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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

#211

Post by dwild »

Aloha wrote: post #170
dwild wrote: post #163

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Hmmm... Nope, I can't see a problem with getting people to stick a paperclip into holes around mains electricity! Sounds perfectly safe. What say it needs to be in the socket? A battery or a capacitor is all you need to make sure it can still a bit outside its sockets (you don't need much to clear the memory either). It could be a physical button too, no need for a pin.

The last thing I want to do is have to change the battery in my light bulbs.

A rechargeable battery can easily live just as long as the LEDs inside it.

I would still use a capacitor personally, but I said batteries because they could certainly work and Ikea does have a battery-powered light bulb with a button on it [1].

[1] https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60440888/

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

#212

Post by acupofnope »

asdfman123 wrote: post #182
acupofnope wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you live that your can afford a 15-hour week without worrying about rent, food,..etc?

You can definitely afford it, you just have to not live like a typical modern American. You can arrange your life around riding the bike and taking public transport, get a roommate, cook your own meals, etc. etc. and live on $20k/yr or less. Not in an expensive metropolis (easily), but there are plenty of other places where you can live. Look at how big houses were in the early 1900s. And how often people ate meat.

Maybe if you are single, young American without any health issues or dependents, sure, why not. Is it attainable by everyone? I don't think so. It's a great ideal to have, and maybe someday a reality, but as things currently are, unrealistic.

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

#213

Post by foxyv »

I want a "Read Only" smart house. One that tells me when the refrigerator temperature is getting too high or if some appliance has a high resistance short that's making it use extra electricity. When it comes to everything else, I want switches and wires. I wish I could buy a TV without the stupid "Smart" features that turns on in seconds, but it seems like they all have something installed that makes me have to "Boot" my TV.

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

#214

Post by acupofnope »

soufron wrote: post #57
acupofnope wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where do you live that your can afford a 15-hour week without worrying about rent, food,..etc?

Well, in Europe, you can.

Ok, I just arrived to Europe. What do I do next?

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

#215

Post by amluto »

yaakov34 wrote: post #111

I have a story on point. My brother is a manager at a company which installs electrical and HVAC systems, working mostly with very high-end private homes. They had this couple as clients, both very fancy architects, who designed their new home to be completely computer-controlled, from window shutters to air conditioners to lights, without any physical switches (I guess there was a remote and sensors or something). T…

Wow!

Someone tried to sell me Lutron Homeworks. It’s a computer to control lights and such. Want to add a new light switch? You need to reprogram it, and end users don’t get copies of the programming tool. Want to control lights if the computer dies? Nope.

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

#216

Post by BubRoss »

vinaypai wrote: post #159
the_mitsuhiko wrote: post #59

Earlier quoted context omitted.

IKEA just has a turn off and on 6 times and it works well. Takes under two seconds.

Yeah, for the toddler who just discovered light switches.

There are a lot of things you don't do it you have a toddler. Putting a smart bulb on a light switch the toddler can actually reach can be one of them.

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

#217

Post by Uninen »

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.

This is exactly why I've been working on a live streaming site for DJs and music lovers [1] where DJs can play whatever we like LIVE while also interacting with our listeners via a well-working chat (not those pesky shoutboxes most of radio stations seem to use). This differs from Twitch and other platforms being only focused on music and having lots of features for the DJs to engage and grow their fanbase.

I'm obviously biased but live streaming DJ sets and radio shows to a live international audience is very exciting and getting to listen proper oldskool DJs play awesome sets live feels always special. Internet FTW! :)

[1]: Slipmat.io - https://slipmat.io/

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

#218

Post by ramses0 »

dwild wrote: post #211
Aloha wrote: post #170

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The last thing I want to do is have to change the battery in my light bulbs.

A rechargeable battery can easily live just as long as the LEDs inside it. I would still use a capacitor personally, but I said batteries because they could certainly work and Ikea does have a battery-powered light bulb with a button on it [1]. [1] https://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60440888/

You have a lot of faith in rechargeable battery durability.

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

#220

Post by cptskippy »

pdkl95 wrote: post #202
cptskippy wrote: post #175

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Except X10 devices are unsecure and can have issues with interference from neighboring homes. That's part of the reason why Insteon developed a new protocol, it mostly solves those two issues.

I'm only using X10 as an example with which I have personal experience. While it did have problems, it was a decent protocol considering it was developed in the 70s. I'm sure much better alternatives exist now (or could easily be developed). The point is that lighting automation (and similar home automation features) is not a difficult problem, that doesn't need anything as powerful as a microcontroller or a dependen…

I would disagree about the microcontroller necessity. Proper security would necessitate a microcontroller.
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