The Internet of Things Hits Home

[Timsup2nothin]

Anyway, things that are stupid can't be awesome.

You should meet my brother. He is awesomely stupid. Stupendously stupid even.

 

[Zelig]

In my opinion it is a stupid idea to let everything connect to the internet, anyway. If anything, the devices should have a documented interface and connect to a local server. The server can than make a connection to the internet if necessary.

Because regular software updates for embedded devices are not going to happen anytime soon. And nobody wants to keep track of the firmware updates of all their lightbulbs or whatever. Even for the devices I built myself, of which I know exactly how they work, firmware updates are a pain. So better accept that the devices are going to be insecure and separate them from the actual internet.

Like 99% of people aren't tech savvy enough to have anything connect to a local server - that's basically a non-starter for any consumer product. And I am tech savvy enough, and run a local server, and I still have no interest in having anything in my home dependent on it for functionality.

If regular updates for embedded devices aren't going to happen, then people shouldn't categorically shouldn't buy them.

There are however, some connected devices that I think are worthwhile, that do get proper support if you pick the right vendor. (Off the top of my head, routers, thermostats, door locks, IP cameras.)

I like the idea of connected lightbulbs, but I've got no real interest in overpaying for a limited bulb selection - I'd need something that goes between the socket and the bulb so I can use the bulbs I want and swap bulb and IP connector independently.

In practice, because everything sucks, I've got none of those things. (I do have some sweet >90 CRI LED bulbs for <$10 each though.)

That's funny, because apparently many of those ceased working recently

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-35311447

We should call it the IoG. Internet of Gimmicks.

That's kind of funny, I looked into the Nest thermostat a couple years ago for my parents, but wasn't satisfied with how the battery charging/management works, so ended up getting them a non-IP programmable Honeywell that takes AA batteries.

 

[Aea]

Mine hasn't flaked out yet. But It requires a full "learning" reset periodically, after about six months or so it learns to piss me off by randomly deciding I should freeze or cook

Neat to control it from your phone or computer though.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

My girlfriend's garage door opener has internet capability that would allow her to check from work, or her phone, to see if she forgot to close it, and then close it. She never bothered to set it up.

 

[Zkribbler]

I can't really see the need to connect anything but your computer to the internet. Maybe your phone if you really need e-mail on the run. But fridge? What the hell is that supposed to be good for?

I fear the day that Skynet takes over and directs my refrigerator to hunt me down an kill me.

 

[PhroX]

Apparently people who are incapable of just opening the fridge and looking to see if they still have butter.

Reminds me of an article I saw recently about a fridge with a screen on the front and a camera inside so you can look to see if you've still got butter without even opening the door

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Next thing you know, they'll have that for medicine cabinets in bathrooms so company can snoop on your stuff without even opening the door.

 

[warpus]

You should meet my brother. He is awesomely stupid. Stupendously stupid even.

The thing with people who are genuinely stupid is that they'll do something genuinely stupid sooner or later. I can only take so much of that. I'd much rather meet your sister, to be honest.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

The thing with people who are genuinely stupid is that they'll do something genuinely stupid sooner or later. I can only take so much of that. I'd much rather meet your sister, to be honest.

Good choice. She is as genuinely smart as my brother is stupid. The awesome thing about him is that his "sooner or later" is measurable in minutes and seldom pushes past single digits, so there's this reliability about him.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

In a large household you are not always up-to-date what the fridge holds and it has happened many times that I wanted to spontaneously go to the super market or forgot to look up weather we had something specifically and then I stand in the supermarket like an ass and don't know weather I need to buy sth. To be always able to check the content of the fridge wherever I am would be nice.

 

[Zelig]

If you're in a large household you can just call home and ask someone.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

OMG you just changed my whole life.
I was blind.
But now I see.
The solution so easy, right in front of me. But I just could not see through the dark cloak of my ignorance.
Which you have lifted.
Thanks Zelig!
Thank you so so much!

(also in a large household people got stuff do and no one may be home)

 

[BvBPL]

In a large household you are not always up-to-date what the fridge holds and it has happened many times that I wanted to spontaneously go to the super market or forgot to look up weather we had something specifically and then I stand in the supermarket like an ass and don't know weather I need to buy sth. To be always able to check the content of the fridge wherever I am would be nice.

Seriously. Just because most of us would not benefit from a fridge that tells us whether or not we are out of butter does not mean it is useless to all parties.

In a commercial application that service could be highly valuable.

 

[Terxpahseyton]

Hm yeah true, I can see that.