By Maggie White, A CPS Blogger.
NEW YORK, NY, July 29, 2019 /Neptune100/ — Information Explosion. Who is listening? How okay are you with prying ears in your thermostats, computers, and light bulbs? Will we soon crave the cover of dumb devices? Accommodation is coming at a high cost…
And so, reader. Let’s discuss privacy. When it is fully gone, what will be lost? Will we lose our sense of shame? Our desire to speak out loud? Will our free will be compromised as we squelch our yells and desire to occasionally misbehave? If from behind closed doors, passionate fights and soft whispers are all being equally registered somewhere deep in a valley by supercomputers noting every lil’ thing about lil’ you, will you stop fighting? Stop whispering?
Yes, data is being collected with every click. Every thumb print. Cameras on computers and street corners. Just showing up for life has become a breach of one’s boundaries.
If you’re one of the many who has resided him or herself to the fact that in 2019, privacy is indeed dead, then read on for which products to buy to get your home servicing you in almost every sphere. What the heck. This is a game we cannot win. And so, let’s go “smart” wild!
Start with a smart speaker. Internet-enabled speakers, controlled by spoken commands, are among the fastest growing categories of consumer electronics. They are capable of streaming audio content, relaying information, purchasing items, and communicating with other devices. Consumer Reports first pic is Amazon’s latest-generation Echo Plus Second Generation. This model is smaller than its predecessor and sounds significantly better.
An Amazon Smart Plug works with Alexa to add voice control to any outlet. That means that even if your smart speaker is in the kitchen, you can add this easy extension to your bedroom! No smart home hub is required to have this $25 item functioning; all set up is through the Alexa app.
In life, sometimes you are the hammer. Sometimes you are the nail. Since you are being pounded daily with others spying on you, why not try it yourself? The Nest Security Camera allows you to see the goings on in your home or office and connects to your Alexa or Google Assistant easily.The cam has a built-in speaker and mic, so it not only allows you to listen, but you can speak through it as well.
True story: Once a grandma was babysitting and was startled out of her skin when her daughter began speaking through the camera from far away at her place of work! The mommy offered some tips on how to get the baby to sleep and mentioned where to find the extra pacifiers. Will grandparents soon lose the freedom to spoil their grandkids? Cameras such as these also allow you to get alerts through your Nest App whenever the camera detects movement and activity. Plus you can prop this spy anywhere – even on metal surfaces with its built in magnet.
Now let’s get the temperature in your house set just right. Smart thermostats can be used with home automation and are responsible for controlling a home’s heating and/or air conditioning. One of the most popular models is The Nest Learning Thermostat. It is simple to install, comes in 4 colors, saves energy, and quickly learns your schedule. At $250, this is one of the most expensive thermostats available. We think this price is worth the investment, but you can get similar functionality with fewer options with The Nest’s budget model, the Nest Thermostat E.
Couch potatoes listen up: Imagine not having to get up to shut the lights emanating from the kitchen when one of your family members went for a snack and forgot that you like to be in the darkest dark when catching up on Netflix. A great connected lighting choice is the Sengled Smart LED Soft White A19 Bulb. A hub is required to work with Alexa, Google Assistant & SmartThings. It has a ton of colors and a full range of warm to cool white with flexibility to dim. We still aren’t sure whether or not this lighting is listening, but consider the other added enticement of having lower electric bills with this “brilliant” invention.
The August Smart Lock Sl-CON at $230 is a keyless contraption that allows you to lock and unlock with simple voice commands. Tell Alexa, Siri, or the Google Assistant to “open sesame” and your wish is August’s demand. It has the added convenient feature of allowing you to send “keys” to family and friends from wherever you are, even granting access for a limited amount of time. This system is IOS and Android compatible and battery powered, so it’ll work even in the event of a power outage. There are a selection of colors to look great with your door. This sneaky baby also enables you to track activity at your doorstep with a 24/7 Activity Feed.
Is it your job to handle the vacuuming at home? Lugging and pushing around that heavy vacuum cleaner isn’t fun, is it? Well, iRobot Roomba 890 to the rescue! This personal assistant will handle dirt, dust, and pet hair on a variety of floor surfaces. It won’t fall down steps and can be scheduled from Alexa and Google Assistant to run for 90 minutes at a time before automatically heading back to the recharging doc.
Whether you decide to explore these picks and get more AI in your life or to buck the system and start wearing tin foil hats, we at Consumer Priority Service (CPS) and Cover Your Assets (CYA) wish you a happy and carefree day – even if you’re being watched!
About Consumer Priority Service
As a leader in the field of service plans, Consumer Priority Service consistently exceeds the industry standard by providing excellence in customer care. Consumer Priority Service offers extended plan coverage for virtually all high-ticket consumer purchases ranging from high-end consumer electronics to computers all the way to major appliances. The company provides hassle-free, online control which includes updating service plans to scheduling and tracking the progress of service calls or claims.
