Post by va3css on Mar 11, 2005 10:01:28 GMT -5
Further to our discussion on the air about this topic, you suggested that in the long run, BPL may be also used to "spy" on us for all sorts of useless info.
ie: how many times we use a microwave oven; open the fridge; bake in the oven; etc.
I won't deny that if BPL came through, things like this would be possible - but not too bloody likely.
First of all, the government, as paranoid as they are now, post 9/11, are not going to foot the bill to do this, especially to gather such useles info.
Now, you mentioned companies like Frigidaire or Samsung, who make the fridges and microwaves and so on themselves, might pay for the "spy" technology that you speak of. That's more likely, IMO, as they can use it for market research.
Even then, NONE of us have any of these appliances capable of this stuff. My fridge has no way to send an indication over it's power plug whenever the door is opened, and neither does yours. Every one of our appliances would have to be upgraded to one with that capability before this kind of info can be gathered. And as you know, we don't normally buy new fridges that often. It's more like a decade or so later, when we're forced to.
Then you still have all the others to change: microwave; TV; ceiling fans... whatever they decide to want to "spy" on.
What you suggest is entirely possible, but not plausible, and certainly VERY FAR down the road. And by then, people like me will be building or purchasing some sort of blocking device to be installed inline with our AC lines to prevent exactly this.
I think you're over-worried, myself....
Hope you're feeling better and can kick whatever bug you've got!
ie: how many times we use a microwave oven; open the fridge; bake in the oven; etc.
I won't deny that if BPL came through, things like this would be possible - but not too bloody likely.
First of all, the government, as paranoid as they are now, post 9/11, are not going to foot the bill to do this, especially to gather such useles info.
Now, you mentioned companies like Frigidaire or Samsung, who make the fridges and microwaves and so on themselves, might pay for the "spy" technology that you speak of. That's more likely, IMO, as they can use it for market research.
Even then, NONE of us have any of these appliances capable of this stuff. My fridge has no way to send an indication over it's power plug whenever the door is opened, and neither does yours. Every one of our appliances would have to be upgraded to one with that capability before this kind of info can be gathered. And as you know, we don't normally buy new fridges that often. It's more like a decade or so later, when we're forced to.
Then you still have all the others to change: microwave; TV; ceiling fans... whatever they decide to want to "spy" on.
What you suggest is entirely possible, but not plausible, and certainly VERY FAR down the road. And by then, people like me will be building or purchasing some sort of blocking device to be installed inline with our AC lines to prevent exactly this.
I think you're over-worried, myself....
Hope you're feeling better and can kick whatever bug you've got!