Unnecessary use of Technology

[NOBLNG]

I just saw an advertisement on the tube for a new kitchen faucet. It can be paired with google or alexis and all you have to do is tell it to fill the dog’s bowl and it will dispense the proper amount and temperature of water desired. How lazy can people become? This relentless push of technology into every facet (pun intended?) of life is going to bite us in the butt. Never mind the pursuit of artificial intelligence!

Edited December 18, 2020 by NOBLNG

[Rob Hall]

One of the more interesting newer gadgets I've been reading up on are smart toilets.  Wifi connected, you can control them from your phone.  Imagine being on vacation miles from home and being able to remotely flush your toilet at home.   They have lighting, user recognition (it can lift the lid and greet you, with the seat warmed to your preferred temp, etc..).

[Dave Van]

My daughter's clothes dyer that calls her and asks, once the clothes are dry, to tumble them or stop. 

[1972coronet]

I love that there are so many "health-conscious" people around --- fill-in-the-blank diets ; yoga ; jogging ; gym sessions ; no-tobacco-but-marijuana's-okay-as-is-alcoholism--- yet , they have some Jetsons gadgets (multiples , all connected ) to do simple tasks and reminders . 

All that this does is feed , fuel , and create a society of lazy , absent-minded sheep . I won't mention the name of a particular proponent-come-potential- provocateur individual / organisation whose nomenclature is borrowed from a region of forest in South America .

[Chuckyg1]

I see this all the time. The "health conscious" cruising the lot or waiting for the closest spot possible at the gym. You're going to exercise, a few more steps won't kill you!

  On 12/18/2020 at 7:34 PM, 1972coronet said:

I love that there are so many "health-conscious" people around --- fill-in-the-blank diets ; yoga ; jogging ; gym sessions ; no-tobacco-but-marijuana's-okay-as-is-alcoholism--- yet , they have some Jetsons gadgets (multiples , all connected ) to do simple tasks and reminders . 

All that this does is feed , fuel , and create a society of lazy , absent-minded sheep . I won't mention the name of a particular proponent-come-potential- provocateur individual / organisation whose nomenclature is borrowed from a region of forest in South America .

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[Painted Black]

Rollbot

Picture this: You're sitting on the toilet. You reach for toilet tissue and the cardboard roll is empty. So, you make sure no one is around before scuffling out of the bathroom to grab a replacement.

We've all been there.

Charmin created a concept robot that solves this very specific and very relatable dilemma. Rollbot will bring toilet paper to you when you're stranded on the commode without toilet paper, but only if you have your smartphone with you to summon it.

The self-balancing autonomous robot can't grab the toilet paper out of the cupboard, so you may just be better off asking a loved one to do you a solid.

[Rob Hall]

Cool idea about the TP rollbot.  Running out of TP is always a panic situation...I try and keep at least a dozen rolls of Charmin in each bathroom and extra in the closets. 

[Mark]

But can the toilet app jiggle the handle?

[Danno]

  On 12/18/2020 at 9:03 PM, Mark said:

But can the toilet app jiggle the handle?

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That was a crappy cheap shot at new-fangled technology.

  

[PS: Inquiring minds want to know:  Does it wipe?]

 

??

 

 

[Tom Geiger]

Technology put upon us at my house.. 

My thermostats are online. I can see what temperature my house is, and turn on heat or ac remotely.

I have a Sleepnumber bed. My phone app will tell me how I slept. It also lets me know if someone is in my bed! 
 

My garage door opener is on my phone too. I don’t have a door remote, it’s on my phone. I can open and shut my door from anywhere, and see if it’s open or shut. I can see history, so I know my wife went to the store. I turned off the ping when it happens.

 

[HomerS]

  On 12/18/2020 at 6:35 PM, NOBLNG said:

I just saw an advertisement on the tube for a new kitchen faucet. It can be paired with google or alexis and all you have to do is tell it to fill the dog’s bowl and it will dispense the proper amount and temperature of water desired. 

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Yeah, gonna pass on that.  When it grabs the bowl, fills it and puts it back down on the floor at 3a when they want a drink as I forgot to fill it before going to bed....then I'm all in!

