I’ve grown up in a world where my parents expect me to know how to fix every technological issue they may be having and where new or improved technology is being put out every single day. In most cases, these technological advances are way ahead of their time. In order for these advances to be successful, there needs to be trust—trust in the company, the brand, the investment, and yes, even the government.
Whether you’re a George Orwell fan or you have always been slightly apprehensive about technology, chances are you have heard the saying ‘Big Brother is watching’; meaning the government is watching your every move and I suggest that they are able to do this through technology.
Mike Beebe, CEO of Mayfield Robotics, has created a robot that acts as a companion and a home security device that is set to be released at the end of 2017. Beebe has given this robot not only a name (Kuri) but also a personality in which it is easy to love and trust. At first meet, Kuri will roam around your house memorizing the layout and design. The camera located in both eyes records videos and sends them to an application on your phone, allowing you to watch these videos when you are away. Kuri will learn to detect your face and tone to better allow her to understand your needs. She also will learn when things are out of place and will alert you of so.
Wow.
To some, Kuri may seem like a life saver or even an extra set of hands (though she doesn’t actually have arms). To others, like myself, Kuri just sounds like one big red flag.
I am all for technological advances; however, with a simple software malfunction or a slip up in programming, we could have a disaster. Imagine how horrifying it would be to find out that the software has in fact been hacked and now someone on the other side of the world (or your neighbor) now has access to you house blue prints, knowns when you leave and come home for work, knows where you keep your valuables, how many kids you have, and has visual access to your most vulnerable moments.
Maybe I am just paranoid. After all, I don’t have my credit card numbers saved to Apple Pay or on Google for this specific reason. I would rather take the 60 seconds to re-enter my credit card information every time I make a purchase than risk my credit card information being stolen. Hacking is alive and well today. If Sony, number 10 largest information technology company, can get hacked, so can a fairly new Vegas based robotic company.
Ally's Alley 