http://vator.tv/news/2013-04-13-google-picks-up-behavioral-sensing-company-behavio
Yay!! so in order to upgrade and make Google glass practical, Google acquired the company Behavio…this is a company which uses peoples phone signals in order to track human behavior and then make an ‘educated determination’ to predict what we will do next. I used to think all this technology was in order to make our lives easier that was up until I realized what the hell is going on, I kinda want to escape from this world where Im feeling more like a game pawn and lab rat than a person with feelings, thoughts, and ideas. Seriously this Behavio company seems like they are going to make our Filter bubbles even more solid and impossible to break out of or anything new to break into them.
Thoughts anyone? Am I overreacting?
Now I start to wonder what will happen if this technology goes further. Not only they “predict” what we will do next, what if they “suggest” what to do next? For example, after they predict that you would brush your teeth, they might suggest you to use a toothpaste of a specific brand. I feel like whatever Behavio company plans to do is not promoting our life, but it’s rather controlling our life. This is why I’m feeling little disgusted and creepy about Google Glass even though it is a really convenient and fascinating technology.
I agree with the both of you. Every time a new technology idea comes out, somehow we end up being lab rats for every company, we tend to think that all of that experimenting benefits us but we do not realize that we are compromising our privacy. Everything now is technology based, but I would be a hypocrite if I ever say that I am totally against it. The era we live in today, with different technologies makes our lives much easier and convenient. But once again the Google Glass is something I think we could live without. Everything about it creeps me out. I remember when I visited my country 5 years ago, people still did not own computers at home, had no idea what the Apple company consisted of, only the rich could afford a cellphone, but here in the US most of us, including myself would feel naked if they left their house without a phone or music player. I think it’s unbelievable of what humans managed to create within these years but our privacy is something I would consider priceless.
I noticed one of the commenters on the actual article website argue that this tool won’t determine behavior because it doesn’t know the intent. I disagree. We are already pretty much being studied and analyzed by algorithms when we research specific topics and linking technology to behavioral studies is just taking this analysis process to a whole another level. It just seems like the more technologically advanced we become, the more transparent our privacy. To conclude, I think this whole collaboration with Behavio is beyond creepy and it is scary to think where technology is headed next.