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>> The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity. No no

>> The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity. No no no no. I was all onboard with this seemingly wonderful product until I hit that line. The things that provide fresh water, that actually enable life functions, should NEVER involve controller aps. Switches. Dials. Positive on/off switches. Maybe the occasional touchscreen. But please do not put the need for a working/charged/connected cellphone between the user and their source of fresh water. And they say that this thing uses about as much power as a cellphone charger. Wrong. It requires the power of a cellphone charger to filter water, plus a second charger to power the cellphone running the app.

joshuaheard 5y ago
A cell phone app would be handy for remote monitoring and control. Say you lived a mile away from the ocean where it is deployed. You could turn it on and off depending on the tide and know when the container you are filling is full. Having just completed a home remodel where all the home automation features have an app, having apps is a handy way to monitor and control your hardware without leaving your couch, or even if you are off-premises.
- sandworm101 5y ago
  But does the pipe bringing fresh water into your house use an ap? There are things in this life that are expected to "just work", that are so basic they should not be trusted to aps. This product isn't for a fancy house in a city. It is a portable product meant for use in remote areas, by soldiers no less, far away from working cellphone towers or reliable power supplies. Serious consideration should be given before attaching anything more complicated than an on/off toggle switch.
  - joshuaheard 5y ago
    I'm sure there is a manual override if your phone is dead and you have to walk over to activate it.
  - xtracto 5y ago
    Right, the more I learned about computers and automation, the more I want dumber stuff. Intelligent doorlock? Alexa lights? Ring? Nooo thank you, I don't want to be left out of my home or without light because of some internet error. I like my electronics like my dogs: dumb as a mule.
tzot 5y ago
>> The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity. > No no no no. I was all onboard with this seemingly wonderful product until I hit that line. The things that provide fresh water, that actually enable life functions, should NEVER involve controller aps. Switches. Dials. Positive on/off switches. Maybe the occasional touchscreen. But please do not put the need for a working/charged/connected cellphone between the user and their source of fresh water. You are objecting to a strawman of your own creation. Before you hit that line, you read “The technology is packaged into a user-friendly device that runs with the push of one button.” and “The researchers designed the device for nonexperts, with just one button to launch the automatic desalination and purification process.” And then comes the line that triggered your reaction: “The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity.” The key word is “can”. “Can control”, “can report”. So you have the simplest possible device: press a button on the device, extract drinkable water. You want status updates / remote control? Use the app, which is optional; nowhere in the article it is stated that the app is necessary. So you might reconsider your stance and get back onboard with the product.

joshuaheard 5y ago

A cell phone app would be handy for remote monitoring and control. Say you lived a mile away from the ocean where it is deployed. You could turn it on and off depending on the tide and know when the container you are filling is full. Having just completed a home remodel where all the home automation features have an app, having apps is a handy way to monitor and control your hardware without leaving your couch, or even if you are off-premises.

sandworm101 5y ago
But does the pipe bringing fresh water into your house use an ap? There are things in this life that are expected to "just work", that are so basic they should not be trusted to aps. This product isn't for a fancy house in a city. It is a portable product meant for use in remote areas, by soldiers no less, far away from working cellphone towers or reliable power supplies. Serious consideration should be given before attaching anything more complicated than an on/off toggle switch.
- joshuaheard 5y ago
  I'm sure there is a manual override if your phone is dead and you have to walk over to activate it.
- xtracto 5y ago
  Right, the more I learned about computers and automation, the more I want dumber stuff. Intelligent doorlock? Alexa lights? Ring? Nooo thank you, I don't want to be left out of my home or without light because of some internet error. I like my electronics like my dogs: dumb as a mule.

tzot 5y ago

>> The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity. > No no no no. I was all onboard with this seemingly wonderful product until I hit that line. The things that provide fresh water, that actually enable life functions, should NEVER involve controller aps. Switches. Dials. Positive on/off switches. Maybe the occasional touchscreen. But please do not put the need for a working/charged/connected cellphone between the user and their source of fresh water. You are objecting to a strawman of your own creation. Before you hit that line, you read “The technology is packaged into a user-friendly device that runs with the push of one button.” and “The researchers designed the device for nonexperts, with just one button to launch the automatic desalination and purification process.” And then comes the line that triggered your reaction: “The researchers also created a smartphone app that can control the unit wirelessly and report real-time data on power consumption and water salinity.” The key word is “can”. “Can control”, “can report”. So you have the simplest possible device: press a button on the device, extract drinkable water. You want status updates / remote control? Use the app, which is optional; nowhere in the article it is stated that the app is necessary. So you might reconsider your stance and get back onboard with the product.