> My issue with smart homes is that they seem to provide few tangible benefits compared to earlier inventions > Smart locks, smart lighting, smart ovens etc ma

> My issue with smart homes is that they seem to provide few tangible benefits compared to earlier inventions > Smart locks, smart lighting, smart ovens etc may save you seconds at best It's not necessarily about saving seconds but making these things easier to use. I liked the article's example of using a smart oven because everyone I know has a digital programmable oven but none of them ever use the extra features. I love setting up my oven to cook something while I'm gone, timed to finish around the time I'll arrive home. Make that feature easier to discover / use and perhaps more people will experience the same joy. I've found smart lighting to be far more practical than it sounds at first glance. I can't get too excited about having lights do things when people come or go, tho I do use those features... but having bulbs individually controllable lets me create "scenes" to provide the ideal lighting for the activity taking place. My TV Viewing scene turns off all the bulbs that reflect on the screen and dim the rest -- a feat that I could not accomplish without re-wiring every fixture in the room, adding dimmers, etc. For the kids at night we turn off most of their bulbs but have a few color-changing bulbs that turn red and go dim as night lights. Etc. And speaking of kids, when Alexa says it's time to shut off the electronics and go do some chore they actually go do it without the whining and complaining!