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How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

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Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#21

Post by SyncTheory13 »

VLM wrote: post #3

Not sure I'd agree with "the general public does not see these products as easy to use or convenient as they’d hope" Redo the analogy and instead of a Nest promotional article comparing the Nest to other thermostats, compare to a nearly identical home improvement product like fiberglass insulation. After all, you're competing with every product on every shelf at Home Depot, not just smart thermostats, so this appears…

I live in an old brick home in St. Louis (1888) and have read that insulation can cause the walls to not "breathe" properly, causing accelerated degradation. I'd love to insulate better, but I'd have to tear our the walls, move everything out of each room (with all the dust), and then I could potentially cause a bigger problem. I do need nicer windows, but those are pretty expensive in relation to a Nest.

It's a case-by-case basis, but I've been thinking about buying a Nest for years... I think I could recoup the cost over my standard programmable thermostat in just one leaky-window winter... And I can install it myself in a couple hours (taking my time).

Combine the previously stated benefits with the fact that I have roommates (replace with active family for some) and it'll adjust to our widely varied schedules - and I can adjust it whenever I think about it... When I wake up freezing because the roommates shut the heat off before a cold front hit; when I get to work and realize I left it set too high, etc.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#22

Post by ghaff »

furyofantares wrote: post #18

I love new gadgets but I need to be convinced that home automation gadgets are a lot more reliable than all the other tech I have before I go all in. I do not want to be surrounded by tech problems, I want to have some escape from that. I can have tech problems with almost all of my entertainment (except board games), with almost all of my productivity, and even when I exercise. I don't want tech problems just trying…

I'd be interested in Nest reliability data as well. I live in an area of the country that gets cold and a thermostat failure could be really expensive if pipes ended up freezing. Frankly just about anything that decreases system reliability is pretty much a no starter for me.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#23

Post by adestefan »

ebbv wrote: post #6

This isn't much of an article. The only point of any substance in it is that Nest devices are difficult to install. This is true, but that's because HVAC systems don't have wireless functionality with a nice clean API. The only way to control them is through hooking up wires. The article ending with a local evening news type of "Coming up next" is just insulting. Make your point in this article or don't waste my time…

There are HVAC systems out there that are controlled via a digital bus where the hookup then becomes power and control. However, these are rare in residential installations where analog switched systems are common.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#24

Post by bakerco »

The Nest thermostat is actually easy to use and the convenience factor far outweighs any perceived complexity. Early adopters didn't buy this because of the unproven (at the time) energy efficiency features, they bought it because of the design, the improved UX/UI and the fact that they could could change the temperature without getting out of bed. The more the mass market is exposed to this tech through interaction with early adopters, the sooner adoption will pick up.

Also replacing legacy devices, especially thermostats and smoke detectors, is not at the forefront of the average consumer's mind. I think cost plays a much bigger role in the adoption of these devices than complexity and usability. Nest products are not cheap but as they continue to build out (or acquire) their ecosystem their value proposition will increase and mass market adoption will start to take off.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#26

Post by tonyarkles »

Time for a small rant. I mostly agree with the premise of the article (that most home automation products are too tech-user targeted), but I have an even bigger complaint:

Automation doesn't mean that you can control it from your fucking iPhone.

Automation means that I don't have to think about it. It happens automatically. I was looking at "automated" systems for underground sprinklers this summer and it drove me insane. I don't care at all whether I can turn on my sprinklers from Starbucks. What I want is a sprinkler system that is smart enough to know when the soil is dry, and smart enough to look at the weather forecast and say "Hey, the grass is dry, but there's an 80% chance of rain this afternoon. I'll wait it out and see what happens"

The same goes for all kinds of "home automation" products. I couldn't care less about controlling my lighting from my phone, but it'd be really awesome if the lights in the living room dimmed when I started playing a movie (of course, with the option of turning them back up if I'm trying to do something else).

Get the 80% cases right, with an option for manual override, and I'll be happy as a clam!

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#27

Post by bengali3 »

Zigurd wrote: post #11
debacle wrote: post #7

For many people, including me, the value proposition of Nest isn't worth the cost. There needs to be a modular middle ground between Apple level in-home automation software and unassembled kits. I don't see myself spending over $100 for a thermostat. Ever.

Wait until your thermostat wiring goes bad. With a combination of hard-to-modify interior walls and an open plan design where wall-mounting often doesn't make sense, going with wireless thermostats was an easy choice. Now the thermostat in the main living area can be moved depending on whether we are using the wood stove, and the kitchen thermostat that was always too far from the radiators and too close to the oven…

regarding issues with themostat placement check out http://ecoventsystems.com/

Themometers in every room, and controllable vents let you set temps for each room, making each room its own zone. Granted it's only compatable with forced air systems but i love the idea of one zone per room.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#28

Post by netcan »

joshuaheard wrote: post #19

The article didn't mention the biggest reason people aren't buying Nest, and the reason I didn't buy one: cost. The Nest thermostat runs around $200 - $250, while a basic thermostat can be had for around $20. It's the same for the Nest smoke detector: $99 versus less than $10 for a basic one. As one experienced in the real estate market, I can say that home builders usually go with the cheapest solution. And, I don't…

I don't think this is universally true. The bottom of the market is hefty in real estate, as you say. But, it's not the whole market. In fact, the range of quality/price in all home fixture is pretty wide. There definitely is a market for high end everything, including Aircon, water heating and other "similar" categories.

It's like saying that some high end monitor failed because everyone gets the cheapest monitor. Yet, Apple still sell some monitors @ 5X the price of the bottom end.

A lot of markets are like this. The bottom takes 50-75% of the market share with the rest ranging widely. TVs, doorknobs, office chairs, socks, nipple tassels...

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#29

Post by mark-r »

ghaff wrote: post #22
furyofantares wrote: post #18

I love new gadgets but I need to be convinced that home automation gadgets are a lot more reliable than all the other tech I have before I go all in. I do not want to be surrounded by tech problems, I want to have some escape from that. I can have tech problems with almost all of my entertainment (except board games), with almost all of my productivity, and even when I exercise. I don't want tech problems just trying…

I'd be interested in Nest reliability data as well. I live in an area of the country that gets cold and a thermostat failure could be really expensive if pipes ended up freezing. Frankly just about anything that decreases system reliability is pretty much a no starter for me.

Now there's a product idea: a backup thermostat that takes over when the house temperature drops toward freezing.

Re: How I Learned the Smart Home Industry Needs to Change, part 2

#30

Post by jaynos »

tonyarkles wrote: post #26

Time for a small rant. I mostly agree with the premise of the article (that most home automation products are too tech-user targeted), but I have an even bigger complaint: Automation doesn't mean that you can control it from your fucking iPhone. Automation means that I don't have to think about it. It happens automatically . I was looking at "automated" systems for underground sprinklers this summer and it drove me i…

Sprinkler systems (and the people who don't use them properly) are indeed in need of "automation" as you say. I see so many sprinklers on in the middle of the day (as opposed to early morning, when they should be on) or during a rain storm. It's not that hard to properly set the timer, but people still don't do it.

Get the 80% cases right on sprinklers and the fact that people don't manually override is fine.

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