Why has the Internet of Things failed? | Hacker News Reader

Why has the Internet of Things failed?

petewarden.com

6 pointsBrajeshwar6 comments

I don't want my washer and dryer to connect to wifi and use an app to send a push notification that only works if I pay a subscription fee and set up an online profile when my laundry is done and then send me push ads and email upsells every day for the rest of my life. I want them to go BRRRRRRTTTTTTTTTTT loud enough for me to hear and ignore and I'll get to it when I get to it.

Also I can't wait for these same articles about AI everything.

Personally, I don't use them because if a thing needs to talk with a server you don't control, that means the thing is almost certainly spying on you, very likely has security issues, and will simply stop working sooner or later when the company decides to move on.

That's not something that's worth my time and money.

I think the order is slightly wrong. I don't think "setup" is really a factor at all and "uselessness" is the chief issue. There is no value for me in having my washer/dryer connected to the internet even though that is in theory a "feature" they support. Even when the manufacturer hides settings behind their account required paywall. The missing thing though and it is a big thing for me. I just don't want my washer/dryer snooping on me and opening up yet one more poorly protected attack vector to my home or identity.

IOT can die as far as I'm concerned.

This, 100%. An app that tells you the dryer is done is huge step down from a chime you can just hear. It makes the dryer more expensive, more difficult to use, and adds a whole separate piece of software (the app) that has nothing to do with drying clothes.

There are blenders being sold that act like they "don't know how" to make a smoothie unless you have an app and a recipe subscription. There's a whirring blade in the bottom of a bowl. You throw stuff in and turn it on. It doesn't need a recipe, much less an app to give you one!

The same goes for internet lightbulbs and other stuff. If you are running a huge hotel, sure, you need computerized property management. But for most folks, having the internet (with all its software and UI baggage) is a big minus in most products.

And there was much rejoicing.

I can think of one use case: reaction to dynamic pricing of electricity. One could imagine (for example) an energy intensive appliance that would delay operation if energy were suddenly more expensive. This might just need the appliance to be able to connect to some home control hub, not to the internet by itself.

> All of these technologies need at least 100 milliwatts of power to run continuously

But do they need to run continuously? To alert you to your fridge light being on a chip can be woken when the light comes on, sleep and wake every 30 seconds say, and sleep fully when the door is closed. Alerting you when you leave it open would be the only real use of power.

Having said that, I hate the idea as much as anyone else.

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