[qyv]

There is a massive difference between walking a few steps to turn on a light switch (which is only useful when you are in close proximity) vs having a accurate real-time mapping functionality when on the go.

Similarly, there is a massive difference in the privacy implications of listening to every conversation everyone in your home (including guests) is having vs. having your current location known. Wiretapping laws exist for a reason.

[ben336]

Turning off all the light switches that have been left on in a big house though is a meaningful convenience. I think the privacy point is strong enough without having to trash people's use cases.

[qyv]

No trashing it at all, just contrasting it. I do see the convenience (luxury) of home automation, but when you compare that against accurate mobile mapping, location finding and navigation, the difference in usefulness is orders of magnitude. One can literally save your life.

[saghm]

> having a accurate real-time mapping functionality when on the go.

To be fair, you can have all the maps without the location tracking; the location tracking just tells you where you are on the map.

[LinuxBender]

There is a drinking water appliance in our breakroom that will not dispense water if it can not reach the internet.

This is not the world we should be engineering. Actually, I would say, this is not engineering.