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16 Nov, 7 tweets, 2 min read
Maria Van Brittan Brown, a Black woman from Jamaica, Queens, NY invented a system to spy on would-be burglars on her stoop. Now it watches entire families and anyone who crosses the system’s threshold. wired.trib.al/h6JeETv 1/7
Her invention and countless others have led to a boom not only in home security products like the Amazon suite and Google’s security cameras, but increasing measures to make the home, the neighborhood, and all public and private spaces a 24/7 watched fortress. 2/7
Earlier this year, Amazon focused on how it would like us to think about security by previewing a security robot named Astro, essentially a roving Alexa with a camera that rolls around your house and scans the faces of people in your home. 3/7
The company’s Ring partnered with more than 400 police departments across the country after a successful multi-year strategy that turned law enforcement into part-time doorbell sales agents and cemented the term “porch pirate” into our lexicon. 4/7
Many of these tools have become agents of gentrification. They offload the “policing” of Black folks in public spaces to individuals. Brown’s invention demonstrates that the repressive function of technologies lies in their overlapping pervasive notions of race. 5/7
Despite Brown’s best intentions, no amount of advances in technology will change the basic truth that surveillance systems, no matter their origin, will always exist to serve power, not people. wired.trib.al/rcyclZO 6/7
Subscribe to WIRED for less than $1 per month and get unlimited access to our longform features, buying guides, and tech news. wired.trib.al/RzetCkJ 7/7

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More from @WIRED

18 Nov
NEW: A @reveal and @WIRED special report that includes confidential documents and more than a dozen interviews with former employees points to a secret Amazon has been keeping from you: your data has been handled much less carefully than your packages. wired.trib.al/cQHKv1n 1/9 Image
In 2018, an Amazon exec confidently proclaimed to Congress that a commitment to privacy and security was sewn into everything the company did. 2/9
“We design our products and services so that it's easy for customers to understand when their data is being collected and control when it's shared,” he said. “Our customers trust us to handle their data carefully and sensibly.” 3/9
Read 9 tweets
13 Nov
Working from home isn’t always convenient, so it should at least be comfortable. We've spent the past year sitting on more than 15 office chairs, and these are our favorites. If you buy something using our links, WIRED may earn a commission. wired.trib.al/C7VbO2X 1/
A good chair comes with a variety of adjustments. Branch's Ergonomic Chair fits this bill. It's surprisingly sleek and easy to assemble with tons of little tweaks you can make—without the outlandish price. 📸: Branch wired.trib.al/Qkt6rSl 2/
The FlexFit Hyken Mesh Task Chair is one of the most affordable good options out there. It reclines, has a breathable mesh fabric on the back and seat, and it's sturdy. You even get a headrest and lumbar support. 📸: Staples wired.trib.al/bLbIh2C 3/
Read 8 tweets
12 Nov
As the old adage goes - more espresso less depresso. To brighten up those chilly winter mornings, why not upgrade your coffee set up. Here are some of the best espresso machines the WIRED coffee nerds have ever tried. wired.trib.al/EibjkZB 1/8
You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you get what you need for hundreds of dollars cheaper. With a sleek body, consistent water and steam pressure, the Rancilio Silvia M brews espresso fit for a king. 📸: Rancilio wired.trib.al/6rpnbzb 2/8
For coffee consumers on the go,try the Breville Dual Boiler Espresso Machine.The double boiler lets you jump between its three main functions without having to wait for the machine to catch up, so you're always minutes away from liquid joy.📸: Breville wired.trib.al/Ah9giSj 3/8
Read 8 tweets
10 Nov
Day 2 of RE:WIRED kicks off at 9:30AM EST with a riveting panel about a topic that has dominated our lives over the last two years: MRNA vaccines. Join us live, and follow this thread for updates on the day: wired.trib.al/nQxYNxE #REWIRED2021 ImageImageImageImage
Day 2 of RE:WIRED is LIVE! Watch with us (for free!) right here, or look out for updates on this thread below: wired.trib.al/nQxYNxE #REWIRED2021
"We somehow think the humanity of those who haven't received the vaccine is somehow less than ours," says Dr. Nahid Bhadelia. "There are still some parts of the world where only 5% of people are vaccinated."

wired.trib.al/XlxzwTV #REWIRED2021 Image
Read 21 tweets
9 Nov
It’s beginning to look a lot like a logistical nightmare. To avoid supply chain issues and holiday stress, take a peek at WIRED's early Christmas Gift Guide. If you buy something using our links, WIRED may earn a commission. wired.trib.al/h9QAHEF Via @WIREDUK 1/8
If you want to get the whole family up and moving this year, try the Oculus Quest 2. But make sure you use the straps on the controllers, or you might lose one to the cranberry sauce. 📸: Oculus 2/8
wired.trib.al/zibNoJW
The Nintendo Switch is a universal hit, but why not improve on (near) perfection and go bigger and brighter this year - hello OLED model. Oh and you’ll never have to deal with the original Switch’s god-awful kickstand again. 📸: Nintendo 3/8 wired.trib.al/GVwjnZ2
Read 8 tweets
9 Nov
We're 30 minutes from the beginning of RE:WIRED—a series of virtual conversations about humanity's biggest bets. You can register and watch at the link, but we'll be live tweeting today's events below: wired.trib.al/Rc5MO3q #REWIRED2021
And RE:WIRED has begun! Register and watch live right here (Don't worry, it's free!): wired.trib.al/Rc5MO3q #REWIRED2021
Up next, a defining question for the future of humanity with @kaifulee and @yokymatsuoka: What should the future of AI look like? Watch live right here: wired.trib.al/Rc5MO3q #REWIRED2021
Read 34 tweets

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