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Personally, I'm stoked. The first connected home device I got was an Internet-connected thermostat when I got my home HVAC replaced two months ago. I had no ide

Personally, I'm stoked. The first connected home device I got was an Internet-connected thermostat when I got my home HVAC replaced two months ago. I had no idea I was getting that in the package, and I love it. Looking forward to the day when I no longer have to curse myself for forgetting to start the dishwasher when I'm away from home. Keep in mind that in terms of factoring in costs, yeah, that will be true at first. But it wasn't that long ago that you had to buy an aftermarket modem as part of the barrier to entry to getting online on your personal computer. In a few years, connectivity will be the new normal, and prices will adjust.

rsync 12y ago
"Looking forward to the day when I no longer have to curse myself for forgetting to start the dishwasher when I'm away from home." Is that a tech prediction, or an optimistic view of your future mental health ?
- FroshKiller 12y ago
  Ha, aren't they often the same thing? In this case, I'll be happy to continue forgetting, because I'll be able to correct the mistake without going home. Kind of chilling, actually: The notion that this technology might make us more complacent with our weaknesses rather than empower us to be better.
  - wlesieutre 12y ago
    On the one hand, it'd be great if I could remotely double check that I turned off the stove and locked my front door. On the other, if you can remotely control these devices then I have to wonder about the security implications. Track records for most wireless device companies have not been good, and I don't want someone burning down my house. Maybe the plan here is to get everyone on a single standard that shoves good security practices down their throats? But you still have to rely on them implementing it correctly.
    - FroshKiller 12y ago
      At least in the case of my thermostat, all remote functions are mediated by a server on the thermostat company's side that dials into the thermostat over the Web. In order to compromise the thermostat, you'd have to know how to identify my thermostat and how to spoof the server it communicates with. It's not like you can just stand outside my window with a fob that has an antenna and a big red button and turn my heat up. From another perspective, front doors with deadbolts and residential don't have a good security track record, either, since most of them can be kicked open easily. But they're good enough.
freyr 12y ago
Perhaps an Internet-connected thermostat is something I need to try to fully appreciate. No doubt the costs will come down, and capabilities will increase. And as costs and capabilities increase, potential for innovation will increase. But it would feel much more compelling if they had a strong application out of the gate (perhaps its networked thermostats). It would benefit from some initial momentum. Industry seems to be taking a "if we build it, they will come" approach, but this often doesn't work out in reality.
- FroshKiller 12y ago
  A big part of it is just geeking out over how cool it is that my thermostat is online. However, I'm the kind of guy who never remembers to change the thermostat's schedule before I leave home for a trip, and this thing has already made it possible for me to correct that mistake without having to go back to the house or ask a friend to go over and do it for me. Over the lifetime of the thermostat, that will more than cover its cost in savings off my electric bill.

rsync 12y ago

"Looking forward to the day when I no longer have to curse myself for forgetting to start the dishwasher when I'm away from home." Is that a tech prediction, or an optimistic view of your future mental health ?

FroshKiller 12y ago
Ha, aren't they often the same thing? In this case, I'll be happy to continue forgetting, because I'll be able to correct the mistake without going home. Kind of chilling, actually: The notion that this technology might make us more complacent with our weaknesses rather than empower us to be better.
- wlesieutre 12y ago
  On the one hand, it'd be great if I could remotely double check that I turned off the stove and locked my front door. On the other, if you can remotely control these devices then I have to wonder about the security implications. Track records for most wireless device companies have not been good, and I don't want someone burning down my house. Maybe the plan here is to get everyone on a single standard that shoves good security practices down their throats? But you still have to rely on them implementing it correctly.
  - FroshKiller 12y ago
    At least in the case of my thermostat, all remote functions are mediated by a server on the thermostat company's side that dials into the thermostat over the Web. In order to compromise the thermostat, you'd have to know how to identify my thermostat and how to spoof the server it communicates with. It's not like you can just stand outside my window with a fob that has an antenna and a big red button and turn my heat up. From another perspective, front doors with deadbolts and residential don't have a good security track record, either, since most of them can be kicked open easily. But they're good enough.

freyr 12y ago

Perhaps an Internet-connected thermostat is something I need to try to fully appreciate. No doubt the costs will come down, and capabilities will increase. And as costs and capabilities increase, potential for innovation will increase. But it would feel much more compelling if they had a strong application out of the gate (perhaps its networked thermostats). It would benefit from some initial momentum. Industry seems to be taking a "if we build it, they will come" approach, but this often doesn't work out in reality.

FroshKiller 12y ago
A big part of it is just geeking out over how cool it is that my thermostat is online. However, I'm the kind of guy who never remembers to change the thermostat's schedule before I leave home for a trip, and this thing has already made it possible for me to correct that mistake without having to go back to the house or ask a friend to go over and do it for me. Over the lifetime of the thermostat, that will more than cover its cost in savings off my electric bill.