We have an eclectic little sampler platter for you in this edition of "Timely Innovations".
First up, Meta and Apple are both diving into the Internet of Things. Unsurprisingly, they are taking extremely different approaches that are based on extremely different business models. Additionally, we are going to learn from some doulas who are helping women successfully move forward after traumatic religious experiences.
Let’s go!
Apple's New Approach to the Smart Home
Apple is making a slightly unApple foray into IoT home accessories. The line is called
Apple Home Collection, “a new lineup of smart home accessories — including indoor and outdoor cameras, thermostats, temperature sensors, and a video doorbell and door lock — designed in collaboration with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric.” That last clause is the surprise because one of Apple’s distinguishing characteristics is their vertical integration approach. Typically, Apple is making money by offering services on Apple devices. Here, Apple is banking on you trusting their commitment to privacy and ability to provide digital services on an ecosystem of compatible devices. If they aren’t selling the devices, how will they make money?
Well, “The cameras in Apple Home Collection will require a paid iCloud+ plan for recorded event history — higher levels for more cameras — which fits in with the company’s focus on services. Apple Music is also natively supported on the HomeView, whereas you’ll need a recently unlocked iPhone to use Spotify.” Apple is going to sell you Apple subscription services through these devices. While the device partnerships are unusual for Apple, this experiment rests on long-honed competencies for the company.
Meta Wants to be Everywhere
Meta, on the other hand, is taking an extremely Meta approach to the IoT with
Muse Gadgets, “Muse gadgets are open-source devices you build yourself. Program an off-the-shelf ESP32 board or set up a Raspberry Pi with our SDKs, then connect Muse to your displays, buttons, sensors, actuators, and whatever else you’ve got lying on your workbench.” Meta is trying to make it easy for you to run their model on any hardware you want. This is very much the platform approach: we give you digital assets for your own production. It’s also very Meta in that this is an excellent way to hoover up user data. Every Muse enabled device is going to generate usage data which Meta has plenty of ways to monetize. On the Muse gadget’s website, the little Muse avatar’s eyes follow your mouse around the screen. Feels a little on the nose.
From Vulnerability to Community
We are going to conclude with a story that began online and has moved to be quite embodied. In 2020 Margaret Bronson and Erin Kelley
met in a virtual book club. They shared many things, including religious upbringings that required some present-day healing. As Bronson shared more of her story online, people began reaching out to her, sharing how much they connected with her story and how they were looking for support on their journeys. Bronson and Kelly
decided to respond with “the Deconstruction Doula cohorts, online small groups with curriculum based on Bronson’s own path out of fundamentalism. The group’s name, Kelly said, describes their role as leaders. ‘The doula is there to give agency to the person who’s laboring,’ Kelly explained. ‘They’re not a doctor. They’re not calling the shots. They’re just providing support and information so that the person who’s laboring can make the decisions.’” As they have continued to support this community, Bronson and Kelly
have extended the work into in-person retreats but also, “expanded their mission to incorporate mutual aid, with the network pooling resources to support each other. Participants have helped nearby women in need by coordinating transportation, locating domestic violence shelters and driving women to courthouses to file for divorce. So far, Bronson said, they’ve aided a dozen women fleeing abusive homes.” The Deconstruction Doula story is a powerful example of vulnerability creating a community that creates resilience.
