Why get a smart speaker?
One of the main reasons people are opting for these devices is because of their convenience filled abilities. Below are a few of the popular abilities that smart speakers can preform.
- SOME ABILITIES
- connect with other smart devices
- playback music
- cloud storage capabilities
- set alarms/reminders
- help with shopping
- control home lights, thermostats, and home security systems
- preform actions/skills
Benefits of Smart Speakers
- the convenience of the smart speaker allows for multiple IoT devices to be connected an controlled together under one device.
- The smart speaker is beneficial to those with disabilities and care providers since it is able to perform tasks that might add up over time in a time efficient way.
Security concerns of smart speakers
- The security concerns of owning these speakers are that companies are listening to private conversations.
- The concern is because in order to respond these smart speakers must always be listening for their “wake words”.
- Smart speakers are also a device that could be used for wiretapping.
- However, there are settings on the device which allow for the microphone to be muted, and for audio logs of conversations heard to be deleted.
References
Lau, J., Zimmerman, B., Schaub, F. (2018). Alexa, are you listening? Privacy perceptions, concerns and privacy-seeking behaviors with smart speakers. ACM Journals, 102 (2), 1-31. https://doi.org/10.1145/3274371 (2018).
Over a quarter of US adults now own a smart speaker, typically an Amazon Echo
https://www.aarp.org/home-family/personal-technology/info-2019/smart-speaker-uses.html
https://www.techspot.com/news/82432-srlabs-finds-new-smart-speaker-vulnerabilities-turn-them.html
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