[iamsuperdan]

For me, it's the tech in vehicles.

It scares me that people are learning to drive by using backup cameras and park sensors instead of their own eyes. And now cars can park themselves, stay within the lanes on the highway, emergency brake, etc. People learning to drive now will end up being lost if they get into a slightly used car.

[peteski]

  On 12/18/2020 at 11:58 PM, Tom Geiger said:

Technology put upon us at my house.. 

My thermostats are online. I can see what temperature my house is, and turn on heat or ac remotely.

I have a Sleepnumber bed. My phone app will tell me how I slept. It also lets me know if someone is in my bed! 
 

My garage door opener is on my phone too. I don’t have a door remote, it’s on my phone. I can open and shut my door from anywhere, and see if it’s open or shut. I can see history, so I know my wife went to the store. I turned off the ping when it happens.

 

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Wait  til you get hacked. No, you don't have any national secrets, but there are plenty of hackers out there strictly looking for a "joy ride" - just to mess with you.  Kind of like kids used to ring doorbells and run away, or make prank calls (before Caller ID), but with what they can do with your online devices will be more inconvenient than the old-school pranks. 

[Russell C]

Wait 'til all these smart items become self-aware. Then how are ya gonna keep 'em down on the farm?

 

[1930fordpickup]

  On 12/18/2020 at 11:58 PM, Tom Geiger said:

Technology put upon us at my house.. 

My thermostats are online. I can see what temperature my house is, and turn on heat or ac remotely.

I have a Sleepnumber bed. My phone app will tell me how I slept. It also lets me know if someone is in my bed! 
 

My garage door opener is on my phone too. I don’t have a door remote, it’s on my phone. I can open and shut my door from anywhere, and see if it’s open or shut. I can see history, so I know my wife went to the store. I turned off the ping when it happens.

 

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How long until your new phone dose not work with the old tech in your house appliances?  I am asking because I would like to know , not picking at what you have. My sister has a ew car that does not have a button for the Auto start, she has to use her phone. 

[Dragline]

I have my computer [Linux] and phone [jailbroke] and one WiFi connected stick for movies/TV. I have IP masking for all of it and high security. If you have Alexa or any of that stuff in your house you are a fool. My car is completely analog as well.

My Google participation is limited to Gmail. I use Duck Duck as a search and my browser is Mozilla. I simply don't feed the beast.

[TonyK]

This continued technology always reminds me of the movie Wall-E with everyone being a fat you-know-what spending their life in a chair and everything being done for them with a push of a button.

[HomerS]

  On 12/19/2020 at 2:00 AM, iamsuperdan said:

For me, it's the tech in vehicles.

It scares me that people are learning to drive by using backup cameras and park sensors instead of their own eyes. And now cars can park themselves, stay within the lanes on the highway, emergency brake, etc. People learning to drive now will end up being lost if they get into a slightly used car.

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When I bought my Genesis, I turned off all this stuff off as the horns, strobes, lights, sirens, bells, etc are annoying.  I do use the backup camera as the combo of old/fat make it hard to turn around to see behind me.  The wife thought I was nuts for buying the G8 out of state (it was an all day trip) for just the bun warmers......until she drove it.  The Genesis has the heated steering and seats.

The one that concerned the wife and I this a.m. was Petsmart delivers.....thru DoorDash.  NO!   I have an Aussie and she would be the one that would get tired of waiting for me to feed the foursome and somehow mess with the laptop or phone and order something.

[Xingu]

  On 12/18/2020 at 6:35 PM, NOBLNG said:

I just saw an advertisement on the tube for a new kitchen faucet. It can be paired with google or alexis and all you have to do is tell it to fill the dog’s bowl and it will dispense the proper amount and temperature of water desired. How lazy can people become? This relentless push of technology into every facet (pun intended?) of life is going to bite us in the butt. Never mind the pursuit of artificial intelligence!

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Imagine if you are handicapped and technology like this allows you to have a more normal life. Sure some of it seems useless to most folks, but it could allow others to be much more independent.

