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I wonder if I'm weird because I don't want a smart speaker in my house? Then again, I still find voice recognition so sketchy that I just don't want to deal wit

I wonder if I'm weird because I don't want a smart speaker in my house? Then again, I still find voice recognition so sketchy that I just don't want to deal with it. On the other hand, the real reason why I put smart switches in my home was practical. I hate that 3-way switches have no fixed "on" or "off" motion, so I started with smart switches to replace my 3-ways. Then I realized that the timers on smart switches are easier to program and adapt to Daylight Savings Time, so I put more in. I'm an early adopter and I also approach new technology very conservatively. I can totally understand why the Amish don't rush out and adopt everything.

mxuribe 5y ago
I'm with you; you're not weird! (Or, maybe we're both weird!) I don't want a smart speaker because i can't see any worthwhile value that i get from it. I especially like your example of the 3-way switch...that seems a conscious decision that clearly added value for you without just trying new tech for new tech's sake, etc.
- closetohome 5y ago
  Adding voice control to lights is surprisingly handy.
  - mxuribe 5y ago
    This reminds me of I.O.L. Now *that* is a feature that everyone should have in every room of their home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHoXX4QtY3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHoXX4QtY3s (Sorry, could not resist ;-)
hannasanarion 5y ago
I have never understood the appeal of smart speakers. A smart speaker can't do anything that a smartphone can't already do, and I have that on my person at all times. Spotify sent me a google home for free, and in a year I have only intentionally used it once or twice, and I think on one of those occasions my phone answered the wakeword first, so what even is the point? 99% of the times it waked were responding to me telling someone "okay cool", or my cat stepping on it. A few months ago it went in the old dead electronics pile, and a few weeks ago that pile went to a recycler, hopefully the metals in it can be turned into something actually useful.
- c22 5y ago
  I know several older people who refuse to reckon with modern phones (or, in one case, a cellular phone at all) but who have accepted "smart" speakers into their homes. I am not a fan of things that are always listening but I do appreciate the effort to bring "smartphone utility" to other objects/interfaces.
- bobsmooth 5y ago
  I got a Google Home Mini for the sole purpose of being able to turn off the lights when I'm on the couch, about to fall asleep.
  - hannasanarion 5y ago
    Ok, I'm with you, but this is the thing that confuses me: why don't you use the voice assistant feature of your phone to do that? Why do you need an additional device?
    - bobsmooth 5y ago
      That requires grabbing and lifting my phone, it also requires my phone to be in reach.

mxuribe 5y ago

I'm with you; you're not weird! (Or, maybe we're both weird!) I don't want a smart speaker because i can't see any worthwhile value that i get from it. I especially like your example of the 3-way switch...that seems a conscious decision that clearly added value for you without just trying new tech for new tech's sake, etc.

closetohome 5y ago
Adding voice control to lights is surprisingly handy.
- mxuribe 5y ago
  This reminds me of I.O.L. Now *that* is a feature that everyone should have in every room of their home: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHoXX4QtY3s https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHoXX4QtY3s (Sorry, could not resist ;-)

hannasanarion 5y ago

I have never understood the appeal of smart speakers. A smart speaker can't do anything that a smartphone can't already do, and I have that on my person at all times. Spotify sent me a google home for free, and in a year I have only intentionally used it once or twice, and I think on one of those occasions my phone answered the wakeword first, so what even is the point? 99% of the times it waked were responding to me telling someone "okay cool", or my cat stepping on it. A few months ago it went in the old dead electronics pile, and a few weeks ago that pile went to a recycler, hopefully the metals in it can be turned into something actually useful.

c22 5y ago
I know several older people who refuse to reckon with modern phones (or, in one case, a cellular phone at all) but who have accepted "smart" speakers into their homes. I am not a fan of things that are always listening but I do appreciate the effort to bring "smartphone utility" to other objects/interfaces.
bobsmooth 5y ago
I got a Google Home Mini for the sole purpose of being able to turn off the lights when I'm on the couch, about to fall asleep.
- hannasanarion 5y ago
  Ok, I'm with you, but this is the thing that confuses me: why don't you use the voice assistant feature of your phone to do that? Why do you need an additional device?
  - bobsmooth 5y ago
    That requires grabbing and lifting my phone, it also requires my phone to be in reach.