WHAT would YOU do?

[phillymatt53]

Appliances, Modern Technology, love it or hate it....

With SO many products becoming more and more "Technologically Advanced" it's not usually something that consumers pay much attention to.
They're mainly concerned with the face value of advertized "convenience features", and the "superficiality" factor of what they look like.
And who really pays attention to their internet devices "I.P. adddress?

We've got WiFi, Bluetooth, Internet, etc. etc. in all kinds of products and appliances these days.
Refrigerators with touch-screens and capable of monitoring your food supply and shopping needs.
And yes, even our vehicles and utilities are connected via remote monitoring.
Residential Gas meters can be read by a drive-by utility truck.
So are residential water meters and electric service meters.
Cars-vehicles have GPS, along with internet connections via satellite.

But WHAT would you do for instance, if you're electricity service was controlled by some remote technology?
They already know how much and when you use a certain amount of electricity.
And they do tell you specific times that are "money saving" hours for use of appliances.
That's nice - the best time to wash your clothes or run your dishwasher is in the evenings.
But this is in the beginnings of it all. - in effect, a part of Population Control.

Even a once-simple procedure of shaving in the bathroom has turned into a Wifi-Bluetooth connected experience. (this was discussed in other thread here).
Perhaps your boss/company will be notified that you're shaving and getting ready to leave for work, and your car will confirm it. LOL!

To me, maybe I do too much pondering, or thinking about things, but I'm prone to looking past my nose, looking past the "convenience" of things that were once "simple", and have to wonder where all this technology is going to lead society to.

Feel free to add your own thoughts...
Matt

 

[donprohel]

For the most part, as I wrote in another thread, I do not see the "convenience", but I see very clear the control and, above all, the manipulation.

Where, this seems to need to be explained, "manipulation" means to know how to make people do or believe something without then even noticing they are being manipulated.

And if this makes "new" things looking "better" or "more modern" so that people throw away the old ones and buy the "new" ones.

I am old style (actually, I am just old): machines must not try to think, and even less try to guess what I want (they never guess right); machines must just do what I command, and for artificial intelligence, thank you very much, but I am more than enough stupid by myself and do not need any help, thank you

 

[phillymatt53]

For the most part, as I wrote in another thread, I do not see the "convenience", but I see very clear the control and, above all, the manipulation.

Where, this seems to need to be explained, "manipulation" means to know how to make people do or believe something without then even noticing they are being manipulated.

And if this makes "new" things looking "better" or "more modern" so that people throw away the old ones and buy the "new" ones.

I am old style (actually, I am just old): machines must not try to think, and even less try to guess what I want (they never guess right); machines must just do what I command, and for artificial intelligence, thank you very much, but I am more than enough stupid by myself and do not need any help, thank you

Indeed, manipulation and control are things I've often mentioned.
And yes, the gradual increase in these things is done on purpose, to make it un-noticeable, and more easily accepted by society.
.....As are many other things in life.

I will say, "some" things are good for society, however others are only beneficial to corporations, and adds to their power to "control".

 

[qsd-dan]

Just being aware of technology and the possibilities of how it can be mis-used is about all one can do,

If pay phones were as abundant as they were 30 years ago, I probably wouldn't bother having a phone. I was a late adopter (2006) because I grew up without one and didn't see the extra expense being worth it until there was a massive decline in pay phone booths or at least working ones. I used the same flip phone from 2006-2017 when it finally died and switched to an already old G5 phone because my ancient XP based Tom Tom was too old to update anymore. The only Bluetooth device I own or use, and in rare circumstances, is a 13 year old hands free ear unit. I just don't call or talk to anyone anymore, somtimes I go months without using the phone. Maps is the only app I use on the phone for the most part. I'll browse if I'm in a waiting room, otherwise, everything online is performed on a desktop at home. Definitey no wi-fi based appliances. THAT will NEVER happen!

I don't even have wi-fi engaged on the router since both computers are hardwired in. I haven't owned a TV in almost 15 years and never streamed anything yet.

 

[good-shepherd]

They already know how much and when you use a certain amount of electricity.

That is one of the reasons I refused the "smart" meters JCP&L installed last year.
Its the first step toward variable electricity rates. Plus they are made of plastic instead of metal and porcelain and fire hazards from what I've read.

I imagine at some point it won't be optional anymore. First they ask, then they tell, then they make.

 

[william8]

We've had remote access gas and electric meters for decades. In fact, the first wireless electric meter was just replaced in September, because it was 20 years old. That's their maintenance schedule.

