Smart Home Considerations

[Masgwembe]

With the internet now being almost ubiquitous and affordable, what would be the first Smart Home Devices you would install in your house?

 

[CurrentThing]

Personally none. Software and security support are incredibly poor for these things. Imagine your lights stop working because the manufacturer decided to stop supporting version X and you have to buy new lights to get version Y. Not because the lights burnt out.

Or someone hacks your smart camera, records footage and blackmails you to send bitcoin or else it's posted on the Internet.

Edit: People are already experiencing some of these with smart TVs

 

[Ole Waru]

Personally none. Software and security support are incredibly poor for these things. Imagine your lights stop working because the manufacturer decided to stop supporting version X and you have to buy new lights to get version Y. Not because the lights burnt out.

Or someone hacks your smart camera, records footage and blackmails you to send bitcoin or else it's posted on the Internet.

Edit: People are already experiencing some of these with smart TVs

While i agree with some of your points above, i think there are some advantages to these smart systems that make them worth it, take for example smart irrigation systems, the amount of labor you save makes it worth it and by smart it doesn't necessarily mean that it's connected to the internet, if something is programmable and can respond to triggers and perform actions then that should be enough, they can still be air gapped.

 

[zapp_brannigan]

Motion sensors for some flood lights and a digital timers for areas you want illuminated automatically .

 

[Meria]

Personally none. Software and security support are incredibly poor for these things. Imagine your lights stop working because the manufacturer decided to stop supporting version X and you have to buy new lights to get version Y. Not because the lights burnt out.

Or someone hacks your smart camera, records footage and blackmails you to send bitcoin or else it's posted on the Internet.

Edit: People are already experiencing some of these with smart TVs

@It's Me Scumbag this is what am ranting about.
Let me be old school.
Smart lighting inasaidia na nini

 

[zapp_brannigan]

@It's Me Scumbag this is what am ranting about.
Let me be old school.
Smart lighting inasaidia na nini

Fellow Senator , by incorporating some basic automation you conserve resources .Think electronic waste , money to purchase replacement units and electricity to run the equipment . Have you visited a home unapata the parking area floodlight is on during the day ? Or the bulb is bathroom or toilet is always on ? Nowadays commercial basement parking have automated lighting by use of occupation sensor ( visit Imaara Shopping mall basement parking to see this in action ) .
When you hear smart it doesn't necessary mean a sophisticated gadget with a million controls and connected to a network .
I have a couple of the below sensors and timers .
For the timer there are so many uses . I have setup up one to control water pump ,this happens every evening for two hours Kwa rental Fulani pale lucky summer .

Motion sensor

Digital timers

 

[Meria]

Fellow Senator , by incorporating some basic automation you conserve resources .Think electronic waste , money to purchase replacement units and electricity to run the equipment . Have you visited a home unapata the parking area floodlight is on during the day ? Or the bulb is bathroom or toilet is always on ? Nowadays commercial basement parking have automated lighting by use of occupation sensor ( visit Imaara Shopping mall basement parking to see this in action ) .
When you hear smart it doesn't necessary mean a sophisticated gadget with a million controls and connected to a network .
I have a couple of the below sensors and timers .
For the timer there are so many uses . I have setup up one to control water pump ,this happens every evening for two hours Kwa rental Fulani pale lucky summer .

Motion sensor
View attachment 60441

Digital timers
View attachment 60442
View attachment 60443

We need to talk.

 

[Kdawg254]

@It's Me Scumbag this is what am ranting about.
Let me be old school.
Smart lighting inasaidia na nini

To conserve energy which is helpful even to the environment.
Mimi tīga nī thendī kūhūra chenga kwangu naweza weka hadi automated curtains zile unaclap zinajifungua!

 

[CurrentThing]

While i agree with some of your points above, i think there are some advantages to these smart systems that make them worth it, take for example smart irrigation systems, the amount of labor you save makes it worth it and by smart it doesn't necessarily mean that it's connected to the internet, if something is programmable and can respond to triggers and perform actions then that should be enough, they can still be air gapped.

Issue is that the OP mentioned the Internet therefore implying Internet connected devices, which can sound cool to someone not well versed with the risks. Otherwise if is a simple programmable device responding to triggers then it has value. Provided they're easy to service e.g. replacing sensors instead of having to buy a whole new device again.

 

[zapp_brannigan]

We need to talk.

Leta biashara ,another lot imeland . Fantastic unit that can be rail mounted pale kwa meter box or consumer unit .Has a provision to use a security seal and best of all the internal battery is replaceable. Selling at Ksh 1400 .I can also send via courier at a cost .