Objects being connected to the internet definitely has and abundance of upsides. And as technology progresses they can be beneficial to everyone, but it can be exploited if put into the wrong hands. Today we have what Julian Bleeker calls the internet in their article A Manifesto for Networked Objects — Cohabiting with Pigeons, Arphids and Aibos in the Internet of Things the “everywhere internet” he describes it as “— an Internet that spills out beyond the tethered connections and local WiFi hotspots to consume nearly every corner of the physical world — “.
Neil Gershenfeld and JP Vasseur wrote in their article As objects go online: the promise (and pitfalls) of the internet of things “Giving objects access to the Internet simplifies hard problems.“ not only does it simplify hard problems, but it makes easy ones a piece of cake. Right now, not only do we already have access to the internet in the palm of our hands, but with Amazon’s Echo and other smart objects, we have the availability to connect the entirety of our homes. For example, if you own an echo and smart light bulbs, you can control the lighting in your home simply by saying “Alexa, ______ the lights”
Although we can benefit from these smart object, unfortunately things could also get worse. Let’s face it, there are terrible people in the world, If these people are given access to smart technology, they abuse it and things will turn for the worse. For example, in Nellie Bowels article Thermostats, Locks and Lights: Digital Tools of Domestic Abuse they explain how people, mainly women, experience abuse from an assailant who has the access to the smart object connected to their homes.
“Smart home technology can be easily harnessed for misuse for several reasons. Tools like connected in-home security cameras are relatively inexpensive — some retail for $40 — and are straightforward to install. Usually, one person in a relationship takes charge of putting in the technology, knows how it works and has all the passwords. This gives that person the power to turn the technology against the other person.”
If someone is in a violent relationship and their abuser has access to these objects, the victim will always be a target. Taking these things away could also potentially escalate their relationship and could lead to the victim in fear of getting hurt or worse. Thus, the internet in object could definitely be beneficial, but only in the right hands.