I think if they had some master plan to force variable rate periods, they would have done it long before now. It's been optional for at least 15 years.

Anyone worried about wi-fi devices collecting info, just don't connect them. If your really paranoid, block them in the router by mac address.

 

[DADoES]

I'm continually mystified by the aversion/suspicion toward WiFi-connected/enabled devices. Would it be eliminated if the devices were hard-wired/Ethernet instead of wireless? If not, then the basis of the objection is networking of them, not specifically WiFi as the connection method.

Bluetooth is extremely localized networking between individual devices ... it doesn't require WiFi or Internet access, although it can be used to share Internet access from a device that has it to another that doesn't.

What I "do" is what works for me. I have two desktop computers on Ethernet in the office room in which resides the cable modem and network router (separate devices). Two desktop computers on WiFi in another room vs. running Ethernet to that room. The TV in my bedroom has both Ethernet and WiFi capability ... but there's no Ethernet in the bedroom, so WiFi is it. The ancient plasma panel doesn't have Ethernet or WiFi (or a tuner for that matter), nor is there Ethernet at the equipment location in the family room, so the workable choice for it is a (WiFi) Roku on an HDMI-->component video converter.

I don't as-yet have any WiFi-capable household appliances (except the HVAC thermostat). I would use the capability or not if I did have them as per the benefit to me. Bluetooth connects the soundbar in the bedroom to its subwoofer, and occasionally (not on every drive) my iPhone to the car audio system.

 

[johnb300m]

Population control?
Really?
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When in this time around the western world, members of governments, and then elites who wish they were the government, are all freaking out about the DECLINE of populations.
And in the US especially, the decline of children of a certain shade of Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace.
The world population of humans is slowing, plateauing soon (as it probably should), and in many western countries, it's declining.
If you're talking about behavior control. Well that's not new at all.

I can say with 99% certainty, that technology and appliance companies are not engaging in population control.
If anything, they're trying to, or wish they could, participate in "behavioral control." Primarily to get more people to buy their stuff.
Parallel to that, there's the great freak-out of populations sliding negative because if consumption declines, then corporate profits decline. This makes CEOs and shareholder sad. And when they get sad, they get the bug to take control of government away from the people. This has been a resounding sucess in the USA lately.

 

[johnb300m]

P.S. @phillymatt53 , I'm still waiting on hearing all about the "kill devices" in the electronics you say you identified years and decades ago.
In fact, in anther thread, you mentioned that you archive a large amount of internet and personal data.
In that data, I have to imagine you archived info pertaining to these kill circuits and chips you found.
They are a profound thing, that you clearly think about and they left an impression on you, enough to discuss in another thread a while back, repeatedly.
So....please provide me the schematics and data on these. I'm hugely fascinated.

 

[circlew]

That is one of the reasons I refused the "smart" meters JCP&L installed last year.
Its the first step toward variable electricity rates. Plus they are made of plastic instead of metal and porcelain and fire hazards from what I've read.

I imagine at some point it won't be optional anymore. First they ask, then they tell, then they make.

I'm thinking about having my electric meter moved out to the pole in my side yard, where the wires come down to go underground. I just know it will be expensive.

 

[ea56]

Here where I live you can’t refuse the SMART meters, they are a fact of life like it or lump it. Actually, even though I originally wasn’t keen on the idea of having a SMART meter I actually like it. I can keep a much better control over our electricity usage by monitoring the SMART meter online which gives me hour by hour info on how much electricity we are using.

Eddie

 

[phillymatt53]

I'm thinking about having my electric meter moved out to the pole in my side yard, where the wires come down to go underground. I just know it will be expensive.

It won't change anything, because if it's one of those newer "smart" meters, it's programmed to your account.
I watched the installer after he put my meter in, and he stood in front of it and twiddled on his handheld device to lock into my meter's info.

 

[phillymatt53]

I'm continually mystified by the aversion/suspicion toward WiFi-connected/enabled devices. Would it be eliminated if the devices were hard-wired/Ethernet instead of wireless? If not, then the basis of the objection is networking of them, not specifically WiFi as the connection method.

Bluetooth is extremely localized networking between individual devices ... it doesn't require WiFi or Internet access, although it can be used to share Internet access from a device that has it to another that doesn't.

