""Smart Home" Gadgets

Discussion in 'Non Sun City Related Discussions' started by J_and_V, Sep 1, 2015.

  1. J_and_V

    J_and_V Member

    In a recent post BP mentioned his friends who were controlling, via their smart phone, the thermostat in their SC home while there were in their Seattle home. We found out they were using the "Nest" thermostat". I've been looking at different smart home gadgets and, not surprisingly, there a many different companies selling all types of gadgets.

    I was wondering if anyone had any smart home tools they have set up and if they like them.

    Yes, I want to live in the Jetson's home. I want Rosie to greet me at the door, I want Astro to walk himself, and where is my flying car?
     
  2. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    At least we did get the Star Trek communicators. Including bluetooth earpiece.
     
  3. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Dang, I just figured out how to operate the keypad outside for the garage door opener. Kidding eh.

    This thread is pure syncrosinicity. I've been meaning to post an article from 1967 about Sun City's "experimental house." I won't reproduce the entire article, but here's a snapshot of what they put in the home. Their goal was to get feedback from the residents about what they wanted in coming models and the merchants put up gift certificates up to $100 in value for winning entries.

    Enjoy:

    " The home was designed around a central garden and fountain. All rooms opened onto a courtyard and had louvered doors. Some of the new features showed how outside maintenance costs could be decreased by using Masonite hardboard siding and a tile roof. The attached two-car garage had an automatic door opener. Other novel features include a water purifying system and a built-in vacuum cleaner.

    The kitchen featured a built-in stove with a Corning cook top and gas barbeque. A built-in food center included lightweight, cordless appliances, including a mixer, blender, knife sharpener and juicer.

    Ceramic tile was used in the entry, dining area and kitchen. Bathrooms were floored with a cushion vinyl Corolon. There was a Swedish steam bath and shower, a therapeutic whirlpool bath with a six-foot tub, and built-in dressing table with its own basin.

    The master bedroom featured a wall of matched grain doors and cabinet space. A double fire-place served the living room and leisure room. One living room wall was covered with a gold-antiqued mirror. A centrally controlled AM/FM music and intercom system completed the new ideas."



    Remember folks, as you chuckle through these new innovations, the year was 1967.
     
    Last edited: Sep 1, 2015
  4. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    Chuckle? I would like the central courtyard and Swedish steam bath. What do you mean cordless appliances?
     
  5. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Good question C and it sent me scurrying to the net to find what they could possibly be. I found nothing remotely close so I looked more closely at what the sentence said: "a built-in food center included lightweight, cordless appliances, including a mixer, blender, knife sharpener and juicer."

    There were no "cordless" appliances back then, short of a "cordless hairbrush," so my best guess is this built-in food center wasn't cordless at all, at least not in the way we would think of it. But instead, a work station with the cords out of sight and sitting on the station itself.

    After that, I'm cordless, or is it clueless?
     
  6. J_and_V

    J_and_V Member

    Fast forward to this century - - - - - - any smart home gadgets?

    Any Nest, WeMo, Arlo users? How about wired security cameras?
     
  7. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Dang, I can't resist. While looking for cordless appliances from the 60's I came across this white paper from the Wireless Power Consortium (go figure). It was written in 2013, so it's dated, but what the heck. Here's the intro to it:
    1. Introduction:
    In March 2013, the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) has established a Work Group to develop
    specifications for cordless kitchen appliances. This white paper explains the concept and benefits of
    a standardized interface for cordless kitchen appliances and why standardization is a good idea.

    You can read the rest of the story here.
     
  8. Mullet

    Mullet Member

    It struck me that the experimental house had a corning cook top. I assume this is what we now call a smooth top. I didn't realize they were around in 1967.
     
  9. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Hey Mick: The Del E Webb Corporation (DEVCO) was way ahead of its time. It's one of the reasons that reading the history is so cool; there was almost nothing they wouldn't try. Meeker was a huge fan of innovation and it's fascinating to read about some of the stuff he tried and it didn't work out.

