@nytimes @NYTOpinion “The Internet of Way Too Many Things” by @aarieff

940 Lrg-1
The Internet of Way Too Many Things – The New York Times by Allison Arieff. Some highlights –

Value for whom is the question.

You may be able to get your phone to project bright colors if your window sensor detects a burglar, but what is protecting you from your phone?

Every gadget in the so-called Smart Home is plastic and, last time I checked, this material has not become a renewable resource.

I asked a young man working at the Target store how visitors felt about their every action being tracked and he said that they’d come to accept it. And that was that.

The Internet of Things is pitched as good for the consumer. But is it? At this point, it seems exceptionally awesome for those companies working on products for it. The benefit to the average homeowner pales dramatically in relation to the benefit for the companies poised to accumulate infinite amounts of actionable data. You and I benefit by determining whether our dog got enough exercise last Wednesday. Is that a fair tradeoff? Doesn’t feel like it.

This is an interesting opinion article, it will be even more interesting in a few years to look back on and see what survives and what does not. We’re at the beginning of a lot of experimentation and lower barriers of entry for anyone, including hobbyists and companies to participate in the “Internet of Things” – it seems too early to condemn many of the one-off-ideas spotted at a design conference. The fact that the gatekeepers are not just giant companies should be mentioned and celebrated. It reminds us of when computers first hit homes, when the internet came along and anyone could make a web site, there are more possibilities than ever and more people participating – It’s not silly to experiment and see what sticks.

Some companies (Adafruit is one of them) are working on bringing connected devices to more people with open-source hardware, software and a proposed bill of rights for the internet of things. There will be a lot of dumb ideas, but that’s the trade-off when you get more people involved, and you know what? It’s ok, not every idea is going to be a winner, that’s how it works, that’s how progress will happen.

Over the weekend we were able to make an internet connected water/leak detector, live on video for a few dozen people to watch, we used some off the shelf parts, some open source code and got it up and running in a couple hours, there’s nothing like it on the commercial market, at least not this cheap and certainly not open or modifiable, this will not be getting any media coverage though 🙂

One of the problems with the media in general is they go full on negative which gets views and conversations going or they write “puff pieces” about companies that are well funded media darlings (Quirky / GE / Egg minder) is a good example.

“Things” are going to talk, it’s going to be a transformative addition to micro-controllers and sensors, so much so it will be hard to imagine everything -not- talking in some way in less than 5 years. There’s one quote that wasn’t in the NYTimes article that seems appropriate.

“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” (Harry M. Warner, Warner Brothers, 1927)

No one really wanted or needed “talkies” – it really depends on the stories you’re telling, the value you’re creating and how and why, there are people and companies working on this, some will do some great work, others will make some real duds too 🙂


Adafruit publishes a wide range of writing and video content, including interviews and reporting on the maker market and the wider technology world. Our standards page is intended as a guide to best practices that Adafruit uses, as well as an outline of the ethical standards Adafruit aspires to. While Adafruit is not an independent journalistic institution, Adafruit strives to be a fair, informative, and positive voice within the community – check it out here: adafruit.com/editorialstandards

Join Adafruit on Mastodon

Adafruit is on Mastodon, join in! adafruit.com/mastodon

Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.

Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat – we’ll post the link there.

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

Join over 36,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord

CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org


Maker Business — “Packaging” chips in the US

Wearables — Enclosures help fight body humidity in costumes

Electronics — Transformers: More than meets the eye!

Python for Microcontrollers — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: Silicon Labs introduces CircuitPython support, and more! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi

Adafruit IoT Monthly — Guardian Robot, Weather-wise Umbrella Stand, and more!

Microsoft MakeCode — MakeCode Thank You!

EYE on NPI — Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey

New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — #NewProds 7/19/23 Feat. Adafruit Matrix Portal S3 CircuitPython Powered Internet Display!

Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at AdafruitDaily.com !



No Comments

No comments yet.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.