Anyone else doing home automation?

[disneysteve]

All the automation I have installed is just silly, except the motion sensors for the rooms that are dark and hard to find the light switch. Those have been quite handy .

I love those. We actually made a donation a few years ago to our synagogue to pay to have them installed in all of the restrooms.

At home, however, I can't really think of anywhere I would put one. There is no room where I always want the light to go on when I enter. I guess the basement maybe, but I'm not sure where I could put the sensor so that it wouldn't turn off the lights while I was still down there and out of view of the sensor. But the kitchen, sitting room, bedrooms, bathrooms are all places I may or may not turn on the lights depending on time of day and what I'm going in there for.

[~bs]

All the automation I have installed is just silly, except the motion sensors for the rooms that are dark and hard to find the light switch. Those have been quite handy and as it turns out, the cheapest part to install.

Once the giggle factor wears off, the rest of it will just be another silly hobby of mine.

Yup, to each their own. And If you look at most modern generally accepted conveniences or gadgets, I'm sure at some point, there were people that wondered why you would ever need something like that? So being at the forefront and an early adopter isn't necessarily a good/bad thing if that's what you choose.

[kork13]

Do motion sensor night lights count? We've got a half dozen of those too keep us from tripping over things during the never-ending nights up here in Alaska.

Currently, we do basically nothing. At some point in the near future, however, I'm hoping to get either some of the Amazon Echo/Dot things, or otherwise the Google Home equivalents, plus some of the smart plugs. I'd love to be able to control certain lights by voice command or turn on music without having to set up a Bluetooth speaker & control the music from my computer. The concept of Amazon's "Drop In" feature (basically an intercom) also seems really cool/useful.

[disneysteve]

If you look at most modern generally accepted conveniences or gadgets, I'm sure at some point, there were people that wondered why you would ever need something like that?

That's true. I thought of that also. It's not unusual, however, for the invention to come before the practical use is identified. The early adopters tend to be the "beta testers" who are among those who play with the new thing and figure out what best to use it for.

As far as the home automation stuff goes, I have yet to read about any uses that are of any use or interest to me. I have no doubt that as the tech matures, those uses will come. They just aren't here yet.

That said, I think the tech is amazing for elderly and disabled folks. Being able to turn on lights, adjust the TV, change the thermostat, etc. without having to get up is a huge benefit. Plus there's the emergency contact use if someone falls and can just call out for help and have the system call 911 or call their child to come help them.

[skives]

We have a Nest thermostat and also Phillips Hue Lights in our bedroom which are nice to have come on when it's time to get up for work.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I think we are doing lights next for the dog. We do the outdoor lights so that it goes on with dusk. It allows us to have lights if we stay out light so I am doing that indoors too for the dog.