Smart Faucets And Toilets Use Alexa To Listen To Your Conversations

[Sentry18]

Well, that's crappy. Pun intended.


https://www.activistpost.com/2019/0...se-alexa-to-listen-to-your-conversations.html

Smart Faucets And Toilets Use Alexa To Listen To Your Conversations


September 17, 2019

By MassPrivateI

It is hard to imagine a more intrusive home surveillance device than a faucet or toilet that listens to everyone’s conversations, but that is just what Delta Faucet and Kohler have done.

Delta Faucet’s “Voice IQ” takes advantage of where lots of people like to congregate and turns it into an Alexa eavesdropping center.

Designed with the understanding that 20 percent of all WiFi-enabled homes are equipped with a connected home device, VoiceIQ Technology pairs with existing devices to dispense the exact amount of water needed, all with a simple voice command.


Delta lets Alexa decide how much water everyone gets.

VoiceIQ Technology allows users to easily warm water and turn it on and off with voice activation, lending a hand in an active kitchen space. Consumers can command the faucet to dispense a metered amount of water in various quantities for precise measurement. Additionally, consumers can customize commands to make everyday tasks easier, like filling a coffee pot, a child’s sippy cup, or a dog bowl. (To learn more about Voice IQ click here.)

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What they are really saying is Amazon will now monitor your home and individual water usage.

How is that for Orwellian?

Install Alexa in your kitchen at you own peril

I cannot tell you how often TV shows like Buying Hawaii or Caribbean Life show prospective homeowners discussing how they want to entertain friends and family in their new kitchen.

So despite what Delta’s promotional video says, the kitchen is not a great place for some hands-free help.

I mean who in their right mind thinks that Alexa’s “hands-free help” does not include moderators listening to your conversations while entertaining?

Delta is also offering Alexa’s “hands free help” to homeowners with older kitchens.

VoiceIQ Technology will be available summer 2019 as a pre-assembled feature on select Delta Trinsic® pull-down models with Touch2O Technology. For an added level of convenience, a retrofittable module for VoiceIQ Technology will be available to upgrade existing kitchen faucets with Delta Touch2O Technology manufactured after January 1, 2018.

No thanks, I’m good. I do not want to turn my faucet into an Amazon eavesdropping device.

I mean, what’s next a voice-activated toilet?

Kohler creates a voice-activated toilet
Leave it to Kohler to destroy what most people consider their most private part of life: the bathroom.

Earlier this year, Kohler unveiled their voice-activated toilet, called the “Numi 2.0” intelligent toilet.

Numi 2.0 will come equipped with embedded Amazon Alexa for easy voice control to active toilet features as well as Alexa commands such as checking weather, traffic, accessing news, etc.

Is this really what America wants: a toilet that listens to you while you sit on the throne?

According to the Numi Intelligent video, Alexa monitors how often you go the bathroom and how much water you use.

Kohler is so sure that homeowners will want Alexa to listen to their most intimate moments that they created an app for the whole family.

Use the Kohler Konnect app to program personalized presets for different users, and you can use voice to access the preset/profile. There is probably a difference between you, your spouse, and your children when it comes to your interaction with Numi 2.0; this lets you easily personalize your experience.

Alexa knows the difference between you and your children’s voices. How is that for creepy?

In what messed up world do we live in? Where it is OK to let a private company monitor when you go to the bathroom?

Delta Faucet and Kohler have joined the ranks of ignominious companies like Amazon and Google who have turned our private lives into a for-profit family surveillance model.

 

[VThillman]

[sigh] I'm not going to ask what a smart toilet is.

 

[dademoss]

I'm not positive, but I imagine it's when Amazon deilvers a toilet auger to your house that you didn't order

 

[Sentry18]

[sigh] I'm not going to ask what a smart toilet is.

I presume it analyzes what you ate and then orders more groceries accordingly.

 

[Meerkat]

[sigh] I'm not going to ask what a smart toilet is.

It use to be a bidet.
Now it probably keeps track of our diet or some other survelance 'I try to spell it 3 times then let it go'.

 

[Haertig]

I used to be straight against a listening device in my house. But, after getting some for my mom who has dementia, I found them quite helpful. Now I have quite a few scattered about my house.

A typical evening in the kitchen:

• "Alexa, set a steak timer for 5 minutes" (so I don't forget to turn them)
• "Alexa, set a potatoes timer for 20 minutes"
• "Alexa, how many ounces is 4 tablespoons?"
• "Alexa, what temperature do you bake salmon at?"
• "Alexa, tell Our Groceries to add butter" (so it automatically shows up on my default "groceries" list on my Smartphone when I'm in the store next time)
• "Alexa, when does the Avalanche hockey game start tonight?"
• "Alexa, remind me to call Paul, tomorrow at 9 AM"
• "Alexa, what is the weather on Friday?"
• "Alexa, drop in on mom" (opens up a two-way intercom to my mom's place across town)
• "Alexa, tell Our Groceries to add furnace filter to Home Depot" (adds that to a separate list from my default "groceries" list, shows up on my phone when I'm at Home Depot)
• "Alexa, remind me" (she asks about what?) "Change the furnace filter" (she asks when?) "December 12th at 10am"

Yeah, it may potentially be spying on me in minor ways, but boy is it convenient!

