The smart home graveyard is getting crowded
Published
What's this about?
This is The Stepback, a weekly newsletter breaking down one essential story from the tech world. For more on the fragile state of your connected devices, follow Jennifer Pattison Tuohy. The Stepback arrives in our subscribers' inboxes on Sunday at 8AM ET. Opt in for The Stepback here. How it started
The one-panel cartoon
Read the cartoon's script
Caption: I'm here for you, even when you're not.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on theverge.com.
Rate this comic
Read the script
Panel 1
Zoomed-in shot of a vintage clock radio in a dimly lit room. The radio is playing a soft melody, as if it's alone in the house. Alex (voice-over, in a cheerful tone) Sam (deadpan, looking at Alex)
Alex: Hey, Sam! I just plugged in my old radio. It's like bringing a friend back from the grave of technology. Welcome home, old buddy!
Sam: Alex, you know this clock radio won't even remember its days of glory. It's more of a tech graveyard survivor.
Panel 2
Scene shifts to a futuristic kitchen with automated appliances, some of which are flickering on and off.
Alex: Look, Sam, I just installed a smart refrigerator. It's like giving a brain tumor a new operating system. Just when it thinks everything is going smoothly, it starts to have seizures.
Sam: Yeah, and you thought your internet connectivity problems were bad. Now we've got a kitchen where the dishes won't even clean themselves.
Panel 3
Cut to a chaotic hallway with lights flashing and appliances all around, including a microwave that's melting into a puddle of goo. Sam (sarcastically)
Alex: Oh, Sam, this is a real nightmare. I just activated a smart thermostat, and now it's like playing a game of Jenga with power grids. It's a real-life smart home graveyard, and it's happening right in our own home. Good thing I have a backup plan in my emergency survival kit.
Sam: Alex, maybe it's time to check if you've got your own power source plugged in. Because clearly, you're just as unstable as this whole setup.
Comments