What I "do" is what works for me. I have two desktop computers on Ethernet in the office room in which resides the cable modem and network router (separate devices). Two desktop computers on WiFi in another room vs. running Ethernet to that room. The TV in my bedroom has both Ethernet and WiFi capability ... but there's no Ethernet in the bedroom, so WiFi is it. The ancient plasma panel doesn't have Ethernet or WiFi (or a tuner for that matter), nor is there Ethernet at the equipment location in the family room, so the workable choice for it is a (WiFi) Roku on an HDMI-->component video converter.

I don't as-yet have any WiFi-capable household appliances (except the HVAC thermostat). I would use the capability or not if I did have them as per the benefit to me. Bluetooth connects the soundbar in the bedroom to its subwoofer, and occasionally (not on every drive) my iPhone to the car audio system.

I have two desktop PC's.
This one that I'm on is my home office win10 machine, wired directly by ethernet cord to the Verizon Fios box down in the basement.

My other one's in the basement shop, a winXP machine which is limited in what I can do these days, (years-old Firefox browser) and connected to the 'net via a Fios wifi modem Through The Air, also in the basement.

Here's the thing....
I'm logged in NOW, on HERE on my PC.
I could shut this PC off, as I do when I'm not using it.
However..........
If I go down to the basement, hours or days after I turn this office PC off, and boot the basement XP machine on, and bring up this website which I never logged on with the XP machine, it shows me as being logged ON!
Yet I can read comments, I just can't reply, even if my name shows as "Online".

Figure THAT out!

 

[phillymatt53]

That is one of the reasons I refused the "smart" meters JCP&L installed last year.
Its the first step toward variable electricity rates. Plus they are made of plastic instead of metal and porcelain and fire hazards from what I've read.

I imagine at some point it won't be optional anymore. First they ask, then they tell, then they make.

Here, PECO electric threatened us customers.
If we refused the new meters, we would lose our service.

The same type of threats were given if we didn't allow Verizon's Optical Fios equipment - they claimed they were removing the copper telephone wires.

So, knowing that people are dependent on such services, they got you by the balls to make you use the New Tech.

Big corps love their POWER over society.

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Nothing, just accept we are being tested on how to think…

How to write and speak clearly…

How to solve practical problems!

We just need to get back in the habit of using our brains …

 

[william8]

If I go down to the basement, hours or days after I turn this office PC off, and boot the basement XP machine on, and bring up this website which I never logged on with the XP machine, it shows me as being logged ON!
Yet I can read comments, I just can't reply, even if my name shows as "Online".

Figure THAT out!

You have an overactive imagination. That is impossible.

How odd the automaticwasher.com would be the first to have this amazing technology, and use it against you to...to...to. What would they use it for?

 

[DADoES]

I could probably decipher the mystery with hands-on access ... but I'm not going there and you're not bringing it here.

Anyone can, of course, read the non-premium sections of AW without logging-in, or establishing a user account.

 

[phillymatt53]

I could probably decipher the mystery with hands-on access ... but I'm not going there and you're not bringing it here.

Anyone can, of course, read the non-premium sections of AW without logging-in, or establishing a user account.

That's fine of course.
But I'm just wondering why it shows me as "online" on another computer that's not officially logged in.

I used to be pretty good at configuring settings and diagnosing stuff on computers, and have built my own from scratch several times.
So I'm not a "dummy", however I'm no super-PC-geek either.

 

[DADoES]

If you can't post on that machine (without attempting logging-out and properly back in) then the server isn't recognizing the apparent log-in as active/valid. Perhaps the version of FFox is too old to work with the code. I have a couple ancient laptops/notebooks with XP. One is tagged for dismantling/disposal, no power supply for it. The other, I don't recall if it has Firefox ... pulling it out to check seems like too much effort ...

I'm in the process of segueing to a different desktop as my primary. I copied my Firefox profile a few days ago (more than 30,000 files) to it from the current primary. The active log-ins for AW and other sites carried over, along with bookmarks, history, settings and preferences. Tada!

 

[daveamkrayoguy]

Good luck, DadDoes…

Too much that’s simpler, most can’t do without needing a little other peoples’ help…

 

[statomatic]

That is one of the reasons I refused the "smart" meters JCP&L installed last year.
Its the first step toward variable electricity rates. Plus they are made of plastic instead of metal and porcelain and fire hazards from what I've read.

I imagine at some point it won't be optional anymore. First they ask, then they tell, then they make.