[1972coronet]

  On 12/19/2020 at 4:27 PM, Xingu said:

Imagine if you are handicapped and technology like this allows you to have a more normal life. Sure some of it seems useless to most folks, but it could allow others to be much more independent.

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A great point , indeed . It's the practise of 'forced-acquiescence' that most have a problem with when it comes to the dumbing-down of society . 

Backup Cameras are almost necessary in some vehicles ( e.g. , poor visibility through the backlight ; no rearward-visibility with vans or box trucks , etc. ) , but are otherwise another "no-need-to-pay-attention-to-your-surroundings" device . 

The "safety" device which troubles me most is 'automatic braking' . While the manufacturers tout the automatic braking as "Oh , no ! I almost ran-into that unaccompanied child who's riding a tricycle past my driveway !" , the component that's 'missing' from their ads is "There's a crazy hobo brandishing a rusty cutlass , and he's in the middle of the street , high as a kite , and is verbally-threatening me !" . At that point , whose life is more valuable ? Your vehicle won't move as long as the creep-o is standing in the street !  And , yes , I'm speaking from experience --- ever driven around Los Angeles' World Famous Skid Row ? Yeah --- those crazies became hood ornaments if they didn't get out of the way .

Edited December 19, 2020 by 1972coronet

[vintagerpm]

  On 12/19/2020 at 3:37 PM, HomerS said:

When I bought my Genesis, I turned off all this stuff off as the horns, strobes, lights, sirens, bells, etc are annoying.  I do use the backup camera as the combo of old/fat make it hard to turn around to see behind me.  The wife thought I was nuts for buying the G8 out of state (it was an all day trip) for just the bun warmers......until she drove it.  The Genesis has the heated steering and seats.

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I too have a G80 and love the backup camera. The ass is so high on the car I cannot see directly behind the vehicle by looking out the back window.

Had to turn off the lane keeping feature, though, as it would fight me every time I tried to change lanes.

[1930fordpickup]

  On 12/19/2020 at 4:27 PM, Xingu said:

Imagine if you are handicapped and technology like this allows you to have a more normal life. Sure some of it seems useless to most folks, but it could allow others to be much more independent.

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Yes this would help a lot of people get along better in life with less help from the outside world.  Compatibility is my biggest worry with this. What happens when you drop your 5 year old smart phone and now have to have half of your house replaced because you can no longer use it properly. 

[vintagerpm]

  On 12/19/2020 at 2:48 AM, peteski said:

Wait  til you get hacked. No, you don't have any national secrets, but there are plenty of hackers out there strictly looking for a "joy ride" - just to mess with you.  Kind of like kids used to ring doorbells and run away, or make prank calls (before Caller ID), but with what they can do with your online devices will be more inconvenient than the old-school pranks. 

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When I owned a 2011 BMW 335, someone remotely started it once in a public parking lot. Came out to the car and it was out of gas. Lot attendant said the engine had been running a while earlier. I did not have remote start (I didn't pay for it, so could not do it), but the software was still there in the car. Like most modern cars, the car was linked back to the manufacturer, so anyone who could get into BMW's network could reach any car. They also rolled all the windows down a couple of days later and later opened the sun roof. After that it stopped. Service manager said it couldn't be done, but I talked to a BMW mechanic that said it was possible. (The mechanics are always more truthful than the managers).

Edited December 19, 2020 by vintagerpm

[Mark]

You'd think that there would be the ability to turn off the remote start, period.  Imagine the lawsuits resulting from a car starting up in an attached garage in the middle of the night.

[89AKurt]

I'll vouch for the back-up camera, my 2016 Civic has it.  For downtown diagonal parking, with a big pickup parked to the right, it's very handy.  I don't use the right mirror camera much.  I avoided the lane nanny option.

I made fun of my undocumented wife for using the GPS to go across town.   I have a good sense of direction, at least out west (in Chicago I was totally lost, hated it), but am using it more just because it helps.

Self-driving cars, don't get me going........

Can hardly wait for a CME (or worse a EMT) to take out all the electronics.  In a year 90% of the population will be dead.  On that fun note, build models while you can!