Re: Re: Why I Regret Making My House a Smart-House

[Martin Howell <martin.howell@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

While I agree 100% with all of Rob's comments, the fundamental issue
is
that the house should work without needing an expert pulling levers
every now and again.  My house has very modest levels of automation, and
it works great pretty much all of the time so SWMBO is blissfully
unaware of what is going on under the floorboards.  However, the
slightest glitch - such as the system not quite keeping pace with
changing daylight hours to turn the lights on - causes that refrain
we've all heard before - "I don't understand how all this works/why
can't we just switch the lights on like everybody else/etc" - despite
that fact that she _can_ just press a switch.

Unfortunately, and the point of the original article, all automation
systems need someone to poke it with a stick every now and again, and
because these systems are all hand rolled you can't just get the local
sparky in to help.  Its great when I'm around, but if I'm not even my
two boys - who are both very tech savvy and have grown up with the
system - will struggle to implement the smallest fix.

Its a shame, but until there are standards that everyone follows, and
more widespread adoption of this kind of automation so that there are
trained people around to help, smart homes will remain the toys of
people like us.  And our wives will still be saying "why can't we just
turn the lights on like everyone else?"

Martin

Martin Howell
Woodworker, artist and engineer

On 16/08/2013 04:27, Rob Iles wrote:
> Also agreed! Press/flick a switch  light(s) should come on regardless
of
> software.
>
> I'm somewhat biased in my belief in mix & match protocols/products
as
> that's what Harmony does; glue them together and add logic!
>
> Given that, I'd still prefer & unashamedly recommend one chooses
the best
> platform (within budget) for a particular task, and let software
enhance
> the experience where possible; giving the end user the best
combination of
> devices/platforms/protocols.
>
> e.g. X-10 is low cost, yet works well for a lot of people. Want to add
> scene lighting, go for Rako/C-Bus, Harmony will do the necessary. Want
> voice control? There's a Harmony Component that will tie all your
existing
> kit together too. Temperature sensing? Sure. Infrared? Covered. Media
> Center interface? Got it! Want something else? Use the API to roll
your
> own, or request it be added to the dev schedule.
>
> This isn't intended as an advert; simply pointing out that contrary to
some
> of the comments on the article software based Automation need not be
seen
> as the poor-brother of high-end proprietary offerings.
>
> One should be able to use the most appropriate technology for the task
in
> hand. Why pay £100+ for a light switch when a £10 piece of
kit can do the
> job just as well 99% of the time?
>
> 99% not good enough? Seems the proprietary (expensive) one
manufacturer
> setup doesn't do any better - and software is much easier to correct
> /fix/enhance!
>
> Comments / Criticism / Other are welcomed - onlist /emailed directly.
>
> Don't be shy ;-)
>
> Rob.
>
> --
> Rob Iles
> Harmony Automation (www.domialifestyle.com)
> myBBS (www.mybbs.co.uk)
> On 16 Aug 2013 01:39, "Phil Harris" <phil@xxxxxxx>
wrote:
>
>> **
>>
>>
>> Agreed - at the very least you should always be able to poke
something to
>> make it work ...
>>
>> (Applies on so many levels...)
>>
>> Phil
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: ukha_d@xxxxxxx [mailto:ukha_d@xxxxxxx] On Behalf Of
>> mal_lansell
>> Sent: 15 August 2013 22:27
>> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
>> Subject: [ukha_d] Re: Why I Regret Making My House a Smart-House
>>
>> I've always gone by the rule that everything should still function
manually
>> even without the computer.
>>
>> For example, I stick to standard, familiar light switches. Sure
they are
>> connected to a Z-Wave module under the hood, but that module will
still
>> respond to the switch commands without the computer in the loop.
>>
>> Automation should behave as an overlay.
>>
>> That way, you have a fallback, and are free to tinker - if your
software
>> borks, everything still works (albeit at a Neanderthal, everyday
level)
>>
>> Mal
>>
>> ------------------------------------
>>
>> Yahoo! Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> ------------------------------------
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>



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