Gizmodo writes that Roomba's Next Big Step Is Selling Maps of Your Home to the Highest Bidder:
The Roomba is generally regarded as a cute little robot friend that no one but dogs would consider to be a potential menace. But for the last couple of years, the robovacs have been quietly mapping homes to maximize efficiency. Now, the device's makers plan to sell that data to smart home device manufacturers, turning the friendly robot into a creeping, creepy little spy.
And Reuters writes that the Roomba vacuum maker iRobot is betting big on the 'smart' home including possibly a lot of related side-deals:
Angle told Reuters that iRobot, which made Roomba compatible with Amazon's Alexa voice assistant in March, could reach a deal to sell its maps to one or more of the Big Three in the next couple of years.
Amazon declined to comment, and Apple and Google did not respond to requests for comment.
(Score: 4, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday July 25 2017, @06:25PM (3 children)
> that uploads video to the clod.
This may only be a typo, but it's brilliant. I suggest /cloud/clod going forward.
(Score: 2) by Absolutely.Geek on Tuesday July 25 2017, @08:50PM (1 child)
:) I assumed a typo of clod / plod; here in NZ and the UK I believe plod is a slang term for the police generally Mr Plod. As in "hide the $contraband boys here comes Mr Plod"
Don't trust the police or the government - Shihad: My mind's sedate.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday July 26 2017, @01:48PM
Honestly: not a typo
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday July 26 2017, @01:51PM
It's not a typo. But you could hire an insultant to study whether this substitution is useful going forward.
When trying to solve a problem don't ask who suffers from the problem, ask who profits from the problem.