EcteFeb 18, 2025
LR

master: welcome to my Smart Home

student: wow. how is the light controlled?

master: with this on-off switch

student: i don't see a motor to close the blinds

master: there is none

student: where is the server located?

master: it is not needed

student: excuse me but what is "Smart" about all of this?

master: everything.

in this moment, the student was enlightened

Feb 14, 2025 at 9:22amWeb
Show threadSimon RichterFeb 14, 2025
@lritter FWIW I'd really like a timer on closing the window, so I can run the aircon on a timer before I get home.
Show threadLRFeb 14, 2025
@GyrosGeier timer controlled power adapters are blessed
Show threadZeborahFeb 16, 2025

@lritter I'd love something triggered by sunlight/temperature to open/close curtains in order to make the most of natural warming/cooling cycles.

But I don't want it enough to sell my soul to IoT companies.

@GyrosGeier

Show threadRaven667Feb 16, 2025
@zeborah @lritter @GyrosGeier there was a video this past year from Technology Connections on awnings, which are no longer common in North America home design but which can be used for something similar. Adjustable roll-op awnings, or pre-planning, can make it so the south facing windows are shaded in summer, but get direct sunlight in winter when the sun is closer to the horizon, so you don't get solar heating when you don't want it, and do when you do.
Show threadapophisFeb 20, 2025
@zeborah @lritter @GyrosGeier solar cell connected to a motor?
Show threadFunky BobFeb 16, 2025
@lritter So, more of a Wise house than a Smart house, then? :P
Show threadJiΕ™Γ­ Fiala Total LandscapingFeb 16, 2025
@FunkyBob @lritter I love my Home Assistant but Wise Home is a great concept
Show threadJesseSep 1, 2025
@stooovie @FunkyBob @lritter
I usually say "smart, but not smart enough to get into trouble". But "wise home" is also great, and a lot shorter too πŸ˜…
Show threadSjaak K. πŸ‡³πŸ‡±πŸ‡ͺπŸ‡ΊπŸ‹Feb 16, 2025
@FunkyBob @lritter
Oh you wiseass! 😎
Show threadClive ThompsonAug 30, 2025

@FunkyBob @lritter

love it

Show threadLisPiFeb 16, 2025
@lritter @Natanael_L Learning about rhetoric, liars and semantics? (i.e.: Corposcum always purposely misused "smart")
Show threadDave C.Feb 16, 2025
@lritter The smart light switches I installed reverted to wise switches all by themselves. We're just a waste of money or turns out.
Show threadTrent MickFeb 17, 2025
@davesomebody @lritter I like your use of β€œwise” vs smart.
Show threaddraNgNonFeb 16, 2025
@lritter πŸ™
Show threadMalka BethFeb 16, 2025
@lritter I mean I might go as far as mechanical timers on some things, like lights for a hydroponics system in my basement but, I don't want motorized blinds & might even use a timer on the internet router one day .... to turn it off about 1 day/week.
Show threadLorenzoFeb 16, 2025
@lritter the enlightenment being that the master wasn't an actual one
Show threadLRFeb 16, 2025
@lornova this is the secret solution to every koan.
Show threadmauFeb 18, 2025
@lritter @lornova oh, nice, I didn't know there was a universal shortcut-hack.
Show threadsebastian bΓΌttrichFeb 16, 2025

@lritter

the approach to smartness i am teaching in my IoT course

Show threadMoceletFeb 16, 2025
@sebastian I have long believed that IoT stands for "Internet Of Things That Don't Need To Be Connected To The Internet"
I love the idea of a connected home, but I don't want to connect it to anything outside of my home.
Show threadsebastian bΓΌttrichFeb 16, 2025

@mocelet

Intelligence of Things that know when to connect and when not to.

Show threadmedthepirateFeb 16, 2025
@lritter I feel the same about ai, and streaming.
Show threadNetwork == Abstraction LayerFeb 16, 2025
@lritter exactly
& People wonder why I build bicycles for fun
Show threadFeikeFeb 16, 2025
@lritter so true, simple things over work better then conplex ones
Show threadSnowFeb 16, 2025
@lritter That's not a smart home that's a manual home. A smart home is when you have your own server to control everything in your house that doesn't require an Internet connection :3
Show threadmirabilosFeb 16, 2025
@snow @lritter go meditate some more until you understand
Show threadLRFeb 16, 2025
@mirabilos @snow or just maintain a smart home for 10 years.
Show threadSpots SnepπŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆFeb 16, 2025
@lritter
Reminds me of when my mom wanted all off these smart bulbs and shit, and i was like "this is a terrible idea what if the wifi goes out" (as it was prone to do, our wifi was about as stable as a drunk in an earthquake) and when it did, weekly, and we were woken up in the middle of the night by our lights going full brightness, i was like "told you so"
@kharos
Show threadLRFeb 16, 2025
@DiodeHyena @kharos perhaps smart homes are for people who want to go on an adventure without leaving the house?
Show threadSΓΈren Sandager SΓΈrensenFeb 16, 2025
@lritter The smart controller... is me!
Show threadJen, The UnhingedFeb 16, 2025
@lritter And everyone clapped, and the students name was Albert Einstein.
Show threadLRFeb 16, 2025
@Jenetrix that-- *checks notes* that is exactly correct
Show threadglasspshrFeb 16, 2025

@lritter you gain wisdom!

