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> I really question more the risk reward trade off of these devices. What is having an internet connected coffee maker buying me? Presumably they're similar to

> I really question more the risk reward trade off of these devices. What is having an internet connected coffee maker buying me? Presumably they're similar to smart TVs: some consumers may want them, but nearly all OEMs would rather sell a smart one than a dumb one

082349872349872 6y ago
Gresham's Law arrives in the kitchen?
CyberDildonics 6y ago
Smart TVs are different - people want netflix/hulu/disney+ built into their TV a long with a bunch of other interfaces to play video with their remote. TV for lots of non tech savy people comes over the internet now. A lot of powered appliances either heat something up or spin a fan or pump. They don't need information from the internet and any slight advantage is outweighed by their complexity and cost. I think you are right that manufacturers want to break free from being commodities. I think it is only a matter of time before people realize that they aren't gaining anything from complicating things that used to be simple.
- GordonS 6y ago
  The value from smart TVs is very clear, even if the privacy concerns are only clear to a few. But a coffee machine, toaster or whatever... just... why?! Even as a life-long techie, and putting aside privacy concerns, there isn't a single compelling reason to want my coffee machine to be connected to the Internet, or even my local network.
- clairity 6y ago
  while you make some other good points, between > "Smart TVs are different..." and > " think it is only a matter of time before people realize that they aren't gaining anything from complicating things that used to be simple." you're making the same mistake of overgeneralizing, assuming that every (other) smart appliance can't have usefulness outside of its core, dumb functionality, based on one example of that being true. hopefully we can agree that some smartened appliances benefit the consumer, though not all (as in the case of a coffee maker), even if manufacturers are incentivized to break out of the commodity box by smartifying all the things, consequences and functionality be damned.
  - CyberDildonics 6y ago
    > assuming that every (other) smart appliance can't have usefulness outside of its core, dumb functionality, I'm not assuming that at all and it has nothing to do with smart TVs. Smart TVs are a place where having a computer inside is something people want. I'm saying other appliances are different, not because there can't be a benefit, but because the benefits are much smaller and complexity to usefulness ratio is much smaller. Also operating most appliances remotely or with a more elaborate interface doesn't give much benefit. Thermostats might be somewhere in the middle since there is a lot of room for improvement, not just in setting up a schedule or setting them remotely, but in the information they give back to you (how many btus are you leaking out of your house over time, etc.)

082349872349872 6y ago

Gresham's Law arrives in the kitchen?

CyberDildonics 6y ago

Smart TVs are different - people want netflix/hulu/disney+ built into their TV a long with a bunch of other interfaces to play video with their remote. TV for lots of non tech savy people comes over the internet now. A lot of powered appliances either heat something up or spin a fan or pump. They don't need information from the internet and any slight advantage is outweighed by their complexity and cost. I think you are right that manufacturers want to break free from being commodities. I think it is only a matter of time before people realize that they aren't gaining anything from complicating things that used to be simple.

GordonS 6y ago
The value from smart TVs is very clear, even if the privacy concerns are only clear to a few. But a coffee machine, toaster or whatever... just... why?! Even as a life-long techie, and putting aside privacy concerns, there isn't a single compelling reason to want my coffee machine to be connected to the Internet, or even my local network.
clairity 6y ago
while you make some other good points, between > "Smart TVs are different..." and > " think it is only a matter of time before people realize that they aren't gaining anything from complicating things that used to be simple." you're making the same mistake of overgeneralizing, assuming that every (other) smart appliance can't have usefulness outside of its core, dumb functionality, based on one example of that being true. hopefully we can agree that some smartened appliances benefit the consumer, though not all (as in the case of a coffee maker), even if manufacturers are incentivized to break out of the commodity box by smartifying all the things, consequences and functionality be damned.
- CyberDildonics 6y ago
  > assuming that every (other) smart appliance can't have usefulness outside of its core, dumb functionality, I'm not assuming that at all and it has nothing to do with smart TVs. Smart TVs are a place where having a computer inside is something people want. I'm saying other appliances are different, not because there can't be a benefit, but because the benefits are much smaller and complexity to usefulness ratio is much smaller. Also operating most appliances remotely or with a more elaborate interface doesn't give much benefit. Thermostats might be somewhere in the middle since there is a lot of room for improvement, not just in setting up a schedule or setting them remotely, but in the information they give back to you (how many btus are you leaking out of your house over time, etc.)