Belkin WeMo Home Automation

Re the comments by intelligencia: I am 70+ bachelor who's been involved in various aspects of computers since the 1960s. While I do not have a cell (dumb or smart) phone, etc., I see no need in *my* life for remote-control much of anything. Nevertheless, I sure would like to come back to life for _one_ day about a 100 hundred years from now--just to see all the changes that technology has brought about. Brave new world indeed on us and yet to come....!

Re the comments by intelligencia: I am 70+ bachelor who's been involved in various aspects of computers since the 1960s. While I do not have a cell (dumb or smart) phone, etc., I see no need in *my* life for remote-control much of anything. Nevertheless, I sure would like to come back to life for _one_ day about a 100 hundred years from now--just to see all the changes that technology has brought about. Brave new world indeed on us and yet to come....!

I agree that the cost of these devices out weight the current needs. However, as we've seen with technology, it always gets cheaper. It's scary and intriguing to think what might happen in the future.

I work in a school, and sometimes it's hard to get people the type of ideas we have to at least expose students to.

1. Making coffee faster doesn't make it better...all good things take some time. I speak from the experience of having a Bunn, which could make a full pot in under 3 minutes, but either you had to use a full large can of coffee or drink light brown water.
2. Space heaters are notorious for starting fires when left unattended; now we're supposed to feel happy about turning one on remotely when there's no one home? Better have some good fire insurance. :-)
3. I'm not anti-tech, but like any new thing, this one needs to have time to shake out a lot of bugs before it's ready for mass production. And unless and until there's some sort of regulation holding the makers responsible (read $$$) for the security of these devices, the makers won't do anything to protect against hacking.

I believe the trend with automated appliances are mostly suited for second homes (summer houses, beach condos etc). Here you really can have use the remote options. Turn on heater (or air condition), turn on hot water etc..
This is perfect for places you do not visit every day. Also you might already have the internet connection for surveillance cameras or alarms.

While I am pleased with the digital thermostat I installed in my home some six years ago, I believe the WeMo technology being described here will go the way of the X10 Home Automation System, which works well but has never gained full traction.

Sorry, I still have a bad taste in my mouth from years of trying to make X10 systems work.

They had a mind of their own, turning on when they felt like it, and not turning on when they should, but wouldn't.

The failure rate of these things was unreal. Try to find replacements today to fill in some holes for units that died -- forget it.

No, a good old switch works just fine. Have we forgotten about the KISS approach?

All of these completely unecessary devices will eventually become toys for hackers. What worries me more is if manufacturers, at the orders of a nefarious agency, put wifi into devices without our knowledge.

All of these completely unecessary devices will eventually become toys for hackers. What worries me more is if manufacturers, at the orders of a nefarious agency, put wifi into devices without our knowledge.

I'll stick with my UPB (Universal Powerline Bus) devices as far as the automation goes. I can connect to them via an interface to the internet but don't want to. I really don't need the world to know what I'm doing on a day to day basis.

Looks like a good way to let somebody in China or Russia control when your coffee, or dinner gets done.

WeMoWeh, WeMoWeh, WeMoWeh, WeMoWeh

In the good home, your mighty good home
Disaster lurks tonight
In the good home, your quiet good home
The new tech burns so bright.

The Boll Weevil and Dee Zaster are always looking for a home.

How do we know this isn't some ISIS plot?

Excuse me while I go try to figure out FaceBook.

Before Belkin goes off all half-cocked and crazy, they need to improve the firmware and speed up the app.

I have exactly one Wemo outlet--purchased for my husband so he could turn off the bedroom light without getting out of bed--and it is the world's biggest nuisance. The last time I updated the firmware, it took three tries. The last time I tried to turn on the light, I had to wait and wait and wait and wait for the app to load. The only good thing about it, really, is that it's possible to turn the outlet on and off directly at the source.

In other words, WeMo in even the simplest possible design is definitely not ready for primetime.

Strikes me that all this is totally unnecessary. I realise some people would would see this as a way to simplify their lives. To me it just represents a plethora of unnecessary things which could go wrong.

But perhaps some people want to become mindless slugs.

One final thought... Powercuts.

Gyppo

I'm one that uses what suits my needs and ignores the rest. I'd love to have a newer set of door locks that would operate with my phone, and that also are code managed so you can tell (usually) who was last to use it. I'd also like the newer thermostats that can be controlled by my phone. It would have been nicer for when I was working but it still has uses that interest me now. As for the crockpot, rarely does one have to change the setting if that's what the WeMo switches do. Most meals will comfortably cook all day long on low and not be ruined. My coffee pot has a timer, so no need of one there. One for lamps would be nice, but that too can be handled by a timer. I have been enjoying the ride though seeing all the news things developing. If there is a need, they will sell, if not...well...back to the drawing board.

Sheer laziness! Good luck when the grid finally goes down or some bored hackers feel like messing with your house!

I love tech, but someday,someway,someone is going to burn their house down.

WOW ... Just what will Belkin and the like, come up with next???

Nope ... Don't want it or any part of it!!!

I love my Keurig and I decide when to turn it on or off, by hand. I love my Crock-Pot and like another commenter said, I don't need a remote control or controller hub, to turn on my Crock-Pot !!! I just plug it in, set my small hand timer and I am good to go! Again, all of this done, by hand.

Bob, you had an earlier article about Nest Labs products, "Your Thermostat and the Internet" and that Google purchased this company. One comment by you ...

"So what's the real reason? Google’s business is collecting data about you and using it to sell advertising. The more data Google collects, the more effective it becomes as an advertising medium, and the more money it can make. Every single product that Google offers has a tie-in to this overarching business purpose."

Seems to me, Belkin may be trying to do the same thing, as Google. Get data, regarding your lifestyle and daily habits, for advertising purposes. Not good, in my book.

'I rush and rush until life's no fun, all
I've got to do is live and die but I'm in a rush and don't know why!' Alabama said it best. There is possibly some good uses for such technology, but much of this is simply self-indulgence. Brave New World indeed!

So far I have WeMo switches controlling lights, humidifiers, and space heaters. They integrate will with the Amazon Echo, which lets me control them using my voice.
Come home at night with hands full carrying groceries? Alexa, lights on! Left home in a hurry and forgot to turn things off? Open the WeMo app, turn the devices off and lower the thermostat as well( Nest or Echobee3 ).

Traveling and want to have lights and noise simulate that you are home? Use WeMo scheduled rules to do that.