Marketers of connected devices do so as if the devices were any other piece of personalty, but I believe they exist entirely in their own class. There is often a hidden, or at least much-downplayed mechanism that enables the vendor to remotely control or extract information from the product. This class of mechanism exists in electronic devices as diverse as mobile phones, televisions and FitBits. Some of these mechanisms are necessary for operation; many ultimately represent hidden costs to the consumer.

As science fiction author Bruce Sterling recently noted, objects in the 21st century are print-outs of social relationships. Perhaps connected devices more so than others. It is evident that consumers at large are inexperienced with the nature of this new kind of relationship, and lack the wherewithal to properly evaluate what is tantamount to a bait and switch.

Marketers of connected devices do so as if the devices were any other piece of personalty, but I believe they exist entirely in their own class. There is often a hidden, or at least much-downplayed mechanism that enables the vendor to remotely control or extract information from the product. This class of mechanism exists in electronic devices as diverse as mobile phones, televisions and FitBits. Some of these mechanisms are necessary for operation; many ultimately represent hidden costs to the consumer.

As science fiction author Bruce Sterling recently noted, objects in the 21st century are print-outs of social relationships. Perhaps connected devices more so than others. It is evident that consumers at large are inexperienced with the nature of this new kind of relationship, and lack the wherewithal to properly evaluate what is tantamount to a bait and switch.