Home automation. What do you think about it? Do you want it?
By Awinds
@Awinds (2468)
United States
August 17, 2011 12:06am CST
As some of you may know, Google recently announced Android @ Home, which they hope to have on the market (at least some of it) by the end of this year.
Their intentions are to make household appliances like accessories for your tablet or mobile phone. Each device could communicate with another via the Android operating system. You could also turn on lights, music or appliances from your mobile phone from anywhere in your house. In a way we already have stuff like this: the Nissan Leaf (an electric car) can be turned on from one's smartphone thanks to the appropriate app.
I find this incredibly cool. To turn on lights or to control appliances without ever leaving the room one is currently in - wow! It's like a universal remote for every electronic device in the house! I wouldn't want to use Google's system though. They are before anything an advertising company. I really don't want advertisements on my fridge, toaster, wall etc. The only disadvantage I can think of concerning this is that it would probably make America's obesity problem even worse.
What do you think? Would you want a home system like this? Why or why not?
1 person likes this
9 responses
@dpk262006 (58675)
• Delhi, India
17 Aug 11
Hi there!
It looks cool to get such an application on Android phone and to use our mobile phone as a remote control. I would not like to go for it because it will make me more and more dependent on my phone turned remote control and if any day I loss my phone or it gets out of order, it will make things very difficult for me.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
17 Aug 11
That is an excellent point. With increased reliance on technology there is decreased skill and generally ability to survive without electricity and gadgets. I also hear that android can be hacked into. You would really be in trouble if that was the case and your home control system was strictly on your phone. :S
@jokerzhunter (129)
• United States
18 Aug 11
That is why we should not rely so much on technology, sometimes things are better when you do them yourself.
@Lore2009 (7378)
• United States
19 Aug 11
No, I don't think I'd want that. I don't mind looking at it from a friend's house when I visit but I don't want one to be in my daily routine. I like manual and I like to know how things are working instead of complicated gadgets like that.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
17 Aug 11
My alarm company offered something similar that would turn on things when I am away, but the cost would be too much and besides with two renters, I would also; have to give them special keys. If I were by myself, it might work and then it would not. Now all I need is something to automatically carry the loads down to the washer and the food from the freezer.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
18 Aug 11
They do their own laundry, but i would not mind hanging all the clothes out. Trouble is that towels come out very stiff. I do not mind myself, but do not know about them. And one of them works shift work, so I often have to wait until she goes to work before I can change the sheets.
With them coming and going, it wold not work with an alarm system.
@celticeagle (158732)
• Boise, Idaho
17 Aug 11
It is incredibly cool. I have seen futuristic movies with these very things. Security systems,food planning, etc. All done from one computerized system. Soon it will all be done from an app. You can turn your lights off if you have forgotten to and probably turn the coffee on from your car.
@celticeagle (158732)
• Boise, Idaho
18 Aug 11
We will still be required to load the machine,etc. They aready have a pretty cute little vaccum.
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
18 Aug 11
You're right, obesity will increase. I think behind of this automation there is a great business. They are selling the feeling of power. You can manage many tasks with a small control remote device. Naturally that's going to cost money.
True.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
17 Aug 11
i don't know, its not that difficult to turn a light on or off myself, and i bet working out how to set it up would be more trouble than it was worth.
however if it could do some tidying up, and cook dinner i might consider it.
@francesca5 (1344)
•
17 Aug 11
the idea of a virus is terrifying, but it made me think of something else. what if every time the light got turned on and off, we got to see an advert, its bound to be included somewhere in the package.
@bobmnu (8157)
• United States
17 Aug 11
This is what Bill Gates talked about in one of his books. He envisioned a house where you could go from room to room and the lights would adjust to what you liked, the radio would be tuned to your station or the TV would be on your favorite channel. You would also have a vacuum cleaner that would automatically clean the carpet on a schedule and the lawn mower would cut the grass only when it was a certain height. Oops that is already available from Sears.
@swirlz (3136)
• Philippines
18 Aug 11
The only problem I can think of is that this will probably result in fights inside the household. Imagine this scenario: There are 2 remote controls to 1 tv. Wouldn't the family watching be fighting which show to watch? They will be switching it back and forth. Now imagine that with the lights, air conditioning, and other appliances. If everyone can use their mobile phones to influence appliances, then there'll be a lot of problem of who would have to give in to whose wants.
@jokerzhunter (129)
• United States
18 Aug 11
AS cool as it seems. maybe it would be better using it only on high class hotels? or something like that...But at home, horrible, no, we are lazy enough as it is. This would cause more problems than what it actually accomplishes.
@Awinds (2468)
• United States
18 Aug 11
That is a great point. There also many potential dangers - such as over alliance on a system that is not 100% guaranteed all the time. There is also the danger of the system crashing and crippling one's home or the system being hacked. Then of course there are physical health problems that could result.
