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Amazon Echo Look

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Re: Amazon Echo Look

#191

Post by [deleted] »

aluhut wrote: post #64
dbg31415 wrote: post #17

I think they are trying to find ways to reduce returns on clothing here. Crazy high percentages of clothing get returned... and why not? To be competitive with retail stores, online stores have to offer free shipping and returns. Try it on, if you don't like it... send it back. Very costly to the seller. Having a bot tell you, "You are pear-shaped, don't use pants with pockets..." or "This style isn't age appropriate…

Except for people with the "I don't want to look like everybody else" attitude. I wonder how "friendly" it will end up being since the behavior of the usual sales person in a shop is quite discrete. I'll have to wait for reviews because I would never sacrifice my privacy in such a way.

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#192

Post by Johnny555 »

api wrote: post #176
Johnny555 wrote: post #107

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it any riskier than a cell phone or laptop computer with a camera?

Yes, for several reasons. (1) This device is absolutely sealed and opaque. It can't (easily) be analyzed to see what it's running, doing, or sending. It's even more opaque than a phone. It has enough processing power to do local image analysis, object recognition, etc., so just looking at bulk traffic won't prove anything about whether or not it's watching. (2) The camera in this device is part of its core functional…

Well, not completely opaque -- it uses your wifi network, so you can watch its traffic to see if it's sending streaming video back home without your permission. The stream should be encrypted, so you may not know exactly what it is sending back home, but you simple traffic analysis will tell you if it's sending video.

Having it being completely sealed without the ability of the end-user to install software is a security win for most people. Then it's much less likely that a user will install Malware on the device, and it's not likely that Amazon is going to hack their own devices to make them into spy cams. Not allowing user installed software greatly reduces the attack surface of the device.

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#194

Post by markkanof »

toddmorey wrote: post #35

The HN reaction to this device is what I expected: we're somewhere between suspicious and terrified. I'll be really fascinated to know how the wider market reacts. I was one of those who believed consumers would look at the always-on living room microphone with suspicion. But I think the lesson was pretty clear that people will trade privacy for convenience. (Likely an overabundance of trust or a lack of understandin…

I get your point, but has the "general consumer" actually demonstrated that they will trade privacy for convenience with regard to Amazon Echo (and competitors)? This stuff is still very early days. I don't know anyone that has an Echo, even among my tech literate friends. I think it is yet to be seen if this type of technology really gets universal adoption.

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#196

Post by yomly »

cthalupa wrote: post #181
toddmorey wrote: post #35

The HN reaction to this device is what I expected: we're somewhere between suspicious and terrified. I'll be really fascinated to know how the wider market reacts. I was one of those who believed consumers would look at the always-on living room microphone with suspicion. But I think the lesson was pretty clear that people will trade privacy for convenience. (Likely an overabundance of trust or a lack of understandin…

> I was one of those who believed consumers would look at the always-on living room microphone with suspicion. But I think the lesson was pretty clear that people will trade privacy for convenience. I don't think it's a matter of trading privacy for convenience, as long as you believe Amazon when they say they're not sending anything when you're not using the wake word. All evidence points towards this being the case…

Not an EE, but I wonder if it is possible to bake into the hardware an LED that activates when the camera is active.

That would at least protect users from unintentional recording

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#197

Post by [deleted] »

cthalupa wrote: post #181
toddmorey wrote: post #35

The HN reaction to this device is what I expected: we're somewhere between suspicious and terrified. I'll be really fascinated to know how the wider market reacts. I was one of those who believed consumers would look at the always-on living room microphone with suspicion. But I think the lesson was pretty clear that people will trade privacy for convenience. (Likely an overabundance of trust or a lack of understandin…

> I was one of those who believed consumers would look at the always-on living room microphone with suspicion. But I think the lesson was pretty clear that people will trade privacy for convenience. I don't think it's a matter of trading privacy for convenience, as long as you believe Amazon when they say they're not sending anything when you're not using the wake word. All evidence points towards this being the case…

[deleted]

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#198

Post by gopher2 »

Things that I value when purchasing and choosing clothes:

* I want to avoid lots of decision-making and info gathering.

* I want it to be simple to buy.

* I want not super expensive, somewhat stylish, somewhat innocuous, occasionally things that I find unique and cool.

This seems like it would make all that easier. Probably will not get one because I don't care enough about the whole area, but I could see buying it if I wanted to improve my personal style for whatever reason or was more focused on being fashionable/stylish than I am at the moment.

Basically, Spotify Discovery Weekly for clothes. I doubt it will take off as fast as the Echo and it has more flop potential, because "Semi-weird Camera in your Closet" isn't as established a product category as "Radio in your Kitchen" but I think it could take off and also not be some horrible distopian thing.

An algorithm recommends easy-to-buy clothing for you based on a picture and your personal taste... Okay cool!

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#199

Post by Danihan »

hasbroslasher wrote: post #148

A great many thinkpieces will be written about this, but let me beat someone to the punch: Foucault's Panopticism is the obvious tie-in. Usually when we talk about the Panopticon in the modern era, we're talking about mass surveillance or the performative act of social media. When we act in a certain (digital) way, posting this link, for example, we signal our values to the community. "You shall be known by your work…

Careful, you sound pretty individualist with all this "anti-groupthink" talk. You might lose your SV credibility.

Re: Amazon Echo Look

#200

Post by syshum »

Johnny555 wrote: post #126
i_cant_speel wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's not usually recording you while you are changing.

How do you know? Amazon says their camera only records you when you ask it to, if you don't trust them, then how do you trust that your cellphone or laptop isn't recording you illicitly?

>>if you don't trust them, then how do you trust that your cellphone or laptop isn't recording you illicitly?

I dont, and I dont trust them, I am one of "those people" that places tape over the lens. I also do not own an echo, nor will I own this or any device like it

I hate that Phone do not have removal batteries because there was a time where I did remove them.

Some may call be paranoid, but only the paranoid are ever truly prepared

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