So, recently received this communication:
So, we have so many real pets trapped in shelters looking for adoption, but, God bless, now we have Aibo, your new “robotic companion”. Bad enough “smart” phones are tracking your every move, and now they’ve found a way to bring “big brother” right into your domicile under the guise of a cutesy toy.
Here are just some of the details: Aibo touts the ability to learn and recognize faces, perceives surroundings being able to detect objects and calculate the shortest distance between points. This unit can take pictures and keeps records of everything it experiences in everyday life, continuously updating data to the cloud, and creates a database of memories.
Further, Aibo has voice-recognition abilities. Perhaps i’m the consummate skeptic, however, i could see this going all kinds of wrong. Think about it, this device is roving all throughout your home, memorizing the layout and objects (maybe valuable items), possibly taking pictures of your loved ones and can tie that info with corresponding voice data all while providing (potential) malicious people with the fastest way to reach different points in your living space if they compromise the server SONY will have this information stored on. Imagine what a treasure trove that would be, multiplied by how many thousands of homes this robot will be in. And, with a price point of $2,899.99 it will be in some exclusive places.
If you ask me, they have some hell of a nerve charging virtually $3,000 for an over-glorified data harvester. I mean, it might be somewhat more justifiable if it had some life-saving capabilities like being able to contact the paramedics if you had fallen etc. but, at least for now, i’m not seeing that. I would imagine that most people would also want some sort of assurance from SONY that whatever data this thing collects will be unassailable. But, how could it be? From years of being a contributor with Norton, has taught me that these cybercriminals are constantly evolving, and, it would only be a matter of time before they access the information and disrupt countless lives. I also love how they explain,
“This product is not for sale or use in the State of Illinois, and may not be shipped to purchasers in Illinois.” I wonder why….
Concluding, if you want to buy this product and believe that it will foster some quality moments with your family, that is your prerogative. I feel better knowing that i at least issued a caution on this and do NOT see this arriving at my doorstep any time soon.
Regards,
H.B.