‘Smart’ devices have serious downsides | Letter

Dr Jan Udris notes the catastrophic contribution to global warming, and says the more complex technology is, the more likely it is to go wrong

Victoria Turk (As a jaded tech journalist, I'm in a battle to keep smart' devices out of my home - despite my partner's efforts, 9 November) makes animportant point about the excesses of smart" internet-connected appliances, and it is certainly true that many of us are truly spoilt: not only do we have devices that make it unnecessary for us to make any physical effort, we are now browbeaten into giving up any vestige of real control overthose devices. But there are two other crucial points that Turk fails to make.

First, the more complex the technology, the more likely it is to go wrong. When a vacuum cleaner malfunctions, I can usually fix it. Ifa smart" device malfunctions, most of us don't know where to start. Hence wasted time, frustration and a predictable tendency to throw it away and get a new one. This benefits only the grotesque late capitalism that cares nothing about the consumer or theplanet.