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GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

theregister.co.uk

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Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#141

Post by StavrosK »

DoctorOetker wrote: post #138
StavrosK wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> wouldnt it be more sane to reset through the bluetooth device No, because you might be resetting because you can't connect with the bluetooth device. > or even simpler: just unscrew and rescrew the lightbulb to reset! How does the light bulb know it's unscrewed? How is that different from turning the switch off?

How does the light bulb know it's unscrewed? How is that different from turning the switch off? it could easily measure this by either: - a limit switch, or - a split center electrode: if there is a conducting path between left and right halves between center electrode, then the bulb is screwed in, or - measuring the capacitance between outer and center electrode: in open air there is the known capacitance, when scre…

How does it do all this with no power?

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#142

Post by bpyne »

owenmarshall wrote: post #125
heavenlyblue wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I kind of do that to Spotify - I have to listen to tracks I don't necessarily like so that their suggestion mechanism would stop pushing me the same stuff I had already listened to. PS: That being said, I would still listen to stuff I don't like to discover something, but that's beyond the point - wasn't automation supposed to make our lives better in some way? :)

So your goal is discovery of music? We used to have a great solution for this: disk jockeys. Some stations still do employ them as actual curators of music, not just a pleasing voice over the Clear Channel Top 40 feed. The problems of today are strange.

I miss disk jockeys. The ones who were knowledgeable about music, played B sides, and had some personality were gems. I found a station (KSLG) in northern California that still does this.

I like Spotify and there's a place for it. But I wouldn't call it fun. Listening to a good DJ was fun and sometimes informative.

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#143

Post by roland35 »

Talyen42 wrote: post #117

This is why I don't buy the "IoT smart home" future. There's no such thing as a "smart" device that doesn't typically break within 4-5 years. Dozens of such devices in a house means you'd be dealing with a broken device every few months, which is my nightmare. I want the LEAST amount of complexity possible to control all my critical living functions, from fridges to windows to lights to cars.

I am all for dumb appliances over the current crop of "smart" appliances, but one feature I would LOVE would be some kind of sensor log of my refrigerator! This would help to know if the power went off while I was gone - did the temperature rise too much? That is all I need...

The same would apply to other appliances and HVAC, just simple data to know everything is working correctly.

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#144

Post by DoctorOetker »

StavrosK wrote: post #141
DoctorOetker wrote: post #138

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does the light bulb know it's unscrewed? How is that different from turning the switch off? it could easily measure this by either: - a limit switch, or - a split center electrode: if there is a conducting path between left and right halves between center electrode, then the bulb is screwed in, or - measuring the capacitance between outer and center electrode: in open air there is the known capacitance, when scre…

How does it do all this with no power?

a capacitor to power the microcontroller for a few milliseconds?

actually, if the goal is to detect a reset operation by unscrewing: while unscrewing and shortly after the circuit is open, the previously contacting electrodes are still close by, such that it can be powered capacitively while it realizes it is being reset... this is probably noticable by measuring the change in complex impedance

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#145

Post by roland35 »

undecisive wrote: post #68

> For some reason, GE decided not to install a physical reset button – you know, one of those tiny holes that you have to stick a pin or paperclip into. Hmmm... Nope, I can't see a problem with getting people to stick a paperclip into holes around mains electricity! Sounds perfectly safe. Seriously though, this is bonkers. Power cycling patterns are by far the best method for initiating a reset - and no, sending a re…

Also, light bulbs are only powered on when they are installed, oftentimes in inaccessible locations which can get pretty hot! A reset power cycle is hopefully an annoyance you only deal with once or twice.

Instead of a simple 8/2 second cycle they should tell the user "play the song 'Tubthumping' and turn the light off when you get knocked down, and turn the light on when you get up again!"

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#146

Post by roland35 »

heavenlyblue wrote: post #96
tompccs wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The fact that there is a logical chain of engineering considerations that got us to this point I take as granted (yes, the article thinks it could have been done better but, as you point out, there are safety problems). But our world is becoming more and more like a Doglas Adams novel - I seem to remember in one of the H2G2 books that they considered their civilisation so advanced that they did away with TV remotes,…

I kind of do that to Spotify - I have to listen to tracks I don't necessarily like so that their suggestion mechanism would stop pushing me the same stuff I had already listened to. PS: That being said, I would still listen to stuff I don't like to discover something, but that's beyond the point - wasn't automation supposed to make our lives better in some way? :)

That doesn't sound as bad as Pandora for me - I used to like it until Pandora kept playing Björk songs over and over and over, no matter how much I downvoted them!

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#147

Post by StavrosK »

DoctorOetker wrote: post #144
StavrosK wrote: post #141

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How does it do all this with no power?

a capacitor to power the microcontroller for a few milliseconds? actually, if the goal is to detect a reset operation by unscrewing: while unscrewing and shortly after the circuit is open, the previously contacting electrodes are still close by, such that it can be powered capacitively while it realizes it is being reset... this is probably noticable by measuring the change in complex impedance

Your solution is to make laypeople unscrew the bulb with the socket still live, while increasing the cost of each bulb by a lot?

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#148

Post by C1sc0cat »

Nokinside wrote: post #47

I had a chat with Japanese lifestyle management consultant for the rich recently. In the 90's Bill Gates had networked house and automatically adjusting lights and it was the peak of luxury. Today networking and automating the house is so affordable that it's not signalling luxury lifestyle. Apparently doing simple mundane tasks gracefully and carefully without feeling irritated is quickly becoming a way to signal to…

Rich .NE. Upper Class - you'd hardly call red moleskin trousers "tastefull" but it is a signifier of a certain class in the UK (cavalry officers)

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#149

Post by owenmarshall »

imglorp wrote: post #134
owenmarshall wrote: post #125

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So your goal is discovery of music? We used to have a great solution for this: disk jockeys. Some stations still do employ them as actual curators of music, not just a pleasing voice over the Clear Channel Top 40 feed. The problems of today are strange.

The loss of DJs to syndicated formats was tragic. These folks are pros, with vast experience, and they can put together a show by theme, or to tell a story, or to set a mood, or to challenge you with some new things. Most of them now press the button on whatever they're told and read the title out. But, every once in a while they sneak in a late night show now, maybe when mgmt isn't looking. I wonder if this would be…

> I wonder if this would be a good format for streaming, like the old days but global, with a live DJ and fans interacting live.

I have a great site for you: check out https://wfmu.org

Re: GE's smart light bulb reset process is a masterpiece of modern techno-insanity

#150

Post by delfinom »

roland35 wrote: post #143
Talyen42 wrote: post #117

This is why I don't buy the "IoT smart home" future. There's no such thing as a "smart" device that doesn't typically break within 4-5 years. Dozens of such devices in a house means you'd be dealing with a broken device every few months, which is my nightmare. I want the LEAST amount of complexity possible to control all my critical living functions, from fridges to windows to lights to cars.

I am all for dumb appliances over the current crop of "smart" appliances, but one feature I would LOVE would be some kind of sensor log of my refrigerator! This would help to know if the power went off while I was gone - did the temperature rise too much? That is all I need... The same would apply to other appliances and HVAC, just simple data to know everything is working correctly.

Just shove in a $10 zigbee temperature monitor.
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