SoylentNews is people
SoylentNews
from the my-thermostat-is-holding-me-hostage dept.
In more than 30 interviews with The New York Times, domestic abuse victims, their lawyers, shelter workers and emergency responders described how the technology was becoming an alarming new tool. Abusers - using apps on their smartphones, which are connected to the internet-enabled devices - would remotely control everyday objects in the home, sometimes to watch and listen, other times to scare or show power. Even after a partner had left the home, the devices often stayed and continued to be used to intimidate and confuse.
Connected home devices have increasingly cropped up in domestic abuse cases over the past year, according to those working with victims of domestic violence. Those at help lines said more people were calling in the last 12 months about losing control of Wi-Fi-enabled doors, speakers, thermostats, lights and cameras. Lawyers also said they were wrangling with how to add language to restraining orders to cover smart home technology.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by frojack on Tuesday June 26 2018, @04:42PM (1 child)
And that would have been EXACTLY the correct thing to do. Replace it with a $18 programmable thermostat from Walmart.
Total cost, including the service call from Joe Handiman probably $75 bucks.
There is no actual ROI on an internet connected thermostat. All the perceived benefits are in "fun of tinkering" the tech-enthused derive.
The same for lights. Get your fat ass off the couch and go over to the wall switch. Put in a dimmer if you REALLY need it.
There is no proven cost or energy savings for internet connected devices of this nature over simple programmable thermostats. Its all advertising hype, and tech-enthusiast glee.
Ask anyone who has had one installed for a year if their bills are significantly lower. Ask if you can see the bills. (They won't show you). Ask when was the last time they had to turn off lights from some remote location. After the first month of fiddling from afar just about everyone realizes there is nothing to be gained by these internet connected devices.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 2) by everdred on Wednesday June 27 2018, @10:46PM
Now I'm not advocating for "smart" thermostats, but I think you're probably overlooking other use-cases, like... I don't know, off the top of my head: beginning to remotely cool/heat your home before you arrive.