New kinect and parents
#1
Tue, 06/11/2013 - 09:48
New kinect and parents
After watching some of the presentations and catching the highlights I wanted some input from other 2o2p parents on the new systems. Right now I'm at wait and see point on both of them. But Christmas is coming and I know the pressure will build.
The always on Kinect really creeps me out where it concerns my kids. I know what the official statements say, but I don't think it would be that hard for a deviant sysadmin to find their way on to the console and be in my house.
I know the statement says it's only listening for "Xbox on" but to me that means it is hearing, parsing and processing everything and only when it registers those two words am I aware that it heard me.
My goal is to get advice (preferably good) or more information on how to disable it and not be part of a console war.
Here is a link to an article that has som ereally solid info concerning privacy and the Xbox One. I hope it helps. http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/privacy
Even the portion where it is listening for "Xbox On' can be disabled. The Kinect can be paused and turned off using the console privacy settings.
According to the MS link above, kinect is only off if the console is off. If the console is on, the kinect is either on or paused.
Great link. Also, for the non-tech savvy, there is little to no way anyone could hack into a closed system like the Xbox and control where video feeds go, especially non-recorded video. It's pretty much impossible. Think about how many times an Xbox 360 has been hacked remotely. I think you'll find that the number is zero.
Cube in comparison and something any hacker can do, not just a system admin, is hack the camera in your laptop or desktop computer to do the same thing.
Its still a concern, and while there is no video demonstration of the on-console privacy controls, there are some explanations as to what can be done with privacy.
Its something a parent would want to know, and I think Microsoft would do well to have a video FAQ section that includes privacy controls.
FWIW, I’m not comfortable with the kinect at this point. I’m not really worried about the console being hacked so that a random whacker can peer into my living room, nor am I worried that it will eavesdrop when it’s off. For me it’s really about whether the security settings will be robust enuf and flexible enuf for me to control content transmission to the internet to my satisfaction (ideally I'd like to turn it off, put it in a closet). If I can’t, I don’t trust MS (or a third party delegate) to adequately control and protect access to that data. I also have to get over the concept of having the device stuffed down my gullet. So I’ll wait until it’s out in the real world and I can get real info before I seriously consider picking one. Maybe by then I'll develop a comfort factor. And to be honest, I’ve already invested in dental work, ballet, and a beer convention. Makes it easier for me to say that a new console isn’t in this year’s budget.
Snuphy, you posting on this message board is as risky as running an Xbox One. Respectfully I think you've being overly paranoid.
Am I being stupid, or can one just twist the kinect around to face the wall when you're done? Then turn it back around when you want to play? Or if that will mess up calibrations, just cover the damn thing up?
Patriot act...Just saying.
Yeah, that's a hot topic INSIDE my house as we speak Knight. Heated indeed.
Not surprised Oldschool, I am surprised it has not been mentioned with reference to the whole Spy in The Living Room issue before. It's not about hackers, it's a tool that can and will be used under that act. Every technology that has allowed the abuse of personal space and liberties has been abused by the security services without exception. They have no qualms about ignoring national boundaries either so this is not just a concern for US citizens. Would I expect then to spy on me? Well here is the rub, it's not about whether or not I expect it, it is the fact they have spied on innocent people, accused them, imprisoned them under the Patriot Act for it to be discovered that said people were innocent of any wrong doing. So being innocent is irrelevant. Extraordinary rendition means your not even safe from the paranoid motivations behind the Patriot act if you not a US citizen.
Illegal bugging is rife, every phone call, email and electronic communication is logged and stored we have now been told. (I predicted that years ago) So will they ignore a camera that can identify individuals and what they are doing in homes all over the world? I say no of course not, why would they?
You don't need to be a tin foil hat dude to find this of concern, just have your eyes open to what they have already done.
Does this mean you should not buy a new Xbox? of course not, that is silly. Just as I would not suggest everyone throws away their cell phones and computers. But to close eyes and pretend that this is pure foil hat thinking is just as silly.
My main issues with the Box are financial, and internet related. But the baleful eye of the camera that has to be connected...Well knowing what I know, I do find that more than a little uncomfortable.
Yeah, don't think I'm all against what I refer to as "tin foil hatters". Everyone has an opinion, a point of view, and an agenda.
Lets just say while I don't agree with everything, I tend to listen to it all, just in case.
Heh not at all Oldschool, I was not so much replying to your Foil Hat comments as they were as I took them, tongue in cheek. More expanding on my own four word comment.
To be sure there are true Foil Hat crazies, I've met one or two and always been a little bemused that they seemed to miss everything it did make sense to be wary about, and instead expend an inordinate amount of energy on...well whatever conspiracy theory they made their own.
Well said Knight. Its definitely good to be informed and aware of what is going on with laws as you mention. Its also good to recognize how or if it will have any impact on ones life.
Nothing wrong with being informed in my book.
Again, well said.
Yeah, I can see that. But right now I have to get back to looking for that damn Keebler Elves tree...
Have you looked under the bed?
repeatedly, and they still aren't there...
Isn't this thread about replacing parents with the kinect? I totally want to replace my 71 year old dad with one.
http://www.theonion.com/video/xbox-one-capable-of-controlling-users-with...
I'll do you one better...
I heard Dan Greenawalt talking about the cloud studying our drive habits so the Forza software could replace us!!!
True story.
I heard an Xbox dev actually refer to their cloud as Skynet.
I have a 10 year old daughter that plays my Kinect almost daily and I am not concerned at all, she could get involved in far worse on her iPod touch. Just my .02
WAIT...WAIT: this face recognition thingy...does it mean I can't play games at someone's house when they're not there? When I go home to visit the crazies (family), if my youngest brother isn't around I hijack his Xbox for a while to avoid familial bonding. Will it see me as a thief and shut down his Xbox?? Or will it see its at home, assume I'm his sister (lol) and let me mess with his k/d...I mean play a few games??
lol. uh, no. it'll log you into your own account.
You can use any of your youngest brothers games on his Xbox One. If you don't have Xbox Live subscriptions and he does, you get those benifits on his console too.
You will have to be on his "list of friends and family" (up to 10) to use his games, if I interpret the morass of misinformation correctly. That's if you use your gamertag.
If you mean, turn it on and use his gamertag, I'm not sure. It could mean a whole new level of "grief" protection! Heck, if your voice prints incorrect, it may not even turn on at all? It has facial and voice recognition software.
Official information to avoid wrong information:
Share access to your games with everyone inside your home: Your friends and family, your guests and acquaintances get unlimited access to all of your games. Anyone can play your games on your console--regardless of whether you are logged in or their relationship to you.
http://news.xbox.com/2013/06/license