So much new technology is being introduced to end user on a daily basis. I have been wondering more and more if 95% of this 'new' tech is really beneficial to end user. Here are some examples I had in mind:

*Various automated and linked services introduced to end user require the end user to give up so much of his/her identifiable information in order to access the service .... which means, end users are required to disclose (& eventually) leave traces of their private information all over the places.

*Linked services have made it so easy for crooks to easily cause havoc to millions of people from a comfort of their homes and a single key, 'enter'.

*Two prices in grocery stores. Those with store's discount cards get the discounts.

There are many many other examples where end user is forced to enroll in some of these automated activities in order to receive service and the application of the automation may not necessarily benefit end user at all.

There are several examples of debatable 'new tech auto & linked services' which make me wonder, if end user would gladly enroll after applying cost-benefit analysis. I also wonder if the new discoveries are merely there to support rapid business operations at end user's expense. If this is the case, where does that leave the user whom the 'business' relies on 100%? Is technology neglecting end user?

Curious to know your thoughts on this.

Good points and ones that I see all the time.

I do think that many new technologies are used as a way to manipulate the end user vs really serve them.

However I think that in many cases an evolution of the market place will always spawn many new techs, some used practically, some used in a more exploitative way.

Over time people will flush out what works for them, and some techs will go the way of the dodo.

Oh how I wish the discount cards and coupon crap would die, but sadly I think it hooks into an obsessive trait of human psychology, and may not go anywhere so long as it pushes that pleasure center button that is feeling validated for "saving" resources.

Bottom line: There's money to be made in selling data, especially personal data.