The article named "Abuse by Technology" on the Room for Debate forums explains how new acts of domestic violence take place. These new acts of domestic violence rely on smart home devices that can be controlled remotely in or out of the residence. These devices allow the abuser in the relationship to harm, mess with, and monitor the victim. This form of domestic abuse has been on the rise recently and has mostly been targeted against women and children. The abuser can change the temperature drastically in the house if a thermostat had been installed, play blaring loud music at any time, monitor and shut off televisions, monitor who enters the house and monitor every room in the house, and has the ability to do much much more with the increase of smart house technology.
The victim in the relationship explains how having little to no control in their lives at home can drive the person crazy, and especially having no way to disconnect the abusive partner because of lack of knowledge and fear. Simply getting rid of a smart device such as the thermostat could result in argument and physical abuse, so most victims never even dream of doing so. With smart home devices the person who sets up and installs the device is usually the person who knows how to use the devices the most, and since statistics say that most men install these devices in the house it takes a turn on the women. How do you feel about smart house technology? Do you think we should stop creating these devices? How would you think you would resolve these issues? I would think that simply educating the victim on these devices and how to disconnect an account could help lessen the problem if not prevent it entirely.
-Maher Homsi
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ReplyDeleteA home protected by technological security is not as secure as manual security, but communicates better. For example, nowadays homes protected by advanced technology quickly alert the owners if criminal tampering happens to the house. Issue is technology can be manipulated. If someone really wants to, they can find a way to "hack" the security system; I know this sounds like a Hollywood idea, but it can be true. Same goes both ways though; if someone wants to bypass manual security, they will do so somehow. Obviously in the virtual world, key codes and generated numbers will never be beaten. I've done my research between the two, I prefer manual.
ReplyDeleteWith this off-topic statement being said, it is always best to keep your surrounding lacking of technology and to know what and how you are connected to technological devices.