Amazon unveils Astro smart home robot, 15-inch Echo Show, and more

Comments

• Reply 1 of 5

  roake Posts: 811member

  September 28, 2021 6:26PM

  I think the two patrol robots (ground and flying) are interesting.  I wouldn’t hesitate to try them if privacy wasn’t an issue.  But in this day and age, where everything goes to remote servers and the government like to go fishing in private data, I have my reservations.

  
• Reply 2 of 5

  mark fearing Posts: 420member

  September 28, 2021 6:41PM

  roake said:

  I think the two patrol robots (ground and flying) are interesting.  I wouldn’t hesitate to try them if privacy wasn’t an issue.  But in this day and age, where everything goes to remote servers and the government like to go fishing in private data, I have my reservations.

  I have a question, and I hope I don't get yelled at for misbehaving on these boards again, but...your concern is the government? Really? Private companies and hackers is minor compared to 'the government'? What do you think would interest 'the government' exactly? (unless planning on blowing up people etc) I think the privacy issues are key issues for PRIVATE companies that provide crappy online security and allow massive data breaches. I have to admit, I rarely think 'the government' is worried about me. I think concerns about 'the government' reading your emails to your mom and dad are a bit X-Files.

  
• Reply 3 of 5

  dewme Posts: 5,362member

  September 28, 2021 7:52PM

  Cute toy. The concept is far from new, having used similar devices for remote presence since more than 6 years ago. 

  
  

  I’m sure someone will find something interesting and productive to do with these around the house, like yelling at the dog to get off the sofa when the owner is not home. Others will undoubtedly find something really creepy to do with them, unless Amazon releases an Astro “Predator” version all on their own to save them the extra effort.
  
  I know there are lots and lots of commercial applications that could benefit immensely from a roving surveillance robot. I can’t think of too many in-home uses for such a device that wouldn’t be more practical to solve using traditional network accessible stationary sensors, especially with multiple levels, stairs, and other obstacles involved. 

  
  

  An informal survey of one, the only other inhabitant of my home, was instantly met with a “NFW is that thing ever coming into our home.” I guess that’s a ‘no’ - at least for now.

  
• Reply 4 of 5

  patchythepirate Posts: 1,254member

  September 28, 2021 8:26PM

  mark fearing said:

  roake said:

  I think the two patrol robots (ground and flying) are interesting.  I wouldn’t hesitate to try them if privacy wasn’t an issue.  But in this day and age, where everything goes to remote servers and the government like to go fishing in private data, I have my reservations.

  I have a question, and I hope I don't get yelled at for misbehaving on these boards again, but...your concern is the government? Really? Private companies and hackers is minor compared to 'the government'? What do you think would interest 'the government' exactly? (unless planning on blowing up people etc) I think the privacy issues are key issues for PRIVATE companies that provide crappy online security and allow massive data breaches. I have to admit, I rarely think 'the government' is worried about me. I think concerns about 'the government' reading your emails to your mom and dad are a bit X-Files.

  ..said the population of every society just prior to every authoritarian take over.

  
  

  Do you know anything about history?? I can't believe people actually think like this.
  

  
• Reply 5 of 5

  igorsky Posts: 754member

  September 29, 2021 1:30PM

  I can only imagine the worldwide conniptions on the blogosphere had Apple released something like this at a similar exorbitant price.