Discussion
A lot of tech-creep is down to the mindset: 'the technology could do this, so we'll programme it in' - instead of the mindset: 'what would actually be useful here ?'.
That's why we have washing machines you can turn on from a hundred miles away, but nothing that will load the dirty clothes into them.
@JustinMac84 @GeofCox Tbf, I would not want a machine that puts things into washing machines or microwaves. I would be eternally terrified of it putting live things in there.
@snoopy_jay @GeofCox Absolutely. All kinds of things could go wrong. But the point is more the need to be there in person makes the remote activation redundant.
@ReggieHere pointed out that some of it is about surveillance, and perhaps the suppliers' remote control, rather than usefulness to us - indeed it might be aimed at making things useLESS to us.
But I still think that a lot if it is just puerile tech playing by people fascinated by that gadgety-gimmicky stuff, and unable to understand that for most of us it's just annoying.
Yes. Most tech creep is also supplier-side innovation disguised as useful features.
The company that makes internet-connected fridges isn't interested in improving the lives of its customers; it wants direct connection to customers, detailed after sales data and an an opportunity to impose online licencing contracts
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@GeofCox I felt exactly this way about smart kettles. Their utility is restricted unless you keep them full all the time. Otherwise, being able to tell them to boil from the other side of the house is pointless. Likewise, a smart oven. What's the point in remotely having it microwave something if you first have to put it in from right there?