5 ms·

Most people don't have the time or knowledge to set up a Linux box, much less an OSS baby monitor. This is one category of problem that should be solved throug

by donw 3y ago

Most people don't have the time or knowledge to set up a Linux box, much less an OSS baby monitor. This is one category of problem that should be solved through legislation, but I doubt that should such laws be passed, that they would be actually enforced against bad actors. Like most regulations, it'll be just another weapon to entrench existing players, and keep new entrants out of the market. The way things should work: right-to-repair means not only schematics, BOMs, and source code; it also means documentation on network protocols, and the ability for the end-user to repoint any sort of cloud/smartphone connected device to another endpoint.

bhuber 3y ago
> This is one category of problem that should be solved through legislation, but I doubt that should such laws be passed, that they would be actually enforced against bad actors. IANAL, but I would think this would be covered by existing false advertising laws, and maybe breach of contract. They advertised a product as coming with features x, y, and z; people paid for those features; and then the company unilaterally disabled those features. So now features x, y, and z no longer work on the product as advertised. I'd be surprised if we don't see class action lawsuits for this.
gerdesj 3y ago
"Most people don't have the time or knowledge to set up a Linux box, much less an OSS baby monitor." Luckily this granddad does. I also get deployed by daughter in law to deal with any safety critical stuff in their house eg stair gates and mounting TVs on the wall that will survive an acrobat practising a new routine. Ironically enough, her other half is a railway safety engineer. Technology isn't the be all and end all. Whilst I can and have rigged up a baby monitor from a spare Riolink, a spare PoE switch, a VPN back to my home Zoneminder etc, it isn't actually required. Yes I do have a lot of spare stuff and grandad's cloud is acceptable.

by donw 3y ago

bhuber 3y ago

> This is one category of problem that should be solved through legislation, but I doubt that should such laws be passed, that they would be actually enforced against bad actors. IANAL, but I would think this would be covered by existing false advertising laws, and maybe breach of contract. They advertised a product as coming with features x, y, and z; people paid for those features; and then the company unilaterally disabled those features. So now features x, y, and z no longer work on the product as advertised. I'd be surprised if we don't see class action lawsuits for this.

gerdesj 3y ago

"Most people don't have the time or knowledge to set up a Linux box, much less an OSS baby monitor." Luckily this granddad does. I also get deployed by daughter in law to deal with any safety critical stuff in their house eg stair gates and mounting TVs on the wall that will survive an acrobat practising a new routine. Ironically enough, her other half is a railway safety engineer. Technology isn't the be all and end all. Whilst I can and have rigged up a baby monitor from a spare Riolink, a spare PoE switch, a VPN back to my home Zoneminder etc, it isn't actually required. Yes I do have a lot of spare stuff and grandad's cloud is acceptable.