QOTW: Which smart home gadgets do you own?

[HEXUS]

Or are there any you're contemplating buying?

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[Saracen]

It depends what you mean by "smart"?

I have some lights I can turn of/off, dim, or change colour temp, with a remote control. They can be controlled by smartphone/tablet etc app, if you buy a wifi bridge but I haven't bought one and don't intend to. Similarly, I have some plug sockets I can remote-control.

But I don't class a simple manually operated remote control as "smart", any more than being able to change TV channel with a remote makes the TV smart. If you're including remote devices, well, quite a few from CD player to AV amp, to some security devices, and so on.

I have a "smart" TV, but have deliberately not connected it to the net, so if that counts as smart, I've lobotomised it.

As for what's usually meant by "smart", as in web-connected, or IoT-type gadgets, I don't have any, and don't currently plan on any. Things like IoT fridges, kettles, etc, hell, no.

I MIGHT consider smart devices IF :-

- I'm convinced about both privacy and security,
- They're value for money, and
- I'm convinced the "smart" features benefit ME.

Frankly, I'm going to need a lot of convincing on that last point alone, even without the first two.

[eviling]

WiFi light bulbs are the only ones i have atm. A simple dimming switch on the wall would have been a solution too, but the cost of the light bulb method was just so much lower.

And i have backed kickstarter projects for various fun "smart" stuff too. Am quite looking forward to the bluetooth/zigbee controlled window blinds

[SineWave]

My wife. When she says we don't need this crap I listen to her.

[ed^chigliak]

There is more smart in a goldfish than any IoT gadget. We should remove the word smart from technology. Also the further back in time you go the better the technology gets. 1920s for toasters.

[Richker83]

My coffee pot. I press the button after I put the water and grounds in, and it gives me coffee. Aside from that, I would rather have full control over the things in my house, cause my luck would have it that it would wildly malfunction.

[DDY]

I've started a few IoT projects, some as long ago as a few years, I haven't finished any though.

I have a smartphone, but that's not always in the house.

Like Saracen, I've got a lobotomised smart TV that just does what the AV receiver tells it do.

Oh, I also have a home security system that's hooked up to the net for remote monitoring and management. But you're not supposed to know about that.

[abaxas]

We have a smart cat. He controls us into feeding him.

[peterb]

The term 'smart' is really overused hype. I have looked at things like the NEST heating controller which is supposedly smart because it 'learns' your routine - if you remember to keep adjusting it, but I know what my schedule is, so I'd just program it accorfpdingly.

It can be controlled from a 'smart' phone (that word again) but while technology might be clever, it is essentially remote control using the Internet, which is no mor 'smart' than using wires, or radio.

It really emphasises the fact that the Internet is nothing more (or less) than a communication channel, and has nothing inherently 'smart' about it.

[Percy1983]

I have made off grid smart stairs, there is an led strip on the back of the banister which is activated by a PIR sensor at the top and bottom.

Past that, nothing much.

[stevee]

A smart AC switch to program and control my electric heater with my mobile phone. It is more flexible than a simple timer I used before.

I agree with Saracen and try to be cautious when adding any smart device in my living environment. Today, everything seem to be designed to collect data on the users and/or uses poor security.

[xslavic]

I don't own any home control gadgets because there is the need to program them and interconnect ,which is kind of difficult at the time.
I have only diy Audiophile set-up which i can call smart ,also smart dvb-t antenna and smart HTPC powered by Netflix and Flac,in additon i also have 4tb dual hard drive NAS with torrent client.
My next smart device to buy would be new dvb-s2 receiver with IPTV and all that free regional access.I would like some home control device with voice control programming,but i dont understand how those gel packs work.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

we have a smart cat. He controls us into feeding him.

lmao.

[Ferral]

I think it is literally just the smart electric and gas meters which we had installed beginning of january. You can see how much you are using via the web or an app on your phone.

We have our TV hooked up to the router but it doesn't have smart capability, however when you select the input it has an icon at the bottom (Windows Media) that allows you to access media from the PC and stream it to the TV.

We are also getting Sky Q installed tommorow which does streaming round the house via mini boxes which is quite cool.

[cheesemp]

Nothing. Might think about smart heating controls when we get the boiler replaced as being able to adjust the heating from the phone sounds useful but can't really see much point in the rest of it.

[Plasmastorm]

Considering how few posts there is in this QOTW compared to normal I'd say it's safe to assume nobody gives a toss about smart home stuff