2010: The Rise of the Internet of Very Broken Things

During the late 90s and early aughts, “internet of things” evangelists routinely heralded a hyper-connected future, where everything from your refrigerator to your tea kettle would be connected to the internet. The end result, they promised, would be unprecedented convenience and a Jetsons-esque future, contributing to a simpler, more efficient existence.

The end result wasn’t quite what was advertised.

A lack of any meaningful privacy or security safeguards quickly ruined the party, turning the IoT revolution into the butt of endless jokes. Throughout the decade, evidence emerged that everything from your “smart” television to your kid’s WiFi-enabled Barbie doll was easily hackable, showcasing that the smarter choice is often dumber, older tech.