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DWx
Black Belt
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 6455
Location: UK
Styles: Tae Kwon Do & Yang family Tai Chi
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 Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:01 am Post subject: Smart Home |
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Anyone got any smart-tech in their homes?
I've recently got a Google Home and love it. I already had a few Chromecasts and Chromecast Audio's around the house and this just fits seamlessly into my set up.
Looking to expand out now and want to add WiFi controlled lights, thermostat and maybe some security features like cameras and door sensors. Anyone have any of these?
I'm having a dilemma over what brand to go for as I want it all interconnected and don't want to have 10 000 hubs everywhere.
(For the uninitiated: https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/smart-home-automation/article/smart-home-products-and-systems/home-automation-explained )
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius |
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mushybees
Orange Belt
Joined: 16 Nov 2014
Posts: 199
Location: UK
Styles: Wado ryu
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 7:58 am Post subject: |
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I have two Amazon Echoes and I'm ashamed to say I just use them to play music 
I'd like to hook the lights up and heating but I find there are other things I could spend the money on (karate books and gi etc) and it never happens. |
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singularity6
Pre-Black Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2017
Posts: 958
Location: Michigan
Styles: Jidokwan Taekwondo and Hapkido, Yoshokai Aikido, ZNIR Iaido, Kendo
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| Posted: Thu Nov 23, 2017 8:21 am Post subject: |
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I'm actually trying to avoid all that, as they do collect a whole bunch of data on the customers who use smart-tech. It's bad enough that Google probably knows me way too well because I use Chrome, Gmail and have an Android phone.
But, I suppose that makes me a bit paranoid? 
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5th Geup Jidokwan Tae Kwon Do/Hap Ki Do
(Never officially tested in aikido, iaido or kendo) |
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DWx
Black Belt
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 6455
Location: UK
Styles: Tae Kwon Do & Yang family Tai Chi
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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| mushybees wrote: |
I have two Amazon Echoes and I'm ashamed to say I just use them to play music
I'd like to hook the lights up and heating but I find there are other things I could spend the money on (karate books and gi etc) and it never happens. |
Not sure if Alexa does it but I do find it quite cool to wake up in the morning and ask Google about my day. Reads off my calendar, the weather, then a quick run down of the new headlines.
I want either bulbs or switches for me table lamps and thermostat. Been debating back and forth all day 
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius |
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DWx
Black Belt
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 6455
Location: UK
Styles: Tae Kwon Do & Yang family Tai Chi
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| singularity6 wrote: |
I'm actually trying to avoid all that, as they do collect a whole bunch of data on the customers who use smart-tech. It's bad enough that Google probably knows me way too well because I use Chrome, Gmail and have an Android phone.
But, I suppose that makes me a bit paranoid? |
I think you'd be surprised at how much they know already just from your internet history and location history!
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius |
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sensei8
KF Sensei
Joined: 23 Feb 2008
Posts: 16430
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Styles: Shindokan Saitou-ryu [Shuri-te/Okinawa-te based]
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| Posted: Fri Nov 24, 2017 6:22 pm Post subject: |
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| DWx wrote: |
| mushybees wrote: |
I have two Amazon Echoes and I'm ashamed to say I just use them to play music
I'd like to hook the lights up and heating but I find there are other things I could spend the money on (karate books and gi etc) and it never happens. |
Not sure if Alexa does it but I do find it quite cool to wake up in the morning and ask Google about my day. Reads off my calendar, the weather, then a quick run down of the new headlines.
I want either bulbs or switches for me table lamps and thermostat. Been debating back and forth all day |
OK...I just got to get an Amazon Echoes soon!! I like what Danielle says that Alexa, which I think that Alexa is the name of her Amazon Echoes, I think, she reads off her calendar, the weather, then a quick run down of the new headlines. That is cool, and I believe that it could be much more helpful than a notepad.
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**Proof is on the floor!!! |
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DWx
Black Belt
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 6455
Location: UK
Styles: Tae Kwon Do & Yang family Tai Chi
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| Posted: Sat Nov 25, 2017 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| sensei8 wrote: |
| DWx wrote: |
| mushybees wrote: |
I have two Amazon Echoes and I'm ashamed to say I just use them to play music
I'd like to hook the lights up and heating but I find there are other things I could spend the money on (karate books and gi etc) and it never happens. |
Not sure if Alexa does it but I do find it quite cool to wake up in the morning and ask Google about my day. Reads off my calendar, the weather, then a quick run down of the new headlines.
I want either bulbs or switches for me table lamps and thermostat. Been debating back and forth all day |
OK...I just got to get an Amazon Echoes soon!! I like what Danielle says that Alexa, which I think that Alexa is the name of her Amazon Echoes, I think, she reads off her calendar, the weather, then a quick run down of the new headlines. That is cool, and I believe that it could be much more helpful than a notepad.
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I actually have a Google Home instead but guess that Alexa has similar features. Both are discounted at the minute for Black Friday.
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"Everything has its beauty, but not everyone sees it." ~ Confucius |
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Patrick
KF Administrator
Joined: 01 May 2001
Posts: 28758
Location: Los Angeles, California
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bushido_man96
KF Sensei
Joined: 31 Mar 2006
Posts: 30188
Location: Hays, KS
Styles: Taekwondo, Combat Hapkido, Aikido, GRACIE, Police Krav Maga, SPEAR
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| Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 8:08 pm Post subject: |
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| singularity6 wrote: |
I'm actually trying to avoid all that, as they do collect a whole bunch of data on the customers who use smart-tech. It's bad enough that Google probably knows me way too well because I use Chrome, Gmail and have an Android phone.
But, I suppose that makes me a bit paranoid? |
Remember, just because you're paranoid, doesn't mean they aren't out to get you!
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www.haysgym.com
http://www.sunyis.com/
www.aikidoofnorthwestkansas.com |
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Lupin1
Black Belt
Joined: 15 Dec 2009
Posts: 1637
Location: Naples, FL
Styles: Isshinryu
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| Posted: Mon Nov 27, 2017 6:28 am Post subject: |
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I don't where I'm currently living, but my ex had the hobby of making as much of the house as possible smart.
He bought a Wink system for all the lights and the front door lock. All those could be controlled verbally by Alexa or remotely from our phones.
He got a nest for the thermostat that could be controlled by our phones so we could leave the heat lower during the day and crank it up when we were on our way home.
He had the TV receiver hooked up to Alexa so we could tell Alexa verbally to change the channel, change the volume, turn off the tv, turn on the XBox, etc.
He had the whole house monitored by cameras (don't remember the brand) that he could view any time from his phone.
He even had an egg container that would keep track of how long each egg has been in the fridge and tell you when it was time to use them or toss them.
It was pretty cool. It's a fun little hobby, I think, but to be honest I don't really miss it. Pretty much the only smart device we had that I really thought was lifechanging was the front door lock. It was cool for everyone to have their own code to get in and for the system to alert you whenever someone used a code. You could make temporary codes for people like contractors and then delete the code when they were done with the job. You could also remotely unlock the door with your phone if you wanted to let someone in when you weren't home or remotely lock the door if you get to work and realize you forgot to lock it. Also, the week before we got it I accidentally locked myself out of the house while he was on a business trip and I had to spend $80 on a locksmith to let me in. This removes that possibility entirely. |
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on the post.
