Tech Overload...

[birdguy 3,943]

The tech world is turning Big Brother into Big Father, Big Husband, Big Wife, Big Boy Friend, Big Smart Kid, Big Stranger and more.  I don't have an Alexia or whatever you call it in my house.  Unless I am expecting a call I power down my iPhone in the house.  I can check calls after I power it back up.  My computers are turned off when not in use.  I'm not tech aware enough to trust these devices.

 

A couple months ago I had my iPhone on in it's charger in the living room while watching TV.  All of  sudden Siri responded to something that was said on the program I was watching.  I told someone who is more tech aware than I am about it and he suggested I turn the phone off when I wasn't using it.  I added our computers to that.

 

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200511-how-smart-home-devices-are-being-used-for-domestic-abuse

 

Noel

[jabloomf1230 2,445]

We're just the opposite. Our house is like the Ren and Stimpy episode "The House of Next Tuesday". And it's great. 

[HiFlyer 9,359]

I have found that when subjects like this have arisen in the past, the general attitude of those who respond, here, will be along the lines of not seeing any problems with it all. I disagree, but hey.

[HighBypass 2,339]

Our Alexa picked up a query from the TV - someone asked Alexa something 

I ask her when the Black Helicopters are coming..  I don't think my missus switches Alexa off as she controls the smart lightbulb in our living room. 

[MaDDogz 242]

My grandmother's reply is, ''this smart TV is stupid!'' 😄 

[goates 576]

3 hours ago, birdguy said:

All of  sudden Siri responded to something that was said on the program I was watching.

You can change the settings for Siri so it doesn't respond without pressing a button or unlocking the phone.

I don't care much for Alexa or Google Assistant, especially when you read about what they can, and do, hear and record, as well as the cases where they did things like mistakenly email personal info to random people in someone's address book. One big issue I see coming is buying new TVs and appliances without one or the other built in.

On the other hand, check out Youtube for the pranks one can do, or could do at least, with Cortana on the Xbox.

 

[birdguy 3,943]

I recently bought a couple new TVs and had to shop to find non-smart sets.

Noel

[Penzoil3 480]

Do you even have a microphone on the computer ?  If not, how the heck can it listen, and why turn it off  ?

 I agree about the phone.  TV's don't have mikes either Noel.

 Sue

[goates 576]

8 hours ago, Penzoil3 said:

TV's don't have mikes either Noel.

Oh, they most certainly do these days. Many have built in Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant support with mics in either the TV or the remote for voice control. More and more TVs are adding similar functionality too.

https://www.samsung.com/ca/tvs/smart-tv/voice-assistant-on-your-smart-tv/

https://money.cnn.com/2015/02/09/technology/security/samsung-smart-tv-privacy/index.html

Edited May 13, 2020 by goates

[cmpbellsjc 2,960]

My wife asked me why I was speaking so softly at home. I told her I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening! She laughed. I laughed. Alexa laughed. Siri laughed. 😂😂😂

[G-RFRY 1,711]

This why I have to smile when I see people going on about MS and Windows as spyware, when the big tech company's where investigated buy the US gov they said " If we don't collect users data and habits we would not be able to give our software away for FREE" we need to sell that to make money. 

[Chock 17,769]

21 minutes ago, G-RFRY said:

This why I have to smile when I see people going on about MS and Windows as spyware

Yup, makes me laugh when people spend half their time on facetube and twatter letting people know their every move and what they had for breakfast, and then complain about 'being watched'. 🤣

[charliearon 3,024]

Social Networking???  This is it along with occasional emails between myself family and some friends.  Smartphone? Wazzat?  Mine makes phone calls and the occasional text message.  I did splurge on a non-smart 52 inch hi def TV in 2006.  It still works great. Heck, I still have a landline! 

[overspeed3 410]

Remember:  "Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone is not following you".

[IanHarrison 522]

29 minutes ago, charliearon said:

Social Networking???  This is it along with occasional emails between myself family and some friends.  Smartphone? Wazzat?  Mine makes phone calls and the occasional text message.  I did splurge on a non-smart 52 inch hi def TV in 2006.  It still works great. Heck, I still have a landline! 

Good for you.

(At least land lines don't drop calls, and they have decent quality "sound").