In Praise of a Dumb House
The author critiques the modern trend of 'smart' home automation, arguing that excessive reliance on voice-activated AI and digital sensors can be impractical and frustrating. She advocates for the reliability and tactile satisfaction of traditional, non-connected home devices.
Why it matters
It reflects a growing consumer pushback against the 'internet of things' and the loss of manual control in domestic environments.
Illustration: Oyow Comment Loader Save Story Save this story Comment Loader Save Story Save this story My husband Harry works in tech, and every January he makes his yearly pilgrimage to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, where some 4,100 exhibitors are spread across 2.6 million square feet. The dominant concept at this year’s edition was that, very soon, anything you put in your house will be compatible with voice-activated AI services like Siri, Alexa, or HomePod. Your newest home automation systems will come equipped with sensors and jazzy master controls on an iPad.
The article is a personal opinion piece expressing a preference for low-tech solutions, which is a subjective viewpoint rather than a political bias.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in