The Ethics of Smart Home Tech
If, When, and How to Bring Technology Home
This post is a part of the EQUATION publication. Follow the link below to access the full issue.
Dear Reader,
For this issue, we wanted to bring digital ethics home Literally
The ability to turn off lights in another room, control heat depending on time of day, and time the TV volume to prank your partner are all applications of technology that create an experience that is rather, well, magical Although we know we aren’t really bending the laws of physics, having such nuanced control over our physical surroundings does often feel supernatural This may be fun to explore, but as we continue to bring an increasing amount of devices into our houses, we need to ask ourselves if this technology is really creating the kind of home we all crave
What was once an impenetrable fortress, the home has since been permeated with smart devices of all shapes and sizes. In some cases this has brought good, such as an increase in accessibility and decrease in environmental impact, while in other cases this has brought harm through the invasion of privacy and security risks Whatever the use case of technology may be, the one constant in this equation is our desire to make our homes a place of comfort and peace Which is why no matter how magical the device may be, technology designed to amaze will always succumb to the more comfort-bringing solutions in the long-run.
So, as you read through the following articles, I ask you not to consider what kind of domestic technology you should or should not be developing Instead, I challenge you to ask yourself what it means to build a home full of comfort, peace, and ultimately love
Happy reading,
Olivia & The EI Team
