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I can’t stand being proven wrong. Especially by my husband. Boldness. But I have to be accountable for my actions as I sit in the inevitable, blinding sunlight capturing the living room for a few hours every afternoon. If I hadn’t been so fascinated by modern life, this could have been prevented.
It all began on a fateful afternoon when the exciting topic of blinds appeared. We needed something new and despite my husband’s protest, I decided it was time to upgrade from the tedious manual task to electronic operations. I perceived his objections as an irrational, conquering disgust to 21st century life. You probably didn’t know there was logic somewhere.
When they arrived I was engrossed with them and when he told us how to care for and charge them I paid little attention to the technicians that installed them. How difficult is that? And when the time came, I ignored the battery symbol that flashed just as easily as the oil change sign on my car’s dashboard. These are issues for our future selves who will never come.
When all goes wrong, will we burn a hot room, stick to the song’s fate loop, play our arms and grab the light?
But that day came and it was brighter. Spring had a sunny head so I reached for the remote just to find it dead. No problem, I thought, and ordered a battery pack for someone who was bothering me. I was able to last a day or two without making the blinds work. I make a game of wearing sunglasses indoors with the kids they love, and I find myself exhausted and regretting quickly. perfection.
When I changed the battery and found out the blinds were still not responding, an extract of technician’s instructions echoed through my head – “You’re looking here, this blah, some blah, some blah, some step ladder.” What a disaster. Sophisticated, distracting blinds! How do you make you work?
Days passed, and then a few weeks later. Our living room became a true man’s land in the afternoon. I still tried to make sure these shades were better than the manual, but that delusion disappeared as our main living space became the stage of my shame.
My blinds aren’t “smart” and obviously I’m not – but they got me a glimpse into my family life that is completely dependent on technology. Yes, home automation offers a convenient living, but also removes aggressive control. It also makes us lazy. And when it comes to security, can it even do the opposite? Our home may be smarter, but are we becoming an idiot?
There is a fine line between efficient and lazy, and we have delightedly bound it. You can access behind smart locks and security cameras that send alerts to your phone, but you’re not too keen on automated thermostats, sound systems that learn preferences, and motion-activated lights. When all goes wrong, will we burn a hot room, stick to the song’s fate loop, play our arms and grab the light? And what hope is there for our small home security system if the Pentagon can be hacked?
A study by the NYU Tandon School of Engineering revealed “surprising privacy and security threats in smart homes.” “We consider it a reliable and private place when we think of it as something that happens between the walls of our house. In reality, we can see that smart devices at home delve into the veil of trust and privacy in a way that allows us to learn about almost any company, so that we can learn where we are at home.
I am already convinced that my endless mundane beings are being observed and tracked by the government and criminal departments. When I heard that Amazon’s Alexa listens to it all the time, I was surprised that this was the news for only one day, and everyone accepted it as the standard. I don’t want to start thinking about what would happen if I were to speak up with myself and voiced out in the privacy of my home. Jail time? Essential anger management? Mensa’s invitation? who knows.
When I put a sticker on my laptop camera, I watch my food picking from teeth and scrolls of destiny and use it when I’m not using it because I’m afraid to be seen by a dedicated hacker.
But it’s more than just security. What about when convenience is inconvenient? I recently stayed in a house that appears to be controlled primarily by Alexa. Alexa barked orders at all times in an inanimate life, including all children. Certainly, it’s convenient that you don’t have to turn off all the lights. Yes, it’s nice to keep looking at your phone when the doorbell is ringing rather than awake, but what’s good? Move.
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Do I really want a smarter house than me? After being humbled by mere electronic blinds, the idea of a home to regulate myself to my needs is frightening. Isn’t this the beginning of the robot war? With the first wave of sensory vacuum cleaning room bae?
It’s as if we’re living like a jet sphere, as robotic housekeeper Rosie waits for her to ultimately achieve her advantage and use our algorithm against us. It’s no wonder there’s an automated home rejection movement.
I win this battle with my husband. I will go back to mine just as the Amish tend to return to their old-fashioned lives after Ramspringa’s unease with Modern Life.
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