Post Summary

• A user’s harrowing experience of being trapped upright for hours by a malfunctioning smart bed raises urgent questions about our reliance on connected technology for safety and basic needs.
• Experts warn that smart home device manufacturers often prioritize features over robust safety and security protocols, leaving consumers vulnerable to software glitches, power outages, and cyber-attacks.
• Real-world failures, from smart locks trapping residents to the potential for heating systems to fail during outages, show how smart conveniences can quickly become dangerous liabilities.
• Security researchers and consumer safety groups are calling for stronger regulations and greater transparency from tech companies to address the growing risks of an unsecured Internet of Things (IoT) in our homes.

“I Was Trapped Upright in Bed for Hours.” Are We Trusting Tech Too Much?

It sounds like a scene from a sci-fi thriller, but for Hannah Lewis, it was a terrifying reality. She found herself trapped, pinned upright in her own smart bed after a software malfunction rendered it completely unresponsive. For hours, she was unable to lower the bed or adjust her position, a helpless prisoner of the very technology designed to provide comfort and convenience. This startling incident isn’t an isolated glitch in the matrix; it’s a stark warning about the potential dark side of our increasingly connected homes and begs the question: are we becoming too reliant on technology for critical aspects of our own safety?

The promise of a seamless, automated life is alluring, but when the systems we trust fail, the consequences can be more than just inconvenient. As Dr. Sohag Kabir, Associate Professor at the University of Bradford, grimly notes, “Companies of smart technology focus on the function and not what could go wrong. Safety and security take a backseat.” This focus on features over foresight is leaving consumers in a precarious position.

When Helpful Tech Turns Hostile

For over a decade, smart home technology has steadily woven itself into the fabric of our daily lives. What started with voice assistants playing music has expanded into an ecosystem of smart locks, automated thermostats, and even intelligent beds. The goal was always simple: to make life easier, more efficient, and more comfortable. For the most part, it has delivered.

However, the convenience comes with a hidden cost. High-profile malfunctions are becoming more common. Recent outages, like one affecting AWS DynamoDB, have reportedly caused smart beds to overheat and get stuck in fixed positions, echoing Hannah’s frightening ordeal. This is part of a troubling trend where the technology we depend on for basic functions becomes a point of failure. The ECRI’s 2025 Health Tech Hazards list warns of “unmet technology support needs for home care patients,” pointing out that “hardware, software and communication failures can occur randomly, posing serious risks” to users. A simple software bug, a spotty Wi-Fi connection, or a power outage can escalate from a minor annoyance into a genuine safety hazard.

The Unintended Dangers Lurking in Our Walls

The risks extend far beyond being stuck in bed. As we integrate more devices, we unwittingly introduce new dangers into our sanctuaries. These include:

• Device Malfunctions: A smart lock that won’t open can trap you inside or lock you out. This isn’t theoretical. In one widely reported case, a 93-year-old man, Tony Mysak, found himself trapped inside his New York apartment after his landlord installed smart locks that required a smartphone he couldn’t use.
• Critical System Failures: Stories have emerged of families whose smart heating systems, like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat, were shut off during a winter power outage, leaving them in the cold because the system couldn’t operate without a stable connection.
• Cybersecurity Threats: Every connected device is a potential doorway into your home for hackers. According to security resource SafeHome.org, “Smart homes can be hacked easily, causing privacy breaches,” and older, unsupported devices “are at greater risk of being manipulated remotely by bad actors.”

These aren’t edge cases; they are the predictable outcomes of a market rushing to innovate without building a foundation of safety and security. Many of these smart devices are part of a complex chain of services, and as seen in major cloud outages, a failure miles away can have immediate, physical consequences in your home. For more on this, see our investigation into how cloud failures expose the dangerous reality of Big Tech dependence.

When Your House Betrays You

The issue of cybersecurity is particularly troubling. We invite these devices into our most private spaces, yet they can become spies for malicious actors. Dr. Sohag Kabir from the University of Bradford warns: “Such devices found in the home are vulnerable to cyber-attacks due to their limited processing capabilities, making them easy targets for hackers.” Your smart TV, your lightbulbs, even your refrigerator, could potentially be co-opted into a botnet or used as a gateway to access more sensitive data on your network. The rise of sophisticated, AI-powered cyberattacks only amplifies this threat.

In the corporate world, security experts are increasingly adopting “zero trust” policies, which assume no device is inherently secure. Yet, we rarely apply that same level of scrutiny to the devices that listen to our conversations and monitor our homes. This glaring security gap is a disaster waiting to happen.

Recommended Tech

While smart devices like thermostats offer convenience, they also highlight the need for careful management. The TechBull recommends products like the Google Nest Learning Thermostat for their energy-saving potential, but we urge users to secure their home network with strong passwords, enable two-factor authentication, and keep firmware updated to mitigate the exact risks discussed in this article.

Why Aren’t Tech Companies Doing More?

The tech industry operates on a model of rapid development and feature-focused competition. Unfortunately, robust safety testing and long-term security support often lag behind. The priority is to get a product to market, not to ensure it’s failsafe a decade later. This has led to a market flooded with devices that have inadequate security and no clear plan for what happens when they fail.

This lack of foresight is especially dangerous in health-related technology. A landmark report from ECRI asserts that “The use of artificial intelligence (AI) models in health care settings without proper oversight is the most significant health technology hazard for 2025.” As our homes become extensions of the healthcare system, with devices monitoring everything from our sleep to our vitals, the absence of strict regulatory standards is a ticking time bomb.

Where Responsibility Lies

When a smart device fails, consumers are often left with little recourse. The terms of service are frequently opaque, and holding a manufacturer liable for a software glitch can be a legal nightmare. This leaves the user to bear the frustration, financial loss, or even physical injury.

Protecting yourself requires a proactive stance. Experts recommend “digital hygiene”: regularly updating device firmware, using strong and unique passwords for every device, and isolating smart home gadgets on a separate Wi-Fi network if possible. For comprehensive protection against identity theft and online threats that can stem from a hacked device, a service like Aura can monitor your personal information and secure your devices. But consumers shouldn’t have to become cybersecurity experts just to use a toaster. As Dr. Kabir states, “Consumers need to be educated about the benefits, risks and responsible use of IoT technologies.”

A Call for Stronger Regulations

Thankfully, regulators and researchers are starting to respond. There is a growing push for stronger safety and security standards for IoT devices, though progress is slow. Academic institutions are leading the charge. The University of Bradford, for instance, is working with partners worldwide, “researching how to make people’s digital world more safe and secure.” These efforts, combined with new legislation like California’s AI safety law, signal a potential shift toward greater accountability.

Finding the Balance Between Innovation and Safety

Smart technology has undeniable benefits, offering independence to the elderly and convenience for us all. But Hannah Lewis’s ordeal is a powerful reminder of what’s at stake. As we embed this technology deeper into the critical functions of our lives—our health, our security, our homes—we must demand a higher standard. The convenience of a smart home is worth very little if it isn’t, first and foremost, a safe home.

The path forward requires a new social contract between manufacturers, policymakers, and consumers—one built on transparency, security, and a safety-first approach to innovation. As ECRI’s research concludes, “unmet technology support needs are poised to become a top safety risk for home users in 2025.” It’s a warning we can’t afford to ignore.