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Smart lights are the killer app for Alexa. There's no going back once you have it. And the only thing keeping most people from getting smart lights is the cost

Smart lights are the killer app for Alexa. There's no going back once you have it. And the only thing keeping most people from getting smart lights is the cost which will fall.

ericd 8y ago
Do smart lights rely on a functioning internet connection?
- corrigible 8y ago
  I've only "deployed" a Philips Hue setup at home, but no, just internal WiFi is enough.
  - na85 8y ago
    So you need to buy DRM lightbulbs?
    - corrigible 8y ago
      I'm not sure, I got my "starter set" as a gift.
- jjp 8y ago
  Some do, some don't. But if you want to use Alexa or Google Home or Siri to control you do need an internet connection to do the voice translate to command bit. Personally I've gone with SmartThings (Samsung) to control the home tech and use Amazon as the voice interface. This allows me to be reasonably agnostic of vendor and interfacing standards (ZWave/Zigbee/Wifi), allows me to use a scripting language to control some aspects of automation (using Webcore app) and still use Amazon to issue voice commands to the same devices. Kids love it, I like it, but not got full wife acceptance yet, she gets frustrated turns stuff off at the wall and then all the automation needs debugging!
  - fron 8y ago
    They make dimmer switches that can be controlled via Zwave/Zigbee as well. If you replace your wall switches with these instead of using bulbs that do the same thing, your automations will have no more problems of this sort.
  - jjeaff 8y ago
    Smart things actually requires an internet connection at times. I don't know what exactly causes it, but several times when my internet has gone out, I've been unable to control the lights. Lots of people have switched away from smart things for this reason.
  - ericd 8y ago
    Yeah, a requirement for an active internet connection would completely kill it for me, much more than the cost, so it's nice to hear that it can use local networking only. Also, as you mention, the fact that it's not very compatible with the mechanical switches seems like it would be annoying, though I suppose those can be replaced with wifi equivalents. The bigger thing is that I just don't see huge benefits to smart lights, and potentially a lot of maintenance headache - I just don't really mind walking to the switch. An automated blind opener that is set to slowly open automatically based on what I've set my phone alarm to that day, though, that I would pay a lot and put up with a lot of crap for.
esrauch 8y ago
Of all of the nusances in my life, having to use light switches seems really low on the list. Is it really so transformative?
- mulletbum 8y ago
  Was the clapper a good product? Think the clapper, but instead it's completely customizable to your hearts content.
  - throwaway080383 8y ago
    > Was the clapper a good product? No? I don't think I've ever met someone who owned a Clapper. In my mind, it's the epitome of gimmicky late-night TV/Skymall products.
    - mulletbum 8y ago
      You might want to speak to someone who owned one then and what purpose they used it for.
- jjeaff 8y ago
  Depends on the size of your house and the position of your light switches. It's pretty nice to say, "Alexa, turn on away mode" as I leave the house. Instead of going through the whole place, turning off all the lights, locking the back door and adjusting down the thermostat.
  - Jemmeh 8y ago
    Yeah but I always turn off lights as I leave a room anyways so it's not like I have to run through the house. The thermostat is on the way out too. I am considering getting a nest or something but that's just for the thermostat, nothing else is all that important. And I can just set that to match my schedule. I have friends who have it, seems neat but still very "eh" for me.
    - 8y ago

Smart lights are the killer app for Alexa. There's no going back once you have it. And the only thing keeping most people from getting smart lights is the cost which will fall.

ericd 8y ago

Do smart lights rely on a functioning internet connection?

corrigible 8y ago
I've only "deployed" a Philips Hue setup at home, but no, just internal WiFi is enough.
- na85 8y ago
  So you need to buy DRM lightbulbs?
  - corrigible 8y ago
    I'm not sure, I got my "starter set" as a gift.
jjp 8y ago
Some do, some don't. But if you want to use Alexa or Google Home or Siri to control you do need an internet connection to do the voice translate to command bit. Personally I've gone with SmartThings (Samsung) to control the home tech and use Amazon as the voice interface. This allows me to be reasonably agnostic of vendor and interfacing standards (ZWave/Zigbee/Wifi), allows me to use a scripting language to control some aspects of automation (using Webcore app) and still use Amazon to issue voice commands to the same devices. Kids love it, I like it, but not got full wife acceptance yet, she gets frustrated turns stuff off at the wall and then all the automation needs debugging!
- fron 8y ago
  They make dimmer switches that can be controlled via Zwave/Zigbee as well. If you replace your wall switches with these instead of using bulbs that do the same thing, your automations will have no more problems of this sort.
- jjeaff 8y ago
  Smart things actually requires an internet connection at times. I don't know what exactly causes it, but several times when my internet has gone out, I've been unable to control the lights. Lots of people have switched away from smart things for this reason.
- ericd 8y ago
  Yeah, a requirement for an active internet connection would completely kill it for me, much more than the cost, so it's nice to hear that it can use local networking only. Also, as you mention, the fact that it's not very compatible with the mechanical switches seems like it would be annoying, though I suppose those can be replaced with wifi equivalents. The bigger thing is that I just don't see huge benefits to smart lights, and potentially a lot of maintenance headache - I just don't really mind walking to the switch. An automated blind opener that is set to slowly open automatically based on what I've set my phone alarm to that day, though, that I would pay a lot and put up with a lot of crap for.

esrauch 8y ago

Of all of the nusances in my life, having to use light switches seems really low on the list. Is it really so transformative?

mulletbum 8y ago
Was the clapper a good product? Think the clapper, but instead it's completely customizable to your hearts content.
- throwaway080383 8y ago
  > Was the clapper a good product? No? I don't think I've ever met someone who owned a Clapper. In my mind, it's the epitome of gimmicky late-night TV/Skymall products.
  - mulletbum 8y ago
    You might want to speak to someone who owned one then and what purpose they used it for.
jjeaff 8y ago
Depends on the size of your house and the position of your light switches. It's pretty nice to say, "Alexa, turn on away mode" as I leave the house. Instead of going through the whole place, turning off all the lights, locking the back door and adjusting down the thermostat.
- Jemmeh 8y ago
  Yeah but I always turn off lights as I leave a room anyways so it's not like I have to run through the house. The thermostat is on the way out too. I am considering getting a nest or something but that's just for the thermostat, nothing else is all that important. And I can just set that to match my schedule. I have friends who have it, seems neat but still very "eh" for me.
  - 8y ago