Here in France we are somewhat forced to replace regular electric meters to smart ones.
A lot of good old mechanical meters are more than 50 years old and still works fine.
The new smart ones are full plastic Chinese made and even includes a 'breaker' remotely controlled by the electric company (they can adjust the amp triggering or even turn off your supply).
That 'breaker' is just a cheap relay that won't last long after cutting off a 30A inductive load a few times, doesn't even cut the neutral pole (cutting neutral is mandatory since almost 40 years in the French electrical code !) and it's redundant to the main breaker (which can cuts off 60A inductive loads more than 1000 times without problems, it also includes a 500mA RCCB according to the French electrical code)...
Several fire problems due to the installers who are not even electricians (just trained a few days) and due the bad construction of the new meters.

 

[statomatic]

Nothing, just accept we are being tested on how to think…

How to write and speak clearly…

How to solve practical problems!

We just need to get back in the habit of using our brains …

Will be difficult these days since a lot of people are using artificial dumbness for everything...

 

[vacerator]

Yes, it's moot.

 

[DADoES]

Nothing, just accept we are being tested on how to think…

How to write and speak clearly…

How to solve practical problems!

We just need to get back in the habit of using our brains …

A large aspect nowadays with (not) writing clearly is related to dictation/voice-to-text and not proofreading before submitting. I think that's carelessness moreso than lack of brain usage, although perhaps it's the same thing ... six of one, a half-dozen of the other!

 

[pstehle]

Here where I live you can’t refuse the SMART meters, they are a fact of life like it or lump it. Actually, even though I originally wasn’t keen on the idea of having a SMART meter I actually like it. I can keep a much better control over our electricity usage by monitoring the SMART meter online which gives me hour by hour info on how much electricity we are using.

Eddie

One problem, I used to be able to go out and look at the damn thing and gauge how much power was being consumed... now the digital display cycles through half a dozen gibberish values, and I have no clue which is the consumption rate. I suppose I could ask someone, but it'll probably change next time they replace it or do a software update.

 

[vacerator]

Re; smart meters. A woman who runs for every city council election, and thankfully loses used to be at meetings before and was dead against smart meters. She even said that your smart Tv can spy on you. That was two decades ago. She though that sleeping in a room with an outside wall where the meter is could cause brain damage. Obviously too late for her.

 

[phillymatt53]

One problem, I used to be able to go out and look at the damn thing and gauge how much power was being consumed... now the digital display cycles through half a dozen gibberish values, and I have no clue which is the consumption rate. I suppose I could ask someone, but it'll probably change next time they replace it or do a software update.

My "smart" meter also sequences through several values too.
You could try taking a video of the display, then pausing on each value.
I can read my usage if I stare at it long enough.

 

[ea56]

Our power company is Pacific Gas and Electric and to access the SMART meter readings you need to set up an online acct. with PG&E. This was no problem for me since even before the advent of the SMART meter I had already set up an online acct. over 20 years ago in order to pay the bill online.

I went paperless on all of my bills over 20 years ago and pay them all online. It’s safer, no worry of checks lost in the mail, or stolen and washed checks that are then rewritten by a thief to drain your bank acct. I ordered my last box of checks in 2005 and I’ve only written 30 checks in all of those years. I so seldom write a check anymore that I have to stop and think a moment before starting to write one.

There are some things about the modern world that are actually an improvement from the old ways.

Eddie

 

[phillymatt53]

Re; smart meters. A woman who runs for every city council election, and thankfully loses used to be at meetings before and was dead against smart meters. She even said that your smart Tv can spy on you. That was two decades ago. She though that sleeping in a room with an outside wall where the meter is could cause brain damage. Obviously too late for her.

Back in the past when cable came about, and those "Nielson Ratings" were what determined how many viewers watched a particular tv show, the cable boxes sent back the channel/program info to the cable company.
And the company could turn off your cable for non payment as well.
The new boxes can do all that as well as other fancy technology crap that is now available.
As far as the TV's spying, I've never noticed any in the shop for repairs that had a "sneaky camera" or microphone in them, but I didn't really pay attention to such things.

Now, those "Alexa" things that people have, could be a different story.
I wouldn't put it past the source of governmental spying or covert activities.
I refuse to have those creepy things in my home, I like, and are entitled to my privacy.

Who knows? - maybe me just typing this reply right now is being monitored at some database!
Even talking on the phone, you never know who's listening - and no, I'm not prone to being paranoid about things.

 

[johnb300m]

@phillymatt53 c’mon man. I want to know about the kill circuits.