Hi, John.
While things like Siri and Alexa are probably embraced by many seniors
there are many other people who just aren't comfortable speaking to
their devices to get information. I have a family member who just isn't
comfortable talking to Siri to perform tasks. Some people are just so
used to the older devices where you push a button or turn a knob to get
something to happen and, for some people, that's about as high tech as
they're willing to get.
On 1/27/2019 11:02 PM, jhii926@xxxxxxxxx wrote:
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I have the Echo dot 2^nd gen, which I’ve once again had to factory reset two of them because the micks stop working. What do I have, lemins ?
We don’t have any smart home anything. My parents, who I bought an echo for, they don’t ever use it really. It took ages for them to get to use siri even a bit.
My dad, while he has Google Maps on his iOS iPhone 8, prefers to use the nav in the car and never ever uses his phone for navigation in the car. Just like he uses the actual physical radio in the car, not something that would use data.
Frankly, its easier, and the car has the big screen
*From:* blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <blind-philly-comp-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> *On Behalf Of *David Goldfield
*Sent:* Sunday, January 27, 2019 10:44 PM
*To:* blind-philly-comp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [blind-philly-comp] Re: Common Smarthome Myths That Just Aren’t True
Hi.
In response to this article I'm curious to know how many of you use any sort of smart home technology and how it's working for you. We don't have a lot of it although I do have two cameras that I use with my Xfinity Home app along with an Ecobee thermostat which I can control via my iPhone, Alexa and the Xfinity Home app. We have two motion detectors along with sensors on all of our doors and windows, as well.
On 1/27/2019 10:12 PM, David Goldfield wrote:
How-To Geek - Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 6:40 AM
Common Smarthome Myths That Just Aren’t True
Alexander Supertramp/Shutterstock
<https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/smart-home-automation-control-system-innovation-1149993809?src=library>
Smarthome technology has come a long way. It still isn’t for
everyone, but some of the common myths people use to avoid
smarthome tech aren’t true. Smarthomes don’t have to be expensive,
and they aren’t always listening to you, for example.
Myth: Smarthomes are Expensive
Dariusz Jarzabek/Shutterstock
<https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/photo-modern-house-outdoor-lighting-night-437067727?src=library>
Smarthomes /can/ be expensive—especially if you go for a custom
build designed specifically for your home. But they don’t
/have/ to be expensive.
It’s easy to start small and then build out piece by piece from
there. One great way to do that is to pick up inexpensive smart
bulbs
<https://www.reviewgeek.com/7074/the-best-smart-lights-that-arent-philips-hue/>
and
see what you think. You could then consider adding a sensor or
two. If you are more comfortable with electricity, you can install
smart light switches
<https://www.howtogeek.com/275844/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-belkin-wemo-light-switch/>
to control several bulbs for a little more than an inexpensive
smart bulb.
The best thing to do is to watch for deals. Voice assistants like
the Echo and Google Home go on sale frequently
<https://www.reviewgeek.com/11191/you-can-still-take-advantage-of-some-awesome-amazon-echo-and-google-home-deals/?tag=823814-20>.
Even if the cost does add up, it’s easy to spread out that cost
over time, so you feel less of the bite. You don’t have to buy
every gadget, and you certainly don’t have to buy them all at once!
*RELATED:* /*How to Put Together Your First Smarthome (Without
Getting Overwhelmed)*/
<https://www.howtogeek.com/305187/how-to-put-together-your-first-smarthome-without-getting-overwhelmed/>
Myth: Smarthomes are Always Listening to You
If you become a Smarthome owner, or at least a Voice Assistant
user, you’ll hear this frequently. But it isn’t true at all, at
least not in the way people fear. Voice Assistant devices, like
Alexa
<https://www.howtogeek.com/235653/how-to-set-up-and-configure-your-amazon-echo/?tag=823814-20>
and Google Home
<https://www.howtogeek.com/337256/so-you-just-got-a-google-home.-now-what/>,
do always listen. But they are only listening for their wake word
(like “Alexa” or “Hey, Google”).
