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’m not quite sure how to put this, but my view of “our” situation is that basically NOTHING should be produced or used anymore, even if it only has a small negative impact on the state of the world.
It’s clear that this won’t happen... life cannot continue as it currently does without plastics alone—and there are many other factors as well...
But EVERY indication of positive or negative effects should be taken seriously and not mocked. I think it’s becoming increasingly obvious how serious this really is, and just because so few people have cared about it so far doesn’t make it any less true.
That’s how I see it, and I’m happy to share this perspective. 😎
It’s clear that this won’t happen... life cannot continue as it currently does without plastics alone—and there are many other factors as well...
But EVERY indication of positive or negative effects should be taken seriously and not mocked. I think it’s becoming increasingly obvious how serious this really is, and just because so few people have cared about it so far doesn’t make it any less true.
That’s how I see it, and I’m happy to share this perspective. 😎
I don’t want to sugarcoat this. Fundamentally, that is correct.
But there are two points to mention:
- Electronics made from copper, aluminum, and silicon can or will be recycled (yes, there is incredible potential for improvement here, and we are still far from doing it well)
- If using this electronics helps save energy (because devices are turned off, their functionality is checked, and heating demand is reduced), it can compensate for or even exceed the environmental impact it causes
I don’t want to call this environmental protection—that’s really not my intention! But there are many other areas to address before cutting back on electronics that make life simpler and more efficient. The focus here is on the mentioned electronics, not on consumer disposable products...
However, I also think this is starting to become off-topic.
But there are two points to mention:
- Electronics made from copper, aluminum, and silicon can or will be recycled (yes, there is incredible potential for improvement here, and we are still far from doing it well)
- If using this electronics helps save energy (because devices are turned off, their functionality is checked, and heating demand is reduced), it can compensate for or even exceed the environmental impact it causes
I don’t want to call this environmental protection—that’s really not my intention! But there are many other areas to address before cutting back on electronics that make life simpler and more efficient. The focus here is on the mentioned electronics, not on consumer disposable products...
However, I also think this is starting to become off-topic.
But the approach (regarding research and resulting progress) is actually the wrong one.
At the beginning, we traveled on foot through the savannah or forest. Eventually, the wheel was invented, the pulley, the printing press. All involved extensive use of wood. Would anyone today want to give up these inventions?
From this came the steam engine, electricity, the first automobile.
Would any of us want to give these up?
Then came the computer, the Internet, networking.
Would anyone want to give these up?
Now development is becoming increasingly refined.
Climate protection is humanity’s greatest challenge (in my view). Should we give up progress because of that?
The tricky part is finding the right path. If none of us want to give up our progress (and I believe no one here really does), then the challenge isn’t to give up circuit boards, but to find alternatives.
I don’t know how. It’s not my area of expertise. But those who do should be allowed to do so.
At the beginning, we traveled on foot through the savannah or forest. Eventually, the wheel was invented, the pulley, the printing press. All involved extensive use of wood. Would anyone today want to give up these inventions?
From this came the steam engine, electricity, the first automobile.
Would any of us want to give these up?
Then came the computer, the Internet, networking.
Would anyone want to give these up?
Now development is becoming increasingly refined.
Climate protection is humanity’s greatest challenge (in my view). Should we give up progress because of that?
The tricky part is finding the right path. If none of us want to give up our progress (and I believe no one here really does), then the challenge isn’t to give up circuit boards, but to find alternatives.
I don’t know how. It’s not my area of expertise. But those who do should be allowed to do so.
B
Bertram10012 Aug 2021 20:46Tarnari schrieb:
Then came the computer, the internet, the networking. Does any one of us want to give that up?Yes, I do. I know no world without a phone, but one without a mobile phone and without the internet. I would like to go back to those times. I can’t say that using my mobile phone makes me happy. It’s practical, but that’s different from real benefit.H
hampshire12 Aug 2021 22:01rick2018 schrieb:
I think you are confusing remotely controllable with smart.That sums it up perfectly.Sahitaz schrieb:
What I find very interesting is that many people consciously choose not to have a smart home, yet drive a new car where many advanced features are standard.I belong to that group as well. I keep a house longer than a car. When the first security updates arrive, error messages appear, or something is no longer supported, then the car is gone. The added convenience of some features is a positive experience for me as a frequent driver (currently about 1400km/week (870 miles/week), soon less again). But with the house, I don’t want to have to worry about updates, security, and flawless operation. The comfort benefit I would get in return is not important to me, and for the urge to tinker, I have, for example, a car.M
Myrna_Loy12 Aug 2021 22:47Sahitaz schrieb:
What I find very interesting is that many people consciously decide against a smart home, yet they drive new cars that come with a lot of optional features as standard.
There’s keyless entry so you don’t have to take the key out of your pocket, climate control regulates the temperature, the convertible roof opens at the push of a button, the headlights stay on for 30 seconds after leaving the car to light the way to the front door...
These are extras we’re willing to pay a lot for. I know not everyone has these features, but nowadays a large number of cars do, and even used cars offer this improved comfort. Things like central locking, at least a remote key fob, and air conditioning are installed in nearly every car, even older ones.
I spend about 1.5 hours a day in the car (and I claim that’s more than average). I spend significantly more time in my home. I sell a car after a few years. If I have a problem with an electronic component, I pay the mechanic and that’s it. If the problem happens repeatedly, I get rid of the car. I don’t do that with a house. And as someone who professionally deals with a lot of trouble caused by modern building technology, I definitely won’t bring a problem of this scale and cost into my house if it can be avoided. 😀