The fact that our devices collect data on us is not new news. This article coins the term ‘luxury surveillance’ for the hundred or thousand dollar devices that we put in our pocket or on our wrist to then track our every move. GPS, heart rate, step count, stress levels, sleep quality. We love upgrading devices that can measure and quantify more aspects of our daily lives. The question is, how far can we go?
The big tech companies are leaning into this world of luxury surveillance. Google bought FitBit and Apple launched the Apple Watch. Amazon is trying to buy iRobot, the maker of robot vacuum Roomba, to get more data about the inside of your house. Amazon also acquired Ring, a video doorbell company that records any motion and has recently announced an airborne security drone that can constantly patrol your hallways.
But it isn’t just big tech. Plenty of other companies are getting into this space, and finding new ways to attached sensors to various aspects of our daily lives. There are fitness rings like Oura, smart mattresses like Eight Sleep, and even smart shoes like Digitsole. Where this ends, who knows? But if they’re going to keep collecting and monetising our data, hopefully they can bring their price points down a little.
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