    It's what separated him from the rest: He wasn't afraid of failing, he was more terrified of not trying something that could have made a difference. Throughout his 13 years in Sun City, he was always pushing the envelope. What made him most effective was he was quick to ask those living here what they though of what he was doing; and more importantly, listening to what they had to say.

    Pretty simple philosophy, and one that still works today...at least for those not afraid to go find out what people are thinking.
     
  10. Mullet

    Mullet Member

    I thought I'd resurrect this thread since we're starting to look seriously at home security and automation. Does anyone on the board use these services? If so, who/what? After doing some research, the biggest negative I see about most security offerings is the length of the contracts (three years). I'm leaning toward more upfront expense with month-to-month monitoring. I hate the thought of locking into a long contact. I know there are some DIY offerings where you install all the hardware after the seller pre-programs. You would then have the choice of central station monitoring or self-monitoring. I would go wireless - communication and alerts are done through cellular signals. At least, this would be our preference so we wouldn't have to keep an active Internet connection the months we're not in Sun City. The home automation can be synced with the security to do stuff like automatically lock doors, adjust thermostats, switch lights on/off, etc. They even have water valves you can control remotely. Cool stuff. Any thoughts?
     
  11. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    Hey M; interesting because home security was really prevalent years back. We get the ads weekly in the mail to buy a monthly service contract on a security system, but have never acted on them. I think the appeal these days is for people who live alone and along with the security they get the ability to reach out for help if they fall oe are disabled.

    Most of this stuff is over my head, but here's a link to 55Places where they did a piece on modern technology. It's an interesting read and I can see, especially for people here half-time, where it would be a real plus. Happy reading.
     
  12. Mullet

    Mullet Member

    That's what I'm talking about, Bill. Thanks for the link. You definitely need control of all your security and automation in one place, one app, otherwise it could get cumbersome. The ability to link security and automation makes it inviting. You leave for the afternoon and set your security system, it locks the door and changes the thermostat a few degrees. You come home, disarm the system on your way and it turns the light on and changes the thermostat. Lots of possibilities.

    I don't have big concerns about crime in Sun City but a system would offer a little more comfort, especially when one is away for months at a time. We had a house burglarized years ago and it is a terrible invasion of privacy and is very unsettling. That's one reason we were initially thinking gated community when we considered moving back to an urban area. Besides, security aside, I love new technology and the gadgets that come with it. :welcoming:
     
  13. Andria

    Andria New Member

    This thread is very interesting. I think there is a real trend in security systems managed by smart phone or tablet that notifies an owner when something is amiss. And a trend in not having a monitored subscription system. There are many innovations and one could probably notify the police or fire department when a notice is received about as efficiently as a third party. I imagine modern systems can be programmed to notify instantly also. I'll continue to follow this discussion.

    I would assume that things are pretty safe in Sun City generally and that most of the problems stem from an assumption that people are away for extended periods. I have the sense that neighbors help neighbors and keep an eye out. Lights are programmed to go on and off, etc. Can some long timers kindly comment. Don't be specific in your situation for obviously reasons, but do people typically have security monitoring or not.
     
  14. BPearson

    BPearson Well-Known Member

    When we began looking for homes in Sun City (1998 and 1999), many of the homes we looked at had security systems; or at least had the signs stuck in the ground out front claiming that had the security in place. Sun City has very little crime, and when there is a rash of burglaries, it becomes front page news. There has been periods of time where burglary rings did operate across the West Valley and until they were caught, and they always were, it seemed like an epidemic.

    You are spot on Andria; summer months when homes are vacant attracts the most attention. The other is the stop and grab in high season when folks leave garage doors open or golf clubs are stolen off the back of golf cars left unattended. Neighborhood watches have been a big part of Sun City for years, though the past several years we've seen less of that.

