This episode originally aired on July 18, 2023.
More than half of Americans still own a printer, and it consistently ranks among the most frustrating pieces of technology.
In San Francisco, there’s even a “rage room,” where people pay to smash their printers and other technology.
The Washington Post recently devoted a series of articles to helping consumers navigate their printer-related headaches.
Facial recognition technology is often used every day to unlock our phones.
But recently, a growing number of stores in the UK and now in the US are using or being encouraged to use the technology to catch shoplifters.
Not only does it allow for a store to identify shoplifters almost immediately, but it also sends notifications to nearby stores and can result in a ban from them. But what happens when there’s a glitch – or can it be triggered by a missed-scan at self-checkout?
Civil liberties groups already worry our laws do not do enough to protect civilians’ privacy with technology – and the new, widespread use in the private sector has only deepened these fears.
The Nothing Phone 2 is debuting in the U.S. on July 16, and while it offers a range of upgrades, it’s pricey compared to its competitors.
One cool feature that sets it apart from others is its flashing LED lights – but are they needed?
Host:
- Amy Juravich, 89.7 NPR News Midday Host and assistant program director
Guests:
- Geoffrey Fowler, Technology Columnist for The Washington Post
- Kashmir Hill, Tech Reporter for The New York Times
- Russell Holly, Managing Editor for Commerce at CNET
Related Links:
- We hate printers as much as you do. Printer Week is here to help.
- How to hate your printer a little bit less
- Printer ink is a scam. Here's how to spend less.
- People are paying to break printers with sledgehammers in smash rooms
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