So far, and thanks for all the details – Stacey on IoT
This article was originally published in my weekly IoT newsletter on Friday August 18, 2023. It was my last newsletter.
Most of you know that I am stepping back from producing the weekly Internet of Things podcast, and that I am stepping back from creating this Internet of Things focused newsletter. But it’s not a true goodbye. I will continue to post on Bluesky and will probably send out a newsletter from time to time when I feel strongly about something.
Before I go on to say why I’m doing this, or my next steps, I want to say thank you to everyone who reads the newsletter or listens to the podcast. I started this business in 2016 after leaving my role as a senior editor Good luckand many people question my decision to leave an established book to create my own.
But I wanted to really dig into the issues that would arise if we added computers to everything, whether technological or social. Thousands of people joined me, and without you and our sponsors I would not be able to do this work. I am very lucky to have been able to do this, and it is all because of you giving me your time and your stories.
Thank you very much.
Like I said, this isn’t really goodbye. You may find a blog post or two from me at the Consumer Reports Innovation Lab, and I may be working on another publication soon. But finally trying to take a break from the life of a journalist after more than twenty years focused on daily and immediate issues, I have little time to dig into the big picture and the long-term implications of the products and innovations that I tirelessly emphasize.
And yet, I often think about the huge implications of IoT everywhere. Even when I started covering the smart home in 2012 I knew that those devices add complexity to the user’s life and the potential risk of government or corporate surveillance. And as devices were introduced and rolled out, it became increasingly clear that the business model for connected devices was shifting between high-value subscriptions and rampant data capture.
Meanwhile, outside the home, new technologies were being used to monitor workers and push them to their absolute limits while focusing more on their primary goal. The recent focus on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices by companies has led businesses to invest in technology for carbon reduction and efficiency, but it feels like too little, or it’s a way to do green things that we shouldn’t have done in the first place.
I love technology. And I fundamentally believe that people who try to solve problems with new technologies can make a difference. But I’m tired, and I’m getting more and more naive when it comes to new initiatives or research. That prevents me from getting excited about the really good ideas out there.
So I back off. With a little break, maybe I’ll get excited about human technology and ingenuity again. Maybe I’ll see stories that I can’t wait to explain and share with everyone. Currently, I’m working on several personal projects, including taking on a consulting role with Consumer Reports’ Innovation Lab to focus on cybersecurity and privacy issues related to connected devices.
So I’m still eager to hear from all of you about your experiences, and I’ll be reaching out to many of you to talk about how we can make connected devices safer, more secure, and better for everyone. Please keep in touch by emailing me at [email protected].
