Hello everyone,
I am generally knowledgeable and open-minded when it comes to IT, but I’m not really comfortable with "Smart Home" technology. That’s why I’m asking the community why you decided to go for it, especially in light of my concerns.
Overall, I don’t see much value in the typical smart home features. This is partly due to my way of living, but also largely because of the functions offered. For example, I don’t feel the need to control lighting via smartphone. Each room has appropriate light switches or motion sensors. Controlling blinds/shutters is unnecessary for me since I deliberately opted not to install shutters, except for two large south-facing windows. The same applies to a ventilation system, which I don’t have nor need. Turning devices on and off via an app strikes me as unnecessary.
What bothers me in particular is the multitude of protocols, the proprietary technology, and manufacturer-dependent software. I simply do not want to buy and install an expensive system from a manufacturer when I don’t know if they will still exist in five years or whether and how the software will be further developed.
Devices that can actually be usefully controlled via app now come with Wi-Fi capability and a matching app, so I don’t need a complex smart home system for that. For example, heating systems/heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, charging stations, video intercoms, robot vacuum cleaners, etc. Whether you really need an app for a washing machine, refrigerator, or dishwasher is debatable, but even these appliances have become "smart" nowadays.
Maybe I’m missing a significant advantage of smart home technology—if so, please feel free to fill in my knowledge gap!
I am generally knowledgeable and open-minded when it comes to IT, but I’m not really comfortable with "Smart Home" technology. That’s why I’m asking the community why you decided to go for it, especially in light of my concerns.
Overall, I don’t see much value in the typical smart home features. This is partly due to my way of living, but also largely because of the functions offered. For example, I don’t feel the need to control lighting via smartphone. Each room has appropriate light switches or motion sensors. Controlling blinds/shutters is unnecessary for me since I deliberately opted not to install shutters, except for two large south-facing windows. The same applies to a ventilation system, which I don’t have nor need. Turning devices on and off via an app strikes me as unnecessary.
What bothers me in particular is the multitude of protocols, the proprietary technology, and manufacturer-dependent software. I simply do not want to buy and install an expensive system from a manufacturer when I don’t know if they will still exist in five years or whether and how the software will be further developed.
Devices that can actually be usefully controlled via app now come with Wi-Fi capability and a matching app, so I don’t need a complex smart home system for that. For example, heating systems/heat pumps, photovoltaic systems, charging stations, video intercoms, robot vacuum cleaners, etc. Whether you really need an app for a washing machine, refrigerator, or dishwasher is debatable, but even these appliances have become "smart" nowadays.
Maybe I’m missing a significant advantage of smart home technology—if so, please feel free to fill in my knowledge gap!
I think you are confusing remotely controllable with smart. Unfortunately, many manufacturers promote them that way as well…
We have a genuine smart home. Our house is somewhat larger and quite complex in terms of technology.
We couldn’t possibly install that many switches.
The goal of a smart home is for as many functions as possible to run automatically or through logical rules.
This starts with lighting and extends to shading, ventilation, heating, cooling, garden irrigation, and so forth.
Smart home does not mean having a separate app for everything. Simply choose a standard (e.g., KNX) and integrate everything.
Smart homes offer an incredible increase in comfort. Beyond a certain size/complexity, they are almost essential and not more expensive.
There are already several posts on this topic here.
We have a genuine smart home. Our house is somewhat larger and quite complex in terms of technology.
We couldn’t possibly install that many switches.
The goal of a smart home is for as many functions as possible to run automatically or through logical rules.
This starts with lighting and extends to shading, ventilation, heating, cooling, garden irrigation, and so forth.
Smart home does not mean having a separate app for everything. Simply choose a standard (e.g., KNX) and integrate everything.
Smart homes offer an incredible increase in comfort. Beyond a certain size/complexity, they are almost essential and not more expensive.
There are already several posts on this topic here.
R
RotorMotor12 Aug 2021 07:39For me, controlling the exterior blinds was the most important. Without that, you can’t really make the system smart. The next priority was lighting, controlled by presence detectors and brightness sensors. Controlling other features like heating, ventilation, photovoltaic systems, power outlets, etc., I now consider more of an expensive gimmick.
Disclaimer: I am not yet living in the “smart” home.
Disclaimer: I am not yet living in the “smart” home.
rick2018 schrieb:
Unfortunately, this is promoted by many manufacturers as well…... and also by many electricians. During the last discussion about planning the distribution board, our electrician actually asked me if I wanted a Gira Homeserver (for visualization). When I said "No," he replied, "Okay, then we'll go with the X1." When I then mentioned that I didn’t want that either, he looked at me quite surprised and asked if I didn’t want to control everything via smartphone… 🙄
Besides the unsettling feeling that a hacker could break into my home, I have decided against it because I prefer chopping wood myself rather than using an electric log splitter.
The constant maintenance required for such devices is bothersome to me.
I can certainly see that a smart home can be convenient (when it works), but my impression is that automation becomes absurd at a certain point, and behind it, there seems to be a misunderstanding of what makes life enjoyable.
It certainly can’t be primarily about having as much taken off your hands as possible.
For me, happiness consists of thousands of (seemingly) small things.
The sound of a dripping water drop, for example, can create a sense of well-being 😀
Of course, this might also be a matter of age.
I do enjoy driving a car too...
The constant maintenance required for such devices is bothersome to me.
I can certainly see that a smart home can be convenient (when it works), but my impression is that automation becomes absurd at a certain point, and behind it, there seems to be a misunderstanding of what makes life enjoyable.
It certainly can’t be primarily about having as much taken off your hands as possible.
For me, happiness consists of thousands of (seemingly) small things.
The sound of a dripping water drop, for example, can create a sense of well-being 😀
Of course, this might also be a matter of age.
I do enjoy driving a car too...
B
Bertram10012 Aug 2021 08:11manohara schrieb:
It certainly shouldn't be primarily about getting the most discounts. Apparently, it is. What is rarely considered, in my opinion, is that it represents an irresponsible consumption of scarce raw materials. Our planet does not provide unlimited electronics and circuit boards. In this respect, a smart home is truly the least important thing. For ecological reasons, I try to avoid using electricity as much as possible.
Similar topics