good gravy how much data mining is Google willing to do?

[littlewolf]

http://market-ticker.org/akcs-www?post=227599


Google paid billions for a thermostat company? And why is that?
Well, NEST makes a thermostat that will talk (over WiFi) and "learns" what you do with it. That is, you turn it up at certain times of the day and down at others, and it learns the pattern you use. So what? That's not very revolutionary.

snip


No, if you want my opinion what Google wants and thinks is worth the few billion smackers is the portal inside your house on the clean side of your home network.
My money is on them wanting the data, in short.
If they could get you to let them see in your bedroom, I bet they'd do that too. After all, you might buy more condoms if they knew how often (and how many different people!) you were sleeping with -- especially the latter.

snip

You think this sort of thing is good? Yeah, I get it -- it's convenient. With NEST at least you were completely in control (in theory anyway) of who had access to it -- that being you, and you alone.
With Google involved and it being on the Internet (since you can get to it via your cellphone from anywhere)? Anyone for bets on how long it is before that thing signs into your Google account, integrating everything? And of course since it's on your local WiFi network it can see all the MAC addresses on your network too. Those uniquely identify every device that connects to your network.

snip

That means Google now knows if you're home, because if your thermostat is set back, you're not. They know when you're home, when you're not, when you're on vacation, if you like to get up early or late, how late you stay up and more. And if they want it to they can have it enumerate all the WiFi (and cabled) devices that are in your house network too, because this thing is on the inside.
Oh I'm sure Google will never do anything like integrate this thing with the rest of Google, right? I mean, that integration with your Gmail account and Google ID is just theoretical, for now anyway.

more at the link

[Liberal_in_LA]

1. kick

[yodermon]

2. in 50 years Google will be indistinguishable from God.

All knowing, all seeing, it knows what I'm searching for before I can complete my thought!

[randome]

3. Google made a deal with Nest to not use their user data.

So this comes across as scare-mongering unconcerned with facts.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]If you don't give yourself the same benefit of a doubt you'd give anyone else, you're cheating someone. Who is it?[/center][/font][hr]

[Shandris]

5. Knowing Google as we do, anyone who doesn't have a healthy skepticism is...

...perhaps not paying enough attention, I'd think. I'd like to know the -exact wording- of that 'agreement', because I'll damn sure guarantee it wasn't "OH, yeah, we'll just throw away everything previously collected and completely delete it when we take over, clean."

[littlewolf]

6. that is pretty much were I am with this. nt

[Retrograde]

4. Whatever they can get they'll go for (n/t)

[adirondacker]

7. Up next; Toilet monitors to check your intake and exhaust.

[Historic NY]

8. And some people complain about the NSA when GOOGLE is sliding further up your colons.

and they use the data against you, by selling it off.

[IDemo]

9. And next up, Android in your new car -

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2014-01-06/google-teams-with-gm-honda-and-audi-to-bring-android-to-cars

That kid—the one in the back of the SUV with the iPad—is the automotive industry’s worst enemy. He’s also the reason some of the world’s biggest automakers are working with Google to bring its Android software into vehicle infotainment systems.

Early this morning, Google (GOOG) announced the Open Automotive Alliance. It’s a group of technology and automotive companies, including General Motors (GM), Honda Motor (HMC), Audi, Hyundai, and chipmaker Nvidia (NVDA), that want to customize Google’s popular mobile operating system for vehicles. The technology companies get a chance to place their wares into hundreds of millions of cars. Meanwhile, the automakers have an opportunity to modernize the software inside their vehicles and try to keep pace with the mobile devices that are starting to make high-profit infotainment systems obsolete.

[Recursion]

10. It's no mystery; Google has wanted to get into home automation for years now

I think they also had a deal with one of the "smart refrigerator" companies a couple of years back.

[laundry_queen]

11. They broke the law here in Canada

http://business.financialpost.com/2014/01/15/google-inc-privacy-health-canada/?__lsa=4cf7-63b0

They 'promise' to be better. ugh.

[littlewolf]

12. I think that equals "we will work harder at not getting caught!" nt