/Electricity
[3] I have no reference, again. I'm just making stuff up.
