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Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

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Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#261
post #152

Earlier quoted context omitted.

In which case 'hey, someone is opening the door an insane amount, which is not good for the fridge or your food' might be a handy alert, so you know what they're up to and can stop them? (I'm not saying it should be internet connected for that purpose though.)

> so you know what they're up to and can stop them? Lol, sure - go ahead and stop a 5 year old from checking the fridge a few times a day when here hungry. See how much better that makes your life. Again - when you have kids, you will understand...

That's quite presumptuous. As it happens I don't (yet) and indeed you may be right and I'll be worn down one day, but I'm pretty sure I and my sibling didn't behave like that, and consequently I wouldn't like/expect to see it from any dependant of mine either.

Surely you have some 'rules', but you could apply your comment to anything - 'try telling a five year old not to talk with their mouth full, see how much better your life is'; 'try stopping them running with scissors'; ...

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#262
post #233

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Five years ago when I last looked into it, a "smart monitor" was a monitor running a custom Android setup that could do whatever a smart TV or tablet could do. The possibilities for data collection are practically unlimited, and recent experiences with smart TV updates putting ads where no ads were before show that potential matters; it's on the basis of potential that I'm against it, not because I have detailed know…

How would such a "smart monitor" connect to the Internet? Wouldn't that require network hardware not commonly found in monitors as well as some cooperation from the owner (to hook up the monitor to their network, with unclear benefits)?

HDMI can pass-through communications. Wireless is also a possibility. "Thank you for plugging me in! Please enter network credentials so I can update myself!"

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#263

I have a semi-related anecdote about surprises from devices. I use a CPAP. After a year, I went back to the doctor for a followup, and was asked to bring the SD card so they could review the data it collects. The device records the times and duration of use, various settings, and some metrics on breathing (apnea events, etc). I knew it recorded this stuff on an SD card. I brought the card to the appointment, but the…

I’m able to turn off the cell connection on my CPAP with airplane mode. I have a ResMed AirSense 10 that I got 4+ years ago and in the “MyOptions” section it has an “Airplane Mode” menu item which can be set to “On” to turn off the cellular connection.

I agree with all that you said about it reporting home and compliance.

I also found it surprising how strict it was to be compliant. I needed a 2 or 3 month uninterrupted streak of 4 hour+ usage per night.

I had to email the data to my insurance since I had it on airplane mode.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#264

I have a semi-related anecdote about surprises from devices. I use a CPAP. After a year, I went back to the doctor for a followup, and was asked to bring the SD card so they could review the data it collects. The device records the times and duration of use, various settings, and some metrics on breathing (apnea events, etc). I knew it recorded this stuff on an SD card. I brought the card to the appointment, but the…

I have a CPAP machine. Your doctor is telling the truth. If insurance is involved (even if it's a high-deductible plan and you haven't hit the deductible), they typically require the data verifying usage.

You're directing blame at the doctor, but it's the insurance company making the rules, not the doctor.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#265

I have a semi-related anecdote about surprises from devices. I use a CPAP. After a year, I went back to the doctor for a followup, and was asked to bring the SD card so they could review the data it collects. The device records the times and duration of use, various settings, and some metrics on breathing (apnea events, etc). I knew it recorded this stuff on an SD card. I brought the card to the appointment, but the…

"I brought the card to the appointment, but the doctor said "I don't need that, I have your data here." It turns out that the CPAP contains a cellular modem, and it phones home and reports in real-time. I had no idea this thing was recording any data at all. It wasn't verbally disclosed to me by either the doctor or the equipment technicians. I imagine there's something buried in the fine print of the (long lost) documentation, possibly even in the fine print of some form I signed, but I was caught off guard and none too pleased."

Really? My doctor and the dude who configured and walked me through the CPAP use both emphasized that it collected data on the SD card but that its cell modem would also report the data to the doctor and the supplier.

And keep in mind, a CPAP is kind of invasive by nature.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#266

I have a semi-related anecdote about surprises from devices. I use a CPAP. After a year, I went back to the doctor for a followup, and was asked to bring the SD card so they could review the data it collects. The device records the times and duration of use, various settings, and some metrics on breathing (apnea events, etc). I knew it recorded this stuff on an SD card. I brought the card to the appointment, but the…

I agree that this is both invasive and a huge violation. My wife had pretty severe sleep apnea in the third trimester of her pregnancy, two experiences that make me think this practice needs to be nuked from orbit. 1. We properly read the manual for the device and adjusted the pressure so that it didn't cause problems with burping/ingesting air during sleep. Tissue gets softer in women as they near birth and the body…

What are your qualifications for fiddling with medical equipment?

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#267

I recently bought a 32" 4K monitor. Two different models were at at that point inexpensive enough to tempt me. A smart one, and different brand, dumb one for $50 more. I bought the latter. I'm happy. The market decides, right? What is actually happening here? 1. Most people actually like this overdone gimmickry? 2. Most people think they will like it, buy it and then get sick of it? Thus people like me, who seek out…

> 3. Most people would prefer not to have it, but due to a free market failure, the ungimmicked product just isn't available any more? No, I'd go with (4) people would prefer not to have it, but companies know that they can monitize the data they collect[0] and thus are willing to offer a discount that's large enough to get people (who may or may not know about the data collection) to buy the smart™ version. [0]: htt…

Would it be possible to create a business where you:

* Buy the cheap hardware at wholesale prices

* Strip the surveillance tech and/or re-flash the firmware

* Sell the "dumb" product for the same price as the "smart" one

In this case, the "smart" vendor would likely lose money if they're selling below cost. So the only difficulty would be a legal one... I'm not sure if it's legal to buy a product, modify it, and then re-sell it.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#268
post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you just tap anywhere without pressing the play button all of that UI goes away and you get back to the pure video, just paused...

Can’t tap on a console connected to a living room TV.

I am using a box (Android TV) and was finally able to remove the overlay by pressing the "back" button on my remote. Not exactly obvious, and not what I would call a good User eXperience.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#269

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea is to use some peoples receptivity to religion for shifting their awareness to the risks of traveling. It can also help to center thoughts, calm down, and increase mindfulness while steering the motorized vehicle, therefore decreasing traffic accidents. (I wonder whether there are studies on if this actually helps.)

Ah, that's interesting. Speaking from personal experience (and as an atheist, who happened to grow up in a religious household), I think many atheists are too quick to dismiss the value of rituals/prayers/meditations. As you pointed out, there can be value even if the deity to whom the prayer is offered doesn't exist or isn't listening. For example, growing up my family began and ended each meal with a prayer of, ess…

There's deeply embedded programming in our brains related to sharing a meal with others which strengthens social bonds. Rituals like this very much play into that. As do lunch with colleagues or dinner dates.

Re: Our fridge just emailed us to say we opened its door too many times

#270

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mostly agree with you, but at the same time, we are far from a "free and unregulated market." There are mountains of regulations to comply with, and more than one startup idea I've had to disrupt this type of shit never got off the ground because I would have had to spend months of my time just reading rules or hiring extremely expensive consultants. I think the problem is not necessarily lack of regulation (althou…

Are we still talking about tracking and sharing of user data? Because from I can tell, outside of very specific pii situations, it is largely unregulated today.

Ah fair point, I seem to have broadened the scope in my mind. Just tracking and sharing of user data in general, so long as you aren't trying to do business with entities that are regulated, is pretty wide open in most states in the US.
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