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Tech News and Commentary
Dave and Chris discuss emerging AI threats against smart-home devices, Anthropic’s warning about self-replicating malware, Google home speaker using terabytes of data, and more.
“News Pick of the Week” with Ralph Bond
Some of the latest high-tech tents include solar panels to create electricity. This week our science and technology news reporter Ralph Bond tells us there’s a clever new tent fabric that generates electricity in surprising ways.
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Dan in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania asked: “As a middle aged male dealing with elderly parents and finding a difficult time keeping them living independently in their own home, I’m wondering if you could speak to some of the technological advances that would be very helpful to keep my parents independent in their own home. Presently I do have a set up with web enabled cameras and microphone, as well as a tablet for the interactions and a few other things that just help around the house that are web enabled, like, power switches and so forth. But again, if you could address some of the newest technology, that would be phenomenal and perhaps help a lot of people to keep aging parents in their home safe and, worry free.”
Dan, the main question is, what are the problems you need to address?
For example, if your parents have trouble with stability or have a heart condition, then a smartwatch can alert you of falls and of irregular heart rates. They can also give your parents an option to call you if they’re on the ground and can’t reach a phone.
You can also install sensors to get ahead of problems, like flood sensors to detect leaks or temperature sensors to check that the heat or air conditioning are working, for example, or have your smart devices warn you if the electricity goes out.
Voice assistants can be helpful for less technical older parents who may not be very comfortable with the busier and louder UIs of modern DVRs and media players, and they enable them to just say ‘play this song, play this movie, play this show’.
A lot of what can help are services too more than devices, for example, they can buy their groceries online, or get their prescriptions delivered online, they can see a doctor for minor problems online, pay their bills online, check out library books online, that kind of thing.
Another thing to consider is what they even want at their house. Modern technology is intrusive by design, as all the companies try to drive engagement and usage minutes for their investors and ad networks, so adding too many devices can make them less comfortable and leave them less willing to actually use them. For example, if you think that an Amazon Alexa device may be helpful to them but they end up getting loud daily Amazon ads out of the blue, they may unplug it and put it in a drawer as many people have.
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