Five years ago, a collective mania overtook the industry. Nobody could think of a clear reason why consumers needed an expensive "smart" watch when they already had a smartphone in their hand, pocket or bag. What value could it deliver? Even Google didn't seem sure: in its now notorious launch video, a punter used a watch simply to replicate features on their phone. But the industry convinced itself that wearables were another platform, and nobody wanted to be a sad second in this race. So the giants entered the market. Not because they wanted to, but as a hedge. Someone else might take a lead.
As we predicted in 2014, this was a solution looking for a problem. And an expensive one, at that.
Are wearable devices whose OS wakes up only when needed for smart features the answer?
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @08:30PM (9 children)
...the giants are in a race to develop the smart plug. It's the only wearable anyone really needs.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:09PM (1 child)
IoT sex toys already exist, along with the unsurprising security oops...
I can't wait until we get direct APIs to the broomsticks that so many people have up their asses.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:44PM
Had a girlfriend who invented the first IoT sex toy when she placed one of those Nokia brick phones between her legs during a lecture. I was amused she looked shocked when I called her number and that vibrate did its thing!
(Score: 2) by Snow on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:30PM (3 children)
Talk to Ethanol-Fuelled. There was a while there he was prety into teledildonics.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @09:50PM (1 child)
Don't you mean they were into him?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @11:25PM
I wrote the code for a urinary incontinence device that provided biofeedback (emg measurement) as well as optional electrical stimulation through a vaginal electrode. It was sometimes referred to as the 'electro-kegel' device. It ran on a 68hc05 processor. This was in the mid 90's.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @11:29PM
Worst. Advice. Ever.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday July 18 2018, @11:51PM
B&H Photo Video is selling a pair of mini smart plugs with Wi-Fi for $37 with free shipping. https://slickdeals.net/f/11827243-2-pack-tp-link-hs105-wi-fi-smart-plug-mini-for-36-99-free-shipping [slickdeals.net]
(Score: 2) by Gaaark on Thursday July 19 2018, @01:28AM (1 child)
Is that a smart BUTT plug???
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 4, Funny) by MostCynical on Thursday July 19 2018, @03:54AM
..it is now.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex