[Aurornis]

> For example the smart phone. A physical button or even alexa is easier to turn off the lights.

These aren’t mutually exclusive.

I usually press the physical button for my lights but it’s great to be able to pull out my smartphone and turn off lights across the house, or even in the same room if I’m doing something like holding a baby who is falling asleep.

Putting the common light controls on easily accessible phone widget screens is really easy these days.

I think people who get irrationally angry at the ability to control things from a phone are missing out at this point. You don’t have to use it or buy it, but I’ve derived a lot of value from it.

> Stupidity is intrinsic to humanity and since humanity builds technology, stupidity is therefore intrinsic to technology

This is a deeply cynical and unhappy way to navigate life.

[tetha]

IMO it's about the question: Does it add utility and value, and does it take away functionality for silly reasons like profitability for someone else?

Like, one or two things really make me consider getting into the whole smart home stuff: Turning down the heating when windows are open. Or, controlling a couple of things when I'm not at home (aka my phone isn't on the local WIFI) - turn on the ambient light if it's late/dark and I'm at home, and turn it off otherwise. This would probably add phone controls to stuff, I guess. However, I would very much want these smart features to be "on top" of regular physical control.

But then there are also things like internet connected fridges, or cars playing ads. It'd be nice if my fridge could ping me if the internal temp is rising - though a loud obnoxious beep might work too, but it doesn't need to be internet capable to serve me ads.

[ninetyninenine]

>This is a deeply cynical and unhappy way to navigate life.

And deeply true. Here’s the thing I feel a lot of people think happiness is all that matters. What about truth and reality?

My claim is that stupidity being intrinsic to humanity is fucking absolutely true. It has nothing to do with cynicism. I’m baffled at how people don’t even argue the veracity of the claim they just claim it’s “unhappy” as if being delusional is the better alternative.

> I think people who get irrationally angry at the ability to control things from a phone are missing out at this point. You don’t have to use it or buy it, but I’ve derived a lot of value from it.

I work at a place where there are no keys. To unlock a door you have to use your smart phone. Imagine if they did that for lights. I rent an apartment with no physical switches and they force you to use your smart phone. Infuriating. I think if you were rational you would know I’m talking about smart phones in place of physical switches not smart phones paired in addition to physical switches in situations where you have no choice to use it.

[MrJohz]

> I work at a place where there are no keys. To unlock a door you have to use your smart phone. Imagine if they did that for lights. I rent an apartment with no physical switches and they force you to use your smart phone. Infuriating. I think if you were rational you would know I’m talking about smart phones in place of physical switches not smart phones paired in addition to physical switches in situations where you have no choice to use it.

I don't think that's so rational — I assumed that you were talking about smartphones in addition to existing switches and other tools, rather than completely replacing them. I have genuinely never heard of such a thing, and if you've had to experience that, then I agree with you that that is an insane concept that doesn't need to exist.

[ninetyninenine]

The place where I've seen this happen is the bay area. At least two companies I worked at exclusively only allowed phones to unlock doors.