When Everyday Tech Gives You Chills

As Halloween approaches, we thought we would dive into the world of spooky technologies; the kind that might add a little fright to your daily life. While technology brings countless benefits, sometimes it can feel downright creepy.

Hearing Voices in the Grocery Store

Imagine wandering the grocery aisles when you suddenly hear a voice telling you the salad dressing in front of you is on sale. No one else seems to hear it. You start wondering if you’re losing your mind… but there’s a technological explanation.

A company called Holosonics has developed a technology that projects sound in narrow beams, almost like light. The sound can be aimed at a specific spot, like a person standing in an aisle or a visitor in a museum. Some grocery stores are already experimenting with this tech for highly targeted advertising. Spooky? Absolutely.

DNA Hacking

The first human genome was fully mapped in 2003, opening a new frontier in science. DNA technology has incredible potential; from fighting viruses to improving human health.

But it also has a darker side. Advances in genetic engineering could one day allow for “designer” humans or even superbugs designed to target specific genetic codes. The idea of some infants having a genetic advantage over others raises chilling ethical questions about a two-tiered human society. It’s a technology still in its infancy, but imagining its future possibilities is enough to give anyone chills.

Scary Thoughts

Cognitive scientists are now using technology to see inside the brain in real time. Marketers already track which parts of your brain react to advertisements, and the implications don’t stop there.

In the future, governments, law enforcement, and employers could potentially use this tech to detect lies, predict criminal behavior, or monitor your thoughts. The idea that someone could peer into our deepest thoughts? That’s genuinely unsettling.

Smart Devices Gone Rogue

Your smart speaker responds when no one said anything. The lights flicker on and off without explanation. The thermostat sets itself to extreme temperatures. Even security cameras record… and later show movements that no one remembers making. Everyday devices can feel haunted when they act on their own.

Deepfakes and Digital Doppelgängers

AI can now mimic voices, faces, and mannerisms almost perfectly. Imagine receiving a video of someone you know doing or saying something that never actually happened, or hearing a voice on the phone that sounds exactly like a loved one, but isn’t. These digital doppelgängers are eerily lifelike and unsettling.

Everyday Tech Glitches That Feel Haunted

Even simple technology can feel spooky: files disappearing, cursors moving on their own, apps freezing endlessly, or loading screens that never end. It’s frustrating, and a little uncanny, when technology doesn’t follow the rules you expect.

While technology continues to improve our lives in many ways, there’s always a shadow of the eerie or unsettling lurking in the background.