What was your first reaction when you heard about google buying Nest?! Were you confused? Were you nervous?
Well, you are not alone. We also got the impression that now Google will know when our home is empty based on the temperature of the house! But if the move is to bring more intelligence to home appliances and devices, then the acquisition might be worth exploring. After all, a glass top table with Google Earth (shown in the NY Times video) might spark the kids imagination and allow them to explore the Earth and far away locations.
MIT Media Lab is pioneering new technologies that on the surface appear to be ordinary house-hold items. LIke the the Umbrella that can predict the local weather and blink when it’s going to rain.
One main concern we have is that appliances manufacturers such as GE, Whirlpool and even high-end one’s such as Viking are still unable to make appliances that don’t fail on a regular basis. Adding more complexity to these devices might sounds great in the MIT Media Lab, but we are not sold.
Sure, it might be neat for the Milk container to broadcast when it’s nearing 50% but we don’t need that technology specially if the fridge itself is failing every year. Yes, every Summer we have our standing service calls with Viking to visit us and replace the compressor or the failed board on our Microwave oven which already had more than 3 warranty repairs in less than 24 hours.
And now MIT Media Lab folks want to install an iOS device into the Milk Carton? Thanks but no thanks. Adding more complexity to home appliances might sound like a great idea inside the MIT Media Lab. But these proposed solutions seem to be looking for the problem to solve. After all, what would be so wrong about walking out the door with a dumb umbrella on a day that doesn’t rain? You simply can leave it in your car or the office.
What do you think? Do you belive the hype about Internet of Things?