Eyebloc: Selling Fear

With the rapid advancement of modern technology come dangerous and potentially harmful side effects which are often thought to be beyond our ability to control. The average consumer usually assumes that they will blend in with the thousands of users of any given technology, and are hardly bothered by the thought of third parties having access to their personal information, one way or another. Few are skeptical, and even fewer allow that skepticism to hinder their purchasing of the devices that fill our homes, cars, and pockets. After all, don't we all think we are invulnerable? I mean, just because something happened to some man or woman from another state or country, what are the chances of it happening to me?

CJ Isakow created his product, Eyebloc, on the basis that people do in fact care and feel that they are subject to the dangers of modern technology. More specifically, the Eyebloc is designed to block webcams on devices including laptops, smartphones, and tablets, to prevent hackers from accessing them in order to take unapproved pictures of their targets in their homes. Isakow says that this happens everyday, and not just to the celebrities we all hear about on the news. It happens to standard, regular citizens, and it happens when they least expect it.

Although the Sharks did acknowledge the seriousness of the problem, they did not think the Eyebloc to be the solution to the problem, especially not for its $9.99 price point. After all, as more than one Shark pointed out, one can simply cover the webcam with a much cheaper item such as a sticky note or a piece of tape. Besides, concern for this problem, in America at least, is not that prevalent. After all, people are super quick to enter just about all their private information - birthdays, family trees, vacation plans, pictures, and even social security numbers - online for the world to see on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Anyone with a working computer and internet can play detective in today's time, and research just about anyone they want to. And it doesn't end there. Google probably knows more about you than you know about yourself, and no webcam blocker can stop them. Apple just released their new iPhone which can be turned on through reading its owner's fingerprints! Now I am not saying to crawl up into a ball and hide in your closet and never look or touch a piece of technology ever again, because there are probably hidden cameras in your closet anyway so it won't make a difference! In all seriousness though, consumers should at least be aware of the dangers modern technology poses, and just know who has access to their personal information. Unfortunately, this is often not the case, and people kick themselves after it's already too late. So it is important that we find solutions to preventing hackers and identity thieves from retrieving our information, the dilemma is how to do it effectively.

That said, there is no doubt that the Eyebloc works. The question is, is it practical? Will people purchase these things for all their devices? Will consumers place these pieces of plastic on their smartphones and tablets and keep checking to make sure they don't slide off and get lost? I don't think so. And for that reason, I share the same sentiment as all five Sharks in this pitch. I'm out.

Do you think the Eyebloc will take off and be successful?