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The average household in the U.S. now has 16 connected devices in their possession. This includes mobile phones, smart watches, doorbells, smart locks, security cameras, thermostats, and even kitchen appliances. And there are serious consequences of hooking up more significant parts of our lives to software—and oftentimes the internet.
Take for example, when due to a design flaw in Kia and Hyundai cars, vehicles were far more susceptible to being stolen, a flaw that became widely known in late 2022 in a viral sensation known as the Kia Challenge. Los Angeles alone saw an 85% increase in thefts of Kia and Hyundai vehicles in 2022 compared to 2021. However, a recent software upgrade to cars with the flaw actually cut theft rates by more than half, according to the Highway Loss Data Institute.
As consumers, we wouldn’t hesitate to call out problems with seatbelts and airbags, yet the public conversation around software risks receives little attention in spite of these glaring problems. And we see this trend extend beyond cars, software continues creating problems for consumers in all areas of life.
Avoiding an Internet-of-Trash
With 16 connected devices per household, the potential for disruption to our daily lives can be consequential even if our car isn’t being stolen. Belkin’s bricking of its Wemo security camera line is a prime example. The company abruptly stopped supporting its Wemo NetCam cloud service, which left its users with non-functional security cameras. Or take the more recent announcement by smart-lock company Yale, which decided to charge customers to upgrade their app or face being locked out of their homes. While this reliance on software isn’t the case for older devices, but this won’t always be the case. The continued growth of software-driven and internet connected devices is staggering.
These dilemmas around software-driven devices will become more normal as the “internet-of-things” continues to take up more space in our lives. The main option at the moment are to either pay a monthly subscription to make sure it lasts through software upgrades or warranties, or simply upgrading every year or so for things from microwaves to phones.
Much like the right-to-repair movement, people are starting to speak up about devices not receiving software supports for long enough. Without long-term software support, by manufacturers or otherwise, devices can become less functional and secure even if they have working parts. The rise of software-driven devices won’t be changing any time soon, but what that future looks like will either be prioritizing devices that stay functional for as long as possible, or where companies can abandon devices at a whim.
Other News
- What Library of Things have achieved after 10 years: Libraries of things are like book libraries but for even more useful objects that we use everyday. The original “Library of Things” began in London ten years ago, and has been doling out objects ever since. The model is based around affordably renting items to do DIY, repairs, cleaning, gardening, hobbying and more while having members save money and reduce waste in the process. Do you really need to own a pair of hedge clippers or chainsaw you use twice a year? The libraries of things around London are now accessible across 18 locations, “reuse and repair hubs, shopping centres and arts venues in neighbourhoods” across the city.
- Video game preservation needs to be DRM-Free: The invention of the first video game was actually not Pong, it was a game called Tennis for Two in 1958! And since then, video games have been growing as an industry with new models of consoles and hardware galore. With such a rich history of tech associated with video games, many gamers are scrambling to restore, maintain, and preserve “retro” devices. Solutions like emulators, digital imaging, backup software, and hardware repair kits are essential for keeping the games running—but a big piece of the puzzle is digital-rights-management (DRM) that companies use to keep old games (that they are not making money from) to stop games from being used. The alternative is moving to a DRM-free model for games, making it easier to preserve them for future generations.
- Luggage repair service is a right-to-repair win: RIMOWA, a luxury suitcase company, says their products are designed for infinite repair. They emphasize their products being durable and repairable, being known for their modular design. Part replacements like wheels and handles are easy to get, ensuring long-term use. And with a network of repair centers, the company offers many free repairs, emphasizing functionality over cosmetic fixes. The major issue is that their luggage can run you around $2,000 for a single case.
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