ᐅ Alexa and Other Home Automation Systems – Pros and Cons

Alexa, only over my dead body—this house will remain largely free of technology

Bookstar schrieb:
Alexa, only over my dead body, the house will remain largely free of technology

Then go buy a carriage. Here, Alexa controls almost everything—shutters, lighting, TV, radio—and we love it. Even my wife (who was skeptical at first) is now a big fan. The refrigerator now responds to Alexa as well. In the evening, if the fridge is too loud during TV time, just say, "Alexa, turn off the fridge," and it stays quiet until the target temperature plus a set margin is exceeded.

Amazing!!!

Things the world doesn’t need, so there’s no reason to have a carriage yet. It already bothers me that the Sonos speaker has Alexa built in; we specifically bought the older model.

It’s bad enough that Google keeps the microphone always on, and it’s the same with Alexa. I don’t want 100% surveillance in my own home, never!

I can still operate switches manually, which apparently not everyone can anymore.

Bookstar schrieb:
It's already enough that Google always keeps the microphone on; it's the same with Alexa. I absolutely don't want 100% surveillance in my own home, never!

If you take a closer look at the technology behind Alexa, you'll understand that you're simply talking nonsense.

Due to my profession, I am probably more knowledgeable about this than you think. But if you enjoy it, that's fine. Everyone has to decide for themselves, as with everything in life.

As someone who is tech-savvy, I find it puzzling how people can integrate companies like Google and Amazon so deeply into their homes. But of course, everyone can make their own choice—that’s probably what “homeownership” is all about.