The Nice People Thread, No.16: A Universe of Niceness.

GDB2222

michaels wrote: »

I just unintentionally stalked you on HUKD....unless someone else has the same user name...must be someone else as they have a rather racy avatar

Shocking!

michaels

Does anyone do all that smart home stuff?

I can understand the linking up heating to arrival at home thing (although it doesn't apply to us as people are home 24/7) but I just saw a smart desk lamp. Now to me you use a desk lamp when you are sitting at a desk so the lamp is within your reach so why use your phone or alexa to do something you can equally achieve by moving your hand a few inches? I am worried I am falling into the 'why would anyone want a tv remote trap' but this really seems like a solution in search of a problem....

chris_m

michaels wrote: »

but this really seems like a solution in search of a problem....

I suspect it's more of a money making idea in search of a [STRIKE]mug[/STRIKE] market

I also suspect that it's taking the place of all the USB tatt that came out - cup warmers, foot warmers, fans, coffee stirrers, rocket launchers, sex toys etc.
Plenty of that sort of tatt got sold despite it being a) unnecessary and b) in some cases absolutely pointless, I mean, how much heat are you really going to get out of a 5v 0.5A supply?

michaels

chris_m wrote: »

I suspect it's more of a money making idea in search of a [STRIKE]mug[/STRIKE] market

I also suspect that it's taking the place of all the USB tatt that came out - cup warmers, foot warmers, fans, coffee stirrers, rocket launchers, sex toys etc.
Plenty of that sort of tatt got sold despite it being a) unnecessary and b) in some cases absolutely pointless, I mean, how much heat are you really going to get out of a 5v 0.5A supply?

Is the answer it depends on where you insert it?

GDB2222

michaels wrote: »

Does anyone do all that smart home stuff?

I can understand the linking up heating to arrival at home thing (although it doesn't apply to us as people are home 24/7) but I just saw a smart desk lamp. Now to me you use a desk lamp when you are sitting at a desk so the lamp is within your reach so why use your phone or alexa to do something you can equally achieve by moving your hand a few inches? I am worried I am falling into the 'why would anyone want a tv remote trap' but this really seems like a solution in search of a problem....

I remember somebody complaining that it took him 14 hours of solid effort to link his kettle to Alexa.

chris_m

GDB2222 wrote: »

I remember somebody complaining that it took him 14 hours of solid effort to link his kettle to Alexa.

I have to ask the question "What's the point?" to that.

I presume the idea is that he can tell Alexa to turn the kettle on - but can "she" pick it up and fill it with water? Can "she" pick it up and pour some of the contents into a cup? Can "she" then bring the cup to him?

Pyxis

chris_m wrote: »

I have to ask the question "What's the point?" to that.

I presume the idea is that he can tell Alexa to turn the kettle on - but can "she" pick it up and fill it with water? Can "she" pick it up and pour some of the contents into a cup? Can "she" then bring the cup to him?

Roll on the advent of (benign, not murderous) Synths.

I could so do with a Synth.





There is a wonderful view where I'm staying, and when we met before dinner, although it was still light, a slightly pink full moon was just beginning to rise above the distant mountains, and carried on rising as the light faded, losing its pinkiness as it rose, ending up shining brightly in a perfectly clear black sky over the lake down below.

GDB2222

chris_m wrote: »

I have to ask the question "What's the point?" to that.

I presume the idea is that he can tell Alexa to turn the kettle on - but can "she" pick it up and fill it with water? Can "she" pick it up and pour some of the contents into a cup? Can "she" then bring the cup to him?

All that ... plus it's going to take him a long time to recoup his 14 hours invested into the system.

Alexa can turn the kettle on, so it's boiling by the time he gets to the kitchen. He then pours the hot water and tops up the kettle with cold water, ready for next time.

Pyxis

GDB2222 wrote: »

All that ... plus it's going to take him a long time to recoup his 14 hours invested into the system.

Alexa can turn the kettle on, so it's boiling by the time he gets to the kitchen. He then pours the hot water and tops up the kettle with cold water, ready for next time.

Trouble with that is, the water will be standing around for a while.

Tea should be made with freshly drawn, (and then boiled) water.

vivatifosi

michaels wrote: »

Does anyone do all that smart home stuff?

I can understand the linking up heating to arrival at home thing (although it doesn't apply to us as people are home 24/7) but I just saw a smart desk lamp. Now to me you use a desk lamp when you are sitting at a desk so the lamp is within your reach so why use your phone or alexa to do something you can equally achieve by moving your hand a few inches? I am worried I am falling into the 'why would anyone want a tv remote trap' but this really seems like a solution in search of a problem....

Alexa is brilliant as enablement technology. I bought my first one for a disabled relative and it was such a success I have bought a second. The control it gives a bedridden person is amazing. You can get it to turn on your lights, turn the heating up or down, play your favourite songs, look facts up... The list is pretty extensive.

It isn't much discussed in terms of a disability aid, but it's a pretty phenomenal piece of kit for that use. It provides a form of independence.