Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by stephenr 2581 days ago
It’s funny. I have this little thing on my desk that lets me adjust the air conditioning, and it doesn’t rely on wifi or internet access or any “clouds”... it’s called a “remote control”.

If you’re silly enough to rely on internet access to change the temperature in your house you deserve to be hot.
5 comments
dang 2581 days ago
Please don't be a jerk on HN.

Please do "respond to the strongest plausible interpretation of what someone says, not a weaker one that's easier to criticize." The parent was absurd enough that it was probably a joke.

https://news.ycombinator.com/newsguidelines.html

link
jeremydeanlakey 2581 days ago
The doors at my work open with an app. It connects through the internet.

My phone switches from mobile data to wifi as I get near the door, causing a several second wait. Now I hit the button before I reach the wifi and then run to the door to try to get it before it locks again.

Hopefully we never lose internet...

link
juancampa 2581 days ago
It seems like some people are in denial about the benefits of using an internet connected device to control things. Here are a couple use cases that I find useful:

1. Automatically set the temperature cooler when you're home

2. Turn off your AC remotely if you forget (or automatically because of 1)

3. Change the temperature from your bed

Of course there are drawbacks: multiple points of failure. This is early tech, but it makes sense. For a really funny satire of how early these things are, follow [1].

I personally like to be in control so I disable the "learning" features.

[1]: https://twitter.com/internetofshit

link
mattycannz 2581 days ago
Ability to control your thermostat from anywhere in the world > remote control
link
panarky 2581 days ago
Why do you have to control the temperature in places you aren't in?
link
TimothyBJacobs 2581 days ago
To prevent your pipes from exploding or other equipment breaking. To have your home at a suitable temperature when you get back from an extended stay away.
link
panarky 2581 days ago
> To prevent your pipes from exploding

Seems like a thermostat could do that.

How did people keep their pipes from exploding before Nest?

link
sergiomattei 2581 days ago
Tone it down.

I'm pretty sure the parent comment was, while grounded in reality, expressed in a humorous tone.

As he said, he can just get up and change the air conditioning.

link