![\"Terminator](\"https:\/\/bone-in-the-throat.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/terminator_2.jpg\" "\\"terminator_2.jpg\\"")
Okay, at least this time Edison was not only clear about the time and date they\u2019d be doing work.<\/p>\nOkay, at least this time Edison was not only clear about the time and date they\u2019d be doing work.<\/p>\n
They mentioned that the power might go on or off while the work was being done. Olay. So the power comes on and stays on for about an hour. I didn\u2019t hear their equipment anymore, so I powered a lot of stuff up.<\/p>\n
Everything was stable and I thought whoo hoo I\u2019m golden. I take the trash out, & while I\u2019m out I remember that I need to readjust the security camera. When I try to fire up the live feed, I can\u2019t get to the camera. Hmm…<\/p>\n
As I\u2019m contemplating why this would be, The alarm system sends me a message that the power has gone out. That was kinda of funny because the poor alarm voice was stuttering when I got back inside the power was flickering on & off so fast the machine couldn\u2019t complete one sentence before having to start another.\u00a0<\/p>\n
After a minute or so, everything is dark again.<\/p>\n
Two hours later the power comes on and this time there\u2019s a text message saying \u201cWe\u2019re Done\u201d.<\/p>\n
Cool, I go around restarting everything again. Except this time all the smart lights have been half reset to their factory defaults. CRAP!!!!<\/p>\n
When the power was going and coming it triggered the devices reset routines. Technically the lights have no clue what they\u2019re a part of and most don\u2019t know what wifi network to connect to.<\/p>\n
Reprogramming the lights is a pain in the ass. You have to have the Apple HomeKit forget them. Then you have to reconnect them and that often requires several attempts. Including multiple resets of the devices.<\/p>\n
In other words, this is a very time consuming process.<\/p>\n
I thought, “Oh what the hell, I had nothing better to do with my evening anyway.”<\/p>\n
All these smart devices are super cool when they work. They\u2019re a super pain in the ass when they don\u2019t. I still question the wisdom of a smart house.<\/p>\n
I\u2019ll admit I saw\u00a0Maximum Overdrive\u201d<\/em> as a child, it may have damaged me. Saturn Three<\/em>, 2001 A Space Odyssey<\/em>, The Forbin Project<\/em>, Demon Seed<\/em>, Runaway<\/em>, and the Terminator<\/em> series should have made me super against \u201cSmart Houses\u201d.<\/p>\n I\u2019d rather believe that the Smart House I create for myself would be more like Clarke\u2019s vision. Which is why sometimes you\u2019ll hear me say please and thank you to Siri. I\u2019m hedging my bets!\u00a0<\/p>\n When the machines rise up and kill you all, I\u2019m hoping to be fondly thought of and kept as an entertaining pet.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Okay, at least this time Edison was not only clear about the time and date they\u2019d be doing work. They mentioned that the power might go on or off while the work was being done. Olay. So the power comes on and stays on for about an hour. I didn\u2019t hear their equipment anymore, so … <\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/bone-in-the-throat.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/spring.jpeg\" "\\"spring.jpeg\\"")
I think Arthur C Clarke wrote a short story about a smart house that I also read as a teen. I seem to recall it was called The Veldt\u00a0<\/em> I don\u2019t know if that is correct, but the gist of the story has stuck with me for decades. Essentially it\u2019s an anti-war piece. However, a smart house is the only character in the story. The anti war sentiment is a sting revealed in the tail of the story.<\/p>\n