As with almost all new technology, installing such devices means balancing privacy risks with the conveniences they offer. Research firm International Data Corp has estimated that worldwide shipments of smart speakers, security cameras and other devices last year totaled 815 million, up 23 percent from 2018. SPEAKERS LISTENSmart speakers such as Amazon’s Echo and Google Home let you check weather and appointments with simple voice commands. One more catch: Voice commands sent over the Internet are typically stored indefinitely and might include conversations in the background. SECURITY WITH CAMERASOnline security cameras let you check in on your pets or kids when you are not home.

Source: Taipei Times January 03, 2020 15:56 UTC