 

[Meerkat]

I used to be straight against a listening device in my house. But, after getting some for my mom who has dementia, I found them quite helpful. Now I have quite a few scattered about my house.

A typical evening in the kitchen:

• "Alexa, set a steak timer for 5 minutes" (so I don't forget to turn them)
• "Alexa, set a potatoes timer for 20 minutes"
• "Alexa, how many ounces is 4 tablespoons?"
• "Alexa, what temperature do you bake salmon at?"
• "Alexa, tell Our Groceries to add butter" (so it automatically shows up on my default "groceries" list on my Smartphone when I'm in the store next time)
• "Alexa, when does the Avalanche hockey game start tonight?"
• "Alexa, remind me to call Paul, tomorrow at 9 AM"
• "Alexa, what is the weather on Friday?"
• "Alexa, drop in on mom" (opens up a two-way intercom to my mom's place across town)
• "Alexa, tell Our Groceries to add furnace filter to Home Depot" (adds that to a separate list from my default "groceries" list, shows up on my phone when I'm at Home Depot)
• "Alexa, remind me" (she asks about what?) "Change the furnace filter" (she asks when?) "December 12th at 10am"

Yeah, it may potentially be spying on me in minor ways, but boy is it convenient!

I admit it is conveinant but is it better?
I wonder how we lived without it and built a great nation? Now we are the unhealthiest we have ever been and the dumbest in some respects of the word.

 

[SheepDog]

You do realize that you are training yourself not to remember things, right?
Pretty soon you won't remember that new beer you liked so much or the name of the girl who bought for you.

 

[Haertig]

You do realize that you are training yourself not to remember things, right?

Too late. I'm already fully trained.

I don't mind advancing with technology in many instances. After all, we are all posting to a web forum from our computers/phones here, and not writing and mailing out chain letters for delivery by Pony Express. And if you are posting from your phone, it probably isn't a rotary dial on a party line either.

Just because something is more convenient, easier, or new does not mean it's bad. Nothing wrong with using something new, if it's not to your detriment. I am still capable of writing down a shopping list if need be, but it's more convenient for me to dictate it.

 

[Meerkat]

You do realize that you are training yourself not to remember things, right?
Pretty soon you won't remember that new beer you liked so much or the name of the girl who bought for you.

That was a dirty trick they pulled on Ginniss beer. It wasn't their commercial it was more fake slander on a good beer. I can't believe I feel for it.

 

[Supervisor42]

After all, we are all posting to a web forum from our computers/phones here, and not writing and mailing out chain letters for delivery by Pony Express. And if you are posting from your phone, it probably isn't a rotary dial on a party line either.

Just because something is more convenient, easier, or new does not mean it's bad. Nothing wrong with using something new, if it's not to your detriment.

I remember when they upgraded us from the 'old' phone to a rotary dial.
The old phone, whenever you picked it up, there was a person listening to every word you said.....after she said: "Number Please?".

Wait just a minute!
We had 'Voice Control' back in the mid-60's!!!

 

[Meerkat]

I remember when they upgraded us from the 'old' phone to a rotary dial.
The old phone, whenever you picked it up, there was a person listening to every word you said.....after she said: "Number Please?".

Wait just a minute!
We had 'Voice Control' back in the mid-60's!!!

Well then you should be happy because now they can listen to every word you say without even saying " Number Please" or even using the phone. Just be careful what you say in the wash ,bath, living rooms.
Like Lewis Grizzard use to say " don't bend over in the garden granny ,then taters got eyes". Don't get PC in the yard ,that smart meter got ears.

 

[angie_nrs]

I remember when they upgraded us from the 'old' phone to a rotary dial.
The old phone, whenever you picked it up, there was a person listening to every word you said.....after she said: "Number Please?".

Wait just a minute!
We had 'Voice Control' back in the mid-60's!!!

Sometimes I'd pick up to make a call and I'd hear the neighbors. We had a party line.....remember those? Our party included the neighbors, one of which, were our cousins. Sometimes I'd get cranky when they were on for too long. You'd just have to pick up every few minutes and slam the phone back on the hook so they could hear the click and they'd finally get the gist. However, there were times when you could spy on conversations if you wanted to. Back then you were careful what you said on the phone b/c you never knew if your neighbors were listening in. Although, back then, I didn't have too much juicy information to share anyways.

A smart toilet? Really? If that toilet was smart, it wouldn't want to hear the sounds in that vacinity now would it? Nah, I'll keep my dumb toilet. I'm sure it's happier.

 

[Terri9630]

My aunt had a party line.

 

[Peanut]

I grew up with a party line too! I was a kid and wasn't allowed to use the phone... but I did listen when I could... it's how I found out my cousin was having an affair with a married man... heard my folks complain about the phone often enough.

