Your Television is Watching You

[Copper Catcher]

This is unbelieveable!

http://www.occupycorporatism.com/big-br ... ching-you/

[MrIncredible]

Masking tape over the infrared sensor...

[slickeast]

Ummm, I might need to start doing certain things in a room with no TV.

[MrIncredible]

Ummm, I might need to start doing certain things in a room with no TV.

Tired of back to back Viagra commercials?

[68Cougar]

Your computer is watching you too. Hackers have been spying on people via the webcams built into most laptops now. Watch what you do or say near any device. If you can make it record sound or video so can the guy down the street or somebody working for a government agency.

[John_doe]

I am watching it back.

[scyther]

Disgusting, as usual. This is only in new TVs, right? Ours are from 2007.

[xippi]

Your "new" Car is watching you to.

[Country]

Got me analog TVs from the 20th century. However, tablets, laptops, and desktops are another matter.

[scyther]

I've covered up the webcam on my laptop for years now... Ever since I first found out it existed . Not sure what I can do about my computer recording sound, though...

[Z00]

For years now your TV has always been "on" in a standby state to make it load the picture faster. It uses power all the time. When trying to save on the electric bill it was recommended that you unplug it when not in use.
Most people could not be bothered. I used the following with the switch sitting on top of the set:
http://www.acehardware.com/product/inde ... Id=1285792
Now there is even more reason to use it.

[Engineer]

I've covered up the webcam on my laptop for years now... Ever since I first found out it existed . Not sure what I can do about my computer recording sound, though...

Plugging in an external mic will usually disable the internal one, so if you just put in a plug with a chopped cord, you should be good to go.

[adagirl]

1984
read it. wake up the public

[68Cougar]

1984
read it. wake up the public

That's one of those book things grandpa talks about right?

[theo]

While it does sound creepy, the article makes a lot over a few systems which are clearly still in the R&D stage. The idea that this secret monitoring is occurring right now is a little far-fetched. If corporations were actually doing this and it was leaked out, the backlash would tremendous; not to mention the law suits. Corporations are not always ethical, but they are uniformly terrified of an angry consuming public.

There is a concept in marketing called Ethnographic research where a subject willingly allows their behavior to be monitored in their home environment. It was through this research that kitchen appliance makers discovered that their products had to designed to be operated with one hand since many mothers are holding a young child with their other arm. This article sounds like it is describing a high tech version of voluntary observation which been going on for nearly 40 years.

[adagirl]

1984
read it. wake up the public

That's one of those book things grandpa talks about right?

Yes

[68Cougar]

1984
read it. wake up the public

That's one of those book things grandpa talks about right?

Yes

All joking aside, on the subject of 1984, a good companion piece is Brave New World. Neil Postman does a good compare and contrast as follows:

What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one. Orwell feared those who would deprive us of information. Huxley feared those who would give us so much that we would be reduced to passivity and egoism. Orwell feared that the truth would be concealed from us. Huxley feared the truth would be drowned in a sea of irrelevance. Orwell feared we would become a captive culture. Huxley feared we would become a trivial culture, preoccupied with some equivalent of the feelies, the orgy porgy, and the centrifugal bumblepuppy. As Huxley remarked in Brave New World Revisited, the civil libertarians and rationalists who are ever on the alert to oppose tyranny "failed to take into account man's almost infinite appetite for distractions". In 1984, Huxley added, people are controlled by inflicting pain. In Brave New World, they are controlled by inflicting pleasure. In short, Orwell feared that what we hate will ruin us. Huxley feared that what we love will ruin us.

Sorry for hijacking the thread.

[scyther]

Hm, I prefer Huxley's dystopia to Orwell's. Unfortunately I think we're transitioning from the former to the later. I must admit I've never actually read either of those books. I really should have by now. But I did read this book called Among the Hidden like 11 years ago where the TVs spy on people for a tyrannical government. It's sad how this inevitably happens, even though people were warned so far ahead of time.

[scyther]

I've covered up the webcam on my laptop for years now... Ever since I first found out it existed . Not sure what I can do about my computer recording sound, though...

Plugging in an external mic will usually disable the internal one, so if you just put in a plug with a chopped cord, you should be good to go.

Thanks.