Interesting findings on the internet

[tggzzz]

I suppose IoT stuff has its uses. Turning on the central heating remotely, so it's ready when you come home occurs.

Curiously I regard that as a prime example of why I am an IoT sceptic. Why heat an empty house? Just leave a sweater or coat on until it has warmed up

The one IoT thing I do have is a Ring doorbell; it was a Christmas present. That helps with my inability to hear doorbells, by sounding the vibrating siren in my shirt pocket. It also provides warning that a delivery is about to take place, or proof that it wasn't attempted.

[tggzzz]

I really can't see why anyone would wish to control a washing machine, dishwasher etc from a mobile phone, or pay extra for the feature.

Those with grid tied solar installations use remote and/or delayed appliance activation when they are at work and getting good solar output rather than have to pay the grid operator more for the power they generate for free from solar and get shit all for pumping it into the grid.

That does sound like a benefit.

[Zenith]

IoT seems to be one of those things, which seems as if it ought to be useful and has a considerable Gee Whizz factor. Some people do find aspects useful, but it's not a Godsend to millions. Things like baby cams are definitely suspect. As I recall the Bosch washing machines with internet control were considerably more than those without it, although I doubt that was the only distinguishing feature.

[tggzzz]

Too many IoT add-ons are mere shiny marketing features. I don't object provided the IoT can be switched off without losing functionality.

If you do that with modern cars, you risk invalidating your insurance, FFS. Yes, the software controlling all of the car's wheels must be "up to date".

[Zenith]

It reminds me of a lot of the projects that were published in the electronics comics years ago. A contraption to raise an alarm when your outside LPG bottle was getting low. A device to raise an alarm if the deep freeze had failed and was thawing out. Definitely of use to someone and interesting to skim through, but giving the impression of ingenuity desperate to find an expression.

"Making" and SBCs such as Raspberry Pi cater to the same sheddy, tinkering instinct the amateur electronics rags covered. It's a constructive interest and no bad thing. There's an IoT version of Windows 10 for Raspberry Pi, so Microsoft must have thought there was enough of a market and potential profits to be worth addressing. I suppose the modern freezer alarm would detect the freezer had failed and send a text message to your mobile phone. The maker could build it in at very little extra cost and claim it as a feature. I know someone who came home to a freezer full of rotting food, because while she was on holiday, poorly thought out and codged wiring in an outbuilding, had thrown the main trip in the house, which really shouldn't have happened. Possibly receiving a message would have enabled her to do something about it, but I doubt she would have come back from Italy or wherever, to deal with it.

Don't start me on the useless and potentially expensive extras with modern cars. The gas in the air conditioning in mine is exhausted. I asked about it at the MOT a week back, because I have heard that on some cars if the A/C doesn't work, there are problems with the cooling system as they are integrated. I was told that with this car that wasn't so, and if I didn't use the A/C it could safely be ignored. Depending on the gas, it would cost either £60 or £120 to recharge. In the UK I've found it pleasant two or three times a year, but nothing I can't live without. In Arizona it would be different.

[tggzzz]

It reminds me of a lot of the projects that were published in the electronics comics years ago. A contraption to raise an alarm when your outside LPG bottle was getting low. A device to raise an alarm if the deep freeze had failed and was thawing out. Definitely of use to someone and interesting to skim through, but giving the impression of ingenuity desperate to find an expression.

The sensing and display techniques were interesting, but little else.

"Making" and SBCs such as Raspberry Pi cater to the same sheddy, tinkering instinct the amateur electronics rags covered. It's a constructive interest and no bad thing.
....
I know someone who came home to a freezer full of rotting food, because while she was on holiday, poorly thought out and codged wiring in an outbuilding, had thrown the main trip in the house, which really shouldn't have happened. Possibly receiving a message would have enabled her to do something about it, but I doubt she would have come back from Italy or wherever, to deal with it.

I could have done with a freezer alarm a few months ago, but IoT devices usually require power and a working internet connection. Spot the catch 22.

Don't start me on the useless and potentially expensive extras with modern cars. The gas in the air conditioning in mine is exhausted. I asked about it at the MOT a week back, because I have heard that on some cars if the A/C doesn't work, there are problems with the cooling system as they are integrated....

My second car's air con consisted of a 24" * 3" hole behind the steering wheel.

I've long appreciated this 1980s advert. Note it does have central locking ...

[Zenith]

"Making" and SBCs such as Raspberry Pi cater to the same sheddy, tinkering instinct the amateur electronics rags covered. It's a constructive interest and no bad thing.
....
I know someone who came home to a freezer full of rotting food, because while she was on holiday, poorly thought out and codged wiring in an outbuilding, had thrown the main trip in the house, which really shouldn't have happened. Possibly receiving a message would have enabled her to do something about it, but I doubt she would have come back from Italy or wherever, to deal with it.

I could have done with a freezer alarm a few months ago, but IoT devices usually require power and a working internet connection. Spot the catch 22.

It depends on the fault you are guarding against and whether you have a UPS capable of keeping the internet connection going for a few minutes, and whether the monitor in the fridge had a battery or super capacitor to keep it going for a short time. If the fridge broke because the thermostat or motor had failed, the monitor would still have power.

You also have to estimate how likely it is to happen, and balance the cost of a failure against the cost of providing against it.

In her case the ELCB in the outbuilding was present but not wired in, neither was there an ELCB in the house for the outbuilding, most of which was an ancient barn with an apartment on the end. The wiring in the outbuilding was amateurish, and in some places hair-raisingly dangerous. There was a short, I'd guess caused by water, and the main trip in the house was thrown, disconnecting everything. Had she been made aware of this and left a key with friend, they could have been contacted and asked to reset the trip, but it's by no means certain that would have helped. The main trip could well have been thrown again immediately. The fault may have been caused by rain being blown in and getting to the wrong place.The outbuilding could have been disconnected, but you'd need to have some electrical knowledge and investigate sufficiently to isolate the problem.