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How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

economist.com

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Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#11

Post by pcunite »

modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

Love this. To use computer terminology, kinda like having a mainframe in the home that is connected to devices it controls? I think that is a far better and user friendly design. Also personal clouds backed up by corporate clouds if desired.

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#12

Post by dekalbcountyman »

modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

I'm working on something on this exactly. Do you mind emailing me at wow.its.nothing@gmail.com?

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#13

Post by dekalbcountyman »

pcunite wrote: post #11
modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

Love this. To use computer terminology, kinda like having a mainframe in the home that is connected to devices it controls? I think that is a far better and user friendly design. Also personal clouds backed up by corporate clouds if desired.

I'm working on something like this right now. Dockerized and runs on local dedicated server (Mac Mini, Old Windows Desktop -> Linux Server)

You mind emailing me at wow.its.nothing@gmail.com if you could you like to talk about this more?

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#14

Post by [deleted] »

modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

[deleted]

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#15

Post by Animats »

amflare wrote: post #9

Shockingly, this was published last week. I was expecting a mid-90's/early-00s article. I don't understand why this is an article. Its basically saying "Imagine if the Internet of Things.... wait for it.... had more Things!" Of course you'll see an increase in efficiency, and the balance of power will shift toward larger corporations capable of harnessing said efficiency. This has been happening for 15 years. This is…

Shockingly, this was published last week. I was expecting a mid-90's/early-00s article.

That's the impression I had. Home automation hasn't gone very far, and seems to be more trouble than it's worth. Now you have to worry about your "cloud home animation provider" going out of business, or changing their business model, or just dropping support on your home devices. Someone faced with Google dropping support on something recently wrote "My house won't work any more". "Unauthorised Bread" by Cory Doctorow is close to reality now.

There's the Cameras Everywhere thing, with Ring and that crowd. That's the telescreen from 1984, privatized.

None of this stuff does any much. All sensing, no actuation. Power windows for houses, for example, are expensive and rare. Even HVAC systems for houses which have a controlled damper for outside air are rare. The robot vacuum cleaners still aren't good enough to just ignore and let them do their job.

Most of the ideas for the Internet of Things can be seen in the 1950s Whirlpool Kitchen of the Future. Today, you can really buy most of that stuff. Back then, though, Big Brother wasn't part of the package.

[1] https://www.inverse.com/article/12064-we-ve-finally-arrived-...

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#16

Post by giancarlostoro »

modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

I kinda do this with a Raspberry Pi currently using OpenHAB on OpenHabianPi[0]. I was going to link it all up with Mycroft[1] but I havent setup my own version of Mycroft just yet. I might just buy one to support the project.

Up next is security cameras using MotionEyeOS[2] and Raspberry Pi Zero W's.

You really don't have to pay millions of dollars to automate your home. My thermostats use technology called Z-Wave for which there is a USB[3] adapter available on Amazon, for about $45 I turned 2 different Thermostats into Nest-like thermostats that I fully control myself, if my pi dies, the usb device still has them synched.

All in my house, all in my control and managed by yours truly.

[0]: https://www.openhab.org/docs/installation/openhabian.html#ra...

[1]: https://mycroft.ai/

[2]: https://github.com/ccrisan/motioneyeos

[3]: https://www.amazon.com/Aeotec-Z-Stick-Z-Wave-create-gateway/...

Final thought: If I ever get Mycroft setup, I'd essentially have a robot in my home running off a Raspberry Pi. He wouldn't move (wouldn't need him to) but he would do whatever I wish. For now openHAB has a UI for me.

Edit: Forgot to mention that openHAB is also scriptable, and even has a bit of IFTTT type of capacity internally.

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#17

Post by jp555 »

modeless wrote: post #10

I've said this before, but the "Internet of Things" is a bad vision for the future. Dystopian, almost. I don't want every little thing to be a computer running software that is buggy, out of date, insecure, out of my control, and constantly pestering me for updates. What I want is one smart device: a robot that can operate all my non-smart devices. The robot can set the thermostat, unlock the door, flip the light swi…

Sounds like you want a multi-generational household.

My household recently became multi-generational and it's really great! Feels like this is what it's supposed to be like.

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#18

Post by notJim »

avgDev wrote: post #4
titzer wrote: post #3

"Such a world will bring many benefits. Consumers will get convenience, and products that can do things non-computerised versions cannot. Amazon’s Ring smart doorbells, for instance, come equipped with motion sensors and video cameras. Working together, they can also form what is, in effect, a private CCTV network, allowing the firm to offer its customers a “digital neighbourhood-watch” scheme and pass any interestin…

Oof private CCTV network, so they can sell the live video feeds. Imagine the possibilities with face recognition. Wanna follow your wife everywhere? Want to follow anyone you want to stalk? No problem for this fee you will have access to our video feed and face recognition software, which will enable you to track anyone and anywhere. Want their DNA? No problem. Want their interests? Sleeping schedule? Work schedule?…

Yup, you can already get a terrifying amount of data about people for a small fee to a shady data broker, it's only going to get worse as smart stuff comes more into the real world.

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#19

Post by zipwitch »

redisman wrote: post #7
avgDev wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Oof private CCTV network, so they can sell the live video feeds. Imagine the possibilities with face recognition. Wanna follow your wife everywhere? Want to follow anyone you want to stalk? No problem for this fee you will have access to our video feed and face recognition software, which will enable you to track anyone and anywhere. Want their DNA? No problem. Want their interests? Sleeping schedule? Work schedule?…

Think about the botnets you can build from cheap IoT with lousy security to basically control billions of devices in peoples homes.

Do you want a hot shower after your long day? Touch here to transfer $1 to the malware that just hijacked your plumbing. Try to remove it, and it will do $5000 in damage. A professional home IT security fix will run $1000 and take 3 days, while you camp in your back yard or live out of a motel.

Re: How the world will change as computers spread into everyday objects

#20

Post by bambax »

I don't want Elon Musk high on some substance, being able to control the car I drive. Or anyone, really. While it's arguably hard to make your own car, it's trivial to make an ebike, that nobody can control except you.

It's trivial to not rely on cloud providers for anything. I can store mp3s (or mkvs, etc.) on a NAS and play them from a computer or a Pi. I can certainly flip switches to turn lights on or off in my house.

In fact, most "home automation" sounds a little absurd. If you can program it yourself and you like it, good for you. But to rely on a remote provider that may or may not work when you most need it, or who may "discontinue" devices you rely on, is irrational.

It seems most people are willing to give away control for the smallest gain in convenience. We should resist more.

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