Internet of Things: The “Basket of Remotes” Problem →

Jean-Louis Gassée has shed a similar light, but from a different angle, as my post from December 10th in follow up to the discussion on the Pragmatic podcast. This whole Internet of Things (IoT) realm is in its infancy, there is so much progress to be made here. 

He asks the question:

This is a great high level perspective on it. We didn't solve it in any complete sense, though we did start. My Harmony One is among my favorite pieces of technology that I own (post-setup-process). The problem is that it was expensive and the setup process was miserable (not super complicated, just unpleasant). The result is this not being a solution in the broad sense, but rather a nerd's solution.

Other people are trying to turn the smart phone or tablet into a remote control, and there hasn't been any development on this that leads me to believe it will ever work. To be clear, it will work as a Plan B remote, sure, but never Plan A. I use my iPhone to pause my Apple TV all the time, but only when my Harmony isn't in reach.

I think the IoT is at a phase that is one step before the Harmony One. There is no elegant solution yet, and the closest we get is unimaginably expensive (if you have an endless budget there are some options out there). The next stage will be the Harmony One where there is a good solution, but it costs too much and isn't going to be rapidly embraced by the average consumer. The big question is what happens after that. Does it get discontinued like the Harmony, or does someone finally crack the code and have a runaway success like the iPhone?

Engadget: CES 2014 Picks →

Some interesting picks in here, definitely seems to capture the best products there. With that being said, I'm still not seeing anything that is standing out.

  • Oculus Rift keeps making these kinds of lists, but it seems to be in a perpetual state of development.
  • Sony Z1 Compact packs a top end punch into an iPhone-size device, a rarity for Android devices.
  • There are a LOT of fitness trackers, I don't see that changing any time soon.
  • The Mother sensor system seems interesting. Not a grand slam, but a fresh take on smart home technology.

Follow-Up On Pragmatic's Automation Discussion

Pragmatic Show Episode 3

The discussion on automation in the latest episode of Pragmatic was a great one. It touched on a lot of key value to be had in the smart home endeavor. Below are a few points from the show and my corresponding thoughts that should serve more as logical extensions rather than contradictions, though I do not speak on their behalf:

  • Pragmatic: The true value is in automation, remote control is secondary.
  • Mike: Largely I agree, 2 main considerations.
    1. The automation side is surprisingly underdeveloped right now. Companies like Smart Things are making progress, but the fact remains that the market isn't there yet. Automated lights will still turn off if you're still watching TV or reading, automated blinds will open when you get out of the shower before you're dressed, and motion sensors get tripped up by passing objects or glares that you don't want sensed. Once this stuff is perfected, it'll take off a lot faster. The user experience is currently unacceptable for anyone besides early adopters and nerds.
    2. Remote control doesn't have nearly as frequent of a use case in general, of course there are exceptions. However, a fair number of the use cases are arguably of higher importance. Consider forgetting to close your garage door when you leave for work - you never remember if you closed it or not so you either gamble, or turn back. The value in remote "control" is arguably more in the remote monitoring then being able to react. To merge these 2 points, you'd love to see automation take over here and sense that no one is home, none of the occupants' phones are detected to be inside the home, therefore the home takes action - locks doors, closes the garage door, adjusts the heat, lights off (except at sunset when the outdoor lights turn on), etc. I could discuss this at length, we'll leave it here for now.
  • Pragmatic: There is an associated cost with spending your own time on installing, setting up, and maintaining a smart home. The "cost" and/or "savings" is not necessarily monetary and can be hard to measure.
  • Mike: There is a circular problem here. The setup cost and technical knowledge required prevents it from being mainstream, the fact that it isn't mainstream prevents a lot of companies from investing in it, the lack of participation in the market prevents costs from dropping due to competition. I don't believe that the disruption in this market has happened yet, and by definition, disruption is what breaks that cycle. The Nest Thermostat and Protect are the closest we've gotten to that and I think the disruptive event is right around the corner. That being said, the iPhone of home automation hasn't shown its pretty little face. Disclaimer: I own a Nest Thermostat and could not love it more. Nest Protect is very high on my list of things to be purchased as well.

There will be more thoughts on this in future posts. I find this market to be full of examples of people and products that have much better selling points and features on the box than they have practical applications in improving one's life.