This wake word is locally processed, and until the device hears
those specific words, it sends nothing to Amazon or Google. As
soon as they do recognize the wake word, they process the command
that follows and then send it off for cloud processing. If these
devices were recording everything they heard and sending it to the
cloud, you’d see a drastic rise in network usage that would be
easy to spot.
How easy? When an early Google Home mini review unit was
malfunctioning and recording near constantly, the tech reviewer
who had the unit realized fairly quickly
<https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/10/10/google-nerfing-home-minis-mine-spied-everything-said-247/>.
This was, of course, unintentional, and Google was quick to remedy
the situation. But the point stands that near-constant recording
is noticeable, even to someone who isn’t a security researcher.
Both Amazon and Google also let you view (and delete) every voice
command you’ve ever given. Here’s how to view your history for the
Amazon Echo
<https://www.howtogeek.com/319299/how-to-listen-to-and-delete-every-command-youve-ever-given-to-alexa/>
and the Google Home
<https://www.howtogeek.com/338678/how-to-find-and-delete-google-assistants-stored-voice-data/>.
Myth: Smarthomes are Easily Hacked
It stands to reason that every connected item is an additional
avenue into your home for hackers. But the weak point of your home
probably isn’t your smart hub or smart outlet. The weak point is
probably your Wi-Fi Router. The key to any secure connected home
is a secure Wi-Fi network
<https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/the-key-to-a-secure-smart-home-a-secure-wi-fi-network/>.
And nearly every vulnerability shown for smarthome devices has
required physical access to the device, or at the very least
remote access through your network.
If you can keep would-be bad actors out of your home and out of
your network, then you will have gone a long way to preventing any
trouble.
And always remember. People who want to do you harm or steal your
stuff are likely to choose the most accessible path. Why hack a
smart lock
<https://www.howtogeek.com/322576/are-smart-locks-secure/>, after
all, when you can break a window?
Myth: Smarthomes are Difficult to Implement
Once upon a time, there was a grain of truth to this myth. But
Smarthomes are easier than ever to implement. You can get by with
installing some Phillips Hue light bulbs
<https://www.howtogeek.com/275491/seven-clever-uses-for-philips-hue-lights/> and
a voice assistant of your choice. If you’ve ever changed a lock,
installing a smart lock is an almost identical process. If you
have a little technical know-how, you can follow the instructions
to install a smart thermostat like the Nest
<https://www.howtogeek.com/248396/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-nest-thermostat/>.
*RELATED:* /*How to Install and Set Up the Schlage Connect Smart
Lock*/
<https://www.howtogeek.com/330039/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-schlage-connect-smart-lock/>
And if you can change out a thermostat, the chances are good you
can install a smart switch. Even if you aren’t comfortable with
wiring a switch, a smart plug
<https://www.howtogeek.com/344882/which-smart-plug-should-you-buy/>
is dead simple to install. You plug it in and then plug your
device into the smart outlet. A quick setup routine in a
smartphone app and you’re good to go
Voice Assistants by their very nature are straightforward to set
up and use. This is especially true if you get one with a display,
like the Google Home Hub
<https://www.reviewgeek.com/11218/product-of-the-year-the-google-home-hub/>.
The key is keeping a smarthome simple is to start small and build
up. Yes, as you add more devices and start thinking about routines
and automation
<https://www.howtogeek.com/359273/forget-voice-control-automation-is-the-real-smarthome-superpower/>,
things do get more complicated. But, you’ll also be growing more
comfortable with the tech as you go, and expanding will become
easier and easier.
https://www.howtogeek.com/399151/common-smarthome-myths-that-just-aren%e2%80%99t-true/
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info <http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
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David Goldfield, Assistive Technology Specialist Feel free to visit my Web site WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info <http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.Info>
