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3/31/2017 3 Comments are smartwatches safe? (BLOG #9)Technology is advancing each year that we seem to begin to adapt with technological changes. Now most people in the United States own smartphones that use their phones cameras most of the time that seem to replace digital cameras that I can remember when digital cameras were used like 5-8 years ago. There was the time that computers were the only thing that the public can access to the internet. Now we have our smartphones, game systems, smart TV’s, printers, refrigerators, cameras, and USB Flash Drives that can access that can access the internet, so mostly everyone can easily access the internet. I heard from my professor for my intro to Networking class that in a few years there is going to be toasters and chairs that will have the ability to access the internet. It is unbelievable that some common items that we use in a daily basis can be upgraded with internet access. Instead of focusing on the future, we should see what kind of technological devices that are trending now for example smartwatches. I have never imagined that we are going to replace an ordinary watch for a smartwatch. A smartwatch is a mobile device with a touchscreen display, designed to be worn on the wrist. Smartwatches are popular among tech savvy consumers, which I don’t blame them for enjoying a device that can easily give you directions from point A to point B, can send emails or text messages, use voice search, get notifications from your favorite news cast, play music, shop, and book a flight. Although a smartwatch is a must have device, but there are some flaws that smartwatches can harm or endanger privacy to consumers. Companies find ways to collect and use personal health, location and purchasing data found on the wearable devices of their customers and workers. According to an article from ComputerWorld, “The broader privacy concern is that information collected from various [wearable] sources is increasingly being combined to create profiles from individual users and draw inferences about their future actions, preferences, etc." To be clearer about the invasion of privacy that companies cause from users is that smartwatches makes it seem that any personal information that is stored in the smartwatch can remain anonymous, but that is not the case most of the time. For example, the smartwatch has a health feature that it has monitor and record a user’s heartbeat and their current health, so if companies gather people’s health data from the smartwatches, it can possibly jeopardize a person’s employment if they have bad health. About some other ethical issue involving health concerns is the side effects that smartwatches can cause to users that we seem to not be aware of. Radiation that is released by these gadgets can cause reduced sperm counts, eye irritation, headaches, reduced appetite, nausea, mood swings and sleep disruption. According to an interview that was conducted to Dr. Pandey from regards to health concerns, “The Electro-Magnetic Radiation (EMR) and radio signals, which are released continuously by these gadgets, have become one of the most toxic forms of pollution and a major health concern. With the constant use of cell phones and electronic devices, which offer near constant connectivity, hazardous toxins are wreaking havoc on the human body slowly and surely”. I am not encouraging people not to buy a smartwatch, but I want inform everyone that it might cause health issues and invasion of privacy when you get your hands on one.
3 Comments
Juan Reyes
4/5/2017 12:40:02 pm
Hi Fernando,
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Araceli Gopar
4/5/2017 09:12:41 pm
Hello Fernando,
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Lesly Garcia
5/8/2017 01:58:09 pm
Hi Fernando,
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Fernando MadrigalHello, my name is Fernando Madrigal and I am a Junior at CSUMB. My major is Computer Science with my concentration in Network and Security. I recently transferred from Hartnell Community College last fall. Archives
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