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!
M
motorradsilke15 Aug 2021 09:38manohara schrieb:
For example, turning off lights when they are not needed – will certainly be done more consistently automatically.Yes, probably. But does the small amount of savings with today’s LED technology offset the production of all the electronic components required for the control systems? That said, I also find motion and occupancy sensors very useful and use them in some cases. Simply because they are practical.
that was just an example.
The garden irrigation system could be something else ...
but I am actually not interested in collecting these details.
I am one of those who have an automatic power cut-off system in the bedroom. If no electricity is used there, the entire area shuts down so that no current remains in the wiring.
The garden irrigation system could be something else ...
but I am actually not interested in collecting these details.
I am one of those who have an automatic power cut-off system in the bedroom. If no electricity is used there, the entire area shuts down so that no current remains in the wiring.
P
pagoni202015 Aug 2021 10:17I find myself wondering how I would use the time saved and where or how I would improve my quality of life with it. Do I even need to improve or "optimize" it at this point? For example, I also drive slowly (which used to be the opposite) and don’t feel like I’ve wasted three minutes when I arrive.
Again, I understand if people enjoy that and I don’t judge or view it negatively at all. It just doesn’t suit me, because, for example, I consider watering the garden or mowing the lawn something I like to do myself, even vacuuming, since I realized from our gifted robot vacuum that it doesn’t really save me any time. I feel similarly about the concept of "scenes," which is completely unfamiliar to me. It feels too artificial—I prefer to create things individually for myself rather than use a machine that, luckily, doesn’t know me that well.
I’m simply not a fan of constant self-optimization and don’t have to jump on every bandwagon that comes along. What’s important, though, is that I can understand that others want to do it for themselves; both approaches are perfectly fine.
Again, I understand if people enjoy that and I don’t judge or view it negatively at all. It just doesn’t suit me, because, for example, I consider watering the garden or mowing the lawn something I like to do myself, even vacuuming, since I realized from our gifted robot vacuum that it doesn’t really save me any time. I feel similarly about the concept of "scenes," which is completely unfamiliar to me. It feels too artificial—I prefer to create things individually for myself rather than use a machine that, luckily, doesn’t know me that well.
I’m simply not a fan of constant self-optimization and don’t have to jump on every bandwagon that comes along. What’s important, though, is that I can understand that others want to do it for themselves; both approaches are perfectly fine.
It’s not just about the time saved. It’s many small things. The overall gained comfort at the end is greater than just the sum of the individual parts.
It’s not only the separate monetary savings or seemingly saved time... you have to look at it as the bigger picture. The potential that today’s devices can offer should definitely be used.
And surely, many don’t care at all that their new refrigerator does more than just keep food cold, and that’s perfectly valid.
But there are others who find it interesting and those who simply expect additional functions as a given.
@pagoni2020
And of course, it’s completely up to you how fast you want to “drive” your house. As you yourself describe, your behavior may change over the years. A smart home can adapt to that, or can possibly be adjusted to new needs with little effort.
You can “drive” a smart home as fast as you need it. A normal house, on the other hand, only has one speed. That’s exactly what it’s about—getting more out of the house because the potential is there.
It’s not only the separate monetary savings or seemingly saved time... you have to look at it as the bigger picture. The potential that today’s devices can offer should definitely be used.
And surely, many don’t care at all that their new refrigerator does more than just keep food cold, and that’s perfectly valid.
But there are others who find it interesting and those who simply expect additional functions as a given.
@pagoni2020
And of course, it’s completely up to you how fast you want to “drive” your house. As you yourself describe, your behavior may change over the years. A smart home can adapt to that, or can possibly be adjusted to new needs with little effort.
You can “drive” a smart home as fast as you need it. A normal house, on the other hand, only has one speed. That’s exactly what it’s about—getting more out of the house because the potential is there.
motorradsilke schrieb:
What can you imagine that could not be controlled manually? For example, adjusting the slats of a venetian blind automatically according to the position of the sun, so the interior is shaded but still bright.
Or lowering the blinds when the sun is shining, even if no one is in the room or house, to prevent overheating.
In winter, the opposite would apply.
This is hardly feasible manually, saves cooling and heating energy, and increases comfort in bright rooms with a pleasant temperature...
Similar topics