(WSVN) - The maker of the Roomba robotic vacuum, iRobot, is looking to possibly sell their customer’s home floor plans to three big tech companies.
The latest model of the Roomba has a built-in camera that can learn the layout of your home. It has a software that processes the images and builds a map while it is cleaning.
By knowing the size and shape of the floor layout, it can connect other features in your home, such as heating and air conditioning systems, EQ balance sound systems, and even smart lighting that adjusts to the position of windows throughout the day.
The CEO of iRobot, Colin Angle, told Reuters the company looking to make a deal with Amazon, Apple, or Alphabet that would put what he calls the “rich map of the home” inside the brain of Alexa, Siri, or Google Assistant.
He also mentioned that the company will protect their customer’s privacy, and will only sell what their customers approve.
According to the New York Post, Angle said iRobot became compatible with Amazon’s Alexa voice assistant in March, and could reach a deal to sell its maps in the next couple of years.
People have raised their concerns through social media about the plans. Some Roomba owners said they felt as though the vacuums could be spying or even making them vulnerable to data hacks.
Wow. Who knew that the Roomba was mapping your house? #tech #privacy https://t.co/0prqy2Zcrt
— J.M. Grygiel 🐀 (@jmgrygiel) July 25, 2017
https://twitter.com/SethAMandel/status/889658593515012096
https://twitter.com/IrkenExplorer/status/890236578034892800
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