 

[The Innkeeper]

I don’t know if our toilet is smart or not, do outhouses count?

 

[Meerkat]

Sometimes I'd pick up to make a call and I'd hear the neighbors. We had a party line.....remember those? Our party included the neighbors, one of which, were our cousins. Sometimes I'd get cranky when they were on for too long. You'd just have to pick up every few minutes and slam the phone back on the hook so they could hear the click and they'd finally get the gist. However, there were times when you could spy on conversations if you wanted to. Back then you were careful what you said on the phone b/c you never knew if your neighbors were listening in. Although, back then, I didn't have too much juicy information to share anyways.

A smart toilet? Really? If that toilet was smart, it wouldn't want to hear the sounds in that vacinity now would it? Nah, I'll keep my dumb toilet. I'm sure it's happier.

Well nothing wrong with a good old fashioned out side toilet either, we had an out house ,it was a 3 seater so kids didn't fight over it.

 

[Meerkat]

I don’t know if our toilet is smart or not, do outhouses count?

No those are dumb toilets but at least they don't spy on you.

 

[phideaux]

I want a toilet that recognizes gender...

When I walk up ...it lifts the seat.

Wife backs up it lowers seat.

When both walk away ...it flushes.

Once a day , a little brush drops down and does a little clean job.

How hard can that be ?

Jim

 

[VThillman]

I don’t know if our toilet is smart or not, do outhouses count?

Outhouses can be dwelling places for fairly intelligent entities - if that counts.

 

[Sentry18]

I want a toilet that recognizes gender...

When I walk up ...it lifts the seat.

Wife backs up it lowers seat.

When both walk away ...it flushes.

Once a day , a little brush drops down and does a little clean job.

How hard can that be ?

Jim

And this is why I put a urinal in the master bathroom. Still a dumb toilet, but creates marital bliss.

 

[angie_nrs]

we had an out house ,it was a 3 seater so kids didn't fight over it.

So they were sitting next to each other as they were doing their business?? I'm pretty sure I'd wait for some privacy.

 

[VThillman]

So they were sitting next to each other as they were doing their business?? I'm pretty sure I'd wait for some privacy.

The multiple holes allowed a pre-use survey to find one without a spider web.

 

[Haertig]

The multiple holes allowed a pre-use survey to find one without a spider web.

I wonder what those spiders think they're gonna catch? Big surprise coming for dinner.

 

[Meerkat]

So they were sitting next to each other as they were doing their business?? I'm pretty sure I'd wait for some privacy.

Kids don't worry about privacy. Some important decisions were made while taking care of business, the boys would discuss things like the next tree house or how to tear up our dolls and tar and feather them. We also all bathed in the creeks and lakes together till a certain age.
Plus a well maintained outhouse is probably cleaner than any public rest room. Ours was advanced, in the daytime we had light from our half moon ,nights were not so safe so we brought candles.
We did have power but storms knocked it out quite often or the well pump would go out, mainly that was the points though. A matchbook cover fixed that up.perfect size to set the points. Just don't be the one holding the flash light for mama. I still have scars on my arms from that job.

 

[Sentry18]

So they were sitting next to each other as they were doing their business?? I'm pretty sure I'd wait for some privacy.

You've never seen a his and her toilet have you?

 

[Haertig]

When I first moved into my dorm at college, I walked down the hall to the community bathroom. There were half a dozen toilets up against the wall. No stalls, just toilets. There were two guys sitting there playing chess while taking care of business. On the other side of the room were the showers - yep, just a bunch of shower heads pointing out from the wall. I soon learned that the proper etiquette was to yell "crapper!" before flushing the toilet. That gave the guys in the shower time to step aside before all the cold water was diverted to the toilet for the flush, scalding the guy in the shower. The proper response from the shower guy to notify the toilet guy he was clear and it was OK to flush, was "shoot!"

Texas A&M University, Crocker Dorm, circa late '70's

 

[angie_nrs]

we had an out house ,it was a 3 seater so kids didn't fight over it.

No

You've never seen a his and her toilet have you?

View attachment 24798

NO

When I first moved into my dorm at college, I walked down the hall to the community bathroom. There were half a dozen toilets up against the wall. No stalls, just toilets. There were two guys sitting there playing chess while taking care of business. On the other side of the room were the showers - yep, just a bunch of shower heads pointing out from the wall. I soon learned that the proper etiquette was to yell "crapper!" before flushing the toilet. That gave the guys in the shower time to step aside before all the cold water was diverted to the toilet for the flush, scalding the guy in the shower. The proper response from the shower guy to notify the toilet guy he was clear and it was OK to flush, was "shoot!"

Texas A&M University, Crocker Dorm, circa late '70's

......and hell NO!

Fun thread.

 

[Meerkat]

No


NO


......and hell NO!

Fun thread.

for the .

 

[Meerkat]

The multiple holes allowed a pre-use survey to find one without a spider web.

Never got bit by a spider or the occasional snake we ran out either. But for the laugh.