    These days we tend to try and watch out for neighbors in a less structured manner, often when folks go away they let those around them know when they will be gone and to keep an eye out. Not a perfect system, but given what happens in Sun City, pretty effective.
     
  15. J_and_V

    J_and_V Member

    Emily,
    I think having a Mrs. Kravitz on the block is a good thing. I may have already mentioned the Mr. Kravitz we had in our current community. He passed a few weeks ago and we miss him more than we thought we would.

    Anyway - Thanks for resurrecting the thread Mullet. I'm not so much interested in the traditional alarm system as I am in the "control" features (lights, a/c, water, etc). Be careful of the video monitoring systems where you pay to have the video stored for x number of days. That can get pricey. I would like to be able to "live stream" the goings on around the house, but have the video saved to a local, in-home drive, that I could keep or erase when I wanted.
    Yes, we will be there full time, but gadgets are cool.
     
  16. LinW

    LinW Member

    I've been using the very basic X10 system for 30+ years now. When I first discovered it I think it was called BSR, then Radio Shack grabbed it and it became Plug 'N' Power, now I find it available online at the X10 website and on Amazon. It uses modules to connect lamps and appliances to the house wiring and either a wired or remote controller to operate lights and whatever appliances you want. I have a digital clock/timer that turns lights on and off at set times, a remote by my favorite chair, and a keyfob so I can operate house lights from the car or driveway when necessary. I believe there is a program available for computer control but I haven't felt the need for that. There are also window and door sensors, motion detectors, cameras, lots of home security stuff which, again I haven't felt the need for. I'm happy just having control of my lights, turning them off behind me and on ahead of me as I go, and having lights on if I get home after dark. Many years ago when my parents were alive and my dad tended to wander, I set their house up with door sensors so my mom would know when he went out, worked well then, that's my only experience with the home security part of it. Don't know if this is any help, just throwing it out there in case. :)
     
  17. Andria

    Andria New Member

    I'm really loving following this thread. Keep posting. It's so interesting to see/hear of some of the solutions.

    There is trend for people to only want a provider who supplies high speed Internet connections and get away from monopoly bundles. I am surprised that Sun City has not pursued running fiber or new technology through SC and having it's own Internet service. Communities are doing that when other services are being repaired or upgraded and running that right along. Several downtown Seattle buildings have offerings.

    I have been reading about Google fiber and there is some speculation that will come to Phoenix. I would think that Sun City would want to take advantage of these technologies and continue to be self contained where possible. A Fiberhood. See this website: https://fiber.google.com/about/

    Those interested can insert an address and presumably get notice of the Phoenix expansion. And I expect could write, post, tweet, etc. your desire to have availability in the 'hood.

    Google has made a huge investment in streaming and it's in their interest to provide super fast internet, exceptional TV content, and download capability. I'm doing some meetings over Google hangouts today and all of my appointments are via webinar and I work in 6 states right now all virtually. Like many of you, I'm very interested in latest technology when it comes to safety and Internet.
     
  18. J_and_V

    J_and_V Member

    Thanks for the link LinW - there is some coolness there.
     
  19. Mullet

    Mullet Member

    We set up an X10 security system after our house in Kansas City was burglarized. We did the door and window sensors and an IP camera that activated with motion. I had it set up with a dialer that would text me with a quick video clip. I got some great shots of our one acrobatic cat making her way to the top of the fridge! It was a pretty cumbersome system. Things have advanced a lot since then.

    Andria has a great idea regarding super fast broadband. Sun City was really forward thinking with their solar installations. This could be the next forward thinking project. I like it!
     
  20. Cynthia

    Cynthia Well-Known Member

    I didn't know X10 was still around. I bought many cameras years ago but I had problems with them. Eventually put in my own security cameras with internet viewing via a personal page, which was free, from Lorex. That also had connections issues from time to time. Right now I still have the camera but not the internet viewing.
     

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