"smart houses, stupid people”

Show threadSean Eric FaganFeb 16, 2025
@lritter student: but master, what if you are bed-bound, or unable to coordinate enough to open or close blinds yourself?
Show threadmirabilosFeb 16, 2025
@lritter @kithrup you position the switches suitably of course, duh
Show threadSean Eric FaganFeb 16, 2025
@mirabilos @lritter Wow. You are quite the ablist. Bye.
Show threadthe elder seaFeb 16, 2025
@lritter one of my favorite essays about this:
https://dynomight.net/midwit-home/
The midwit home

Less automation and less agony

DYNOMIGHT
Show thread tonic Feb 16, 2025
@eldersea @lritter i love this thank you for sharing it!
Show threadocdtrekkieFeb 16, 2025
@lritter For scheduling and remote access I do enjoy smart devices, but I never interfere with the glorious and holy ability to just use the light switch.
Show threadAI6YR BenFeb 16, 2025
@lritter LOL, perfect!
Show threadnantucketlitFeb 16, 2025
@lritter I once had someone ask me "You know so much about technology, why don't you like IoT?" I said, "Because I understand how things can go wrong."
Show threadπ™Ήπš˜πš‘πšŠπš—Feb 16, 2025
@lritter Bravo!
Show threadLeonFeb 16, 2025

@lritter @mattgrayyes having achieved the revelation they were seeking, the student set off for the month long journey back home. it was treacherous. a neighbouring warlord had suddenly died, sparking off a war of inheritance that embroiled the countryside. as much as the student had learnt, it was impossible for them not to be scarred by the horrors, mentally and physically, and lost an arm to a stray arrow. he finally returned to his home temple, and greeted his master and resumed his training.

master: you seem to be having difficulty meditating

student: I… cannot put out of mind the horrors of the war. The pain of my missing arm.

master: there is a war?

student: how could you not know, the entire kingdom is in upheaval

master: I have been focused for weeks to get home assistant to talk to the threads edge router. My mind has no room for externalities. Open the heavy shutters.

student: master, i cannot! I lost an arm!

master: well, ask Siri.

The student did, and the entire temple was enlightened

Show threadarranFeb 16, 2025
@lritter Master was enlightened shortly after about managing expectations
Show threadJustin ⏚Feb 16, 2025
@lritter
Show threadCats Who Code (cursed)Feb 16, 2025
@lritter Buddhist jokes!! we need more of these on the tl
Show threadChrisβ€‹β€Œβ€‹β€¬ Hayesβ€Œβ€‹β€‹β€‹Feb 17, 2025
@lritter ah, so this is that serverless thing everybody's been talking about.
Show threadCrisFeb 17, 2025

@lritter like with most tech conveniences, smart home stuff is wildly superfluous for most people but an accessibility godsend for others

I use automated lighting to help manage a severe circadian rhythm disorder. At some point I'm hoping to move over to home assistant but for the time being I'm still just using big corporate home automation smart home stuff

Show threadDragonFlameFeb 17, 2025
@lritter
I love this, but I truly do not want to go back to the time when to change TV channel you got up, walked to TV, clicked switch round, then went back to seat to watch.
Yes I am old enough to remember, even when only one channel in UKπŸ˜€πŸ˜Š
Show threadCodey McCodefaceFeb 19, 2025
@RHW @lritter We had a dial that would turn the antenna in the right direction so that Walter Cronkite didn't look like a Picasso. I think that's why people had kids back in he day. "Hey, Codey, channel 3, sou'sou'east."
Show threadIIVQFeb 18, 2025
@lritter I for years thought of a system to be able to open my blackout curtains from bed... but two years ago I made this. It works not perfect, but when it fails it is so easy to solve that it is not worth the energy to improve it.
Beautiful? No.
Functional? Yes.
Works during power outings? Yes.
Hacked? Frequently, but only by my cat.
Show threadClive ThompsonAug 30, 2025

@IIVQ @lritter

nice engineering!

Show threadChertRidgeFeb 19, 2025
@lritter In that case, our home is VERY smart. So dumb it is smart.
Show threadjdbFeb 19, 2025
@lritter @annaleen
Hello,
Thank you for sharing.
I live in this kind of house.
Thank you for sharing.
I had the same discussion with a guy about electric/manual car windows over 20 years ago.
What we want is not what we need.
Views on "Progress" in disguise : technics evolve, we must sell thist better (new) device which will improve our market share.
Today, cars - are full of electronics and are less reliable.
In favor of #lowtech :
"ANY DEVICE IS DOOMED TO FAILURE"
Show threadΧ€ΦΌΦ°Χ¨Φ΄Χ™Feb 20, 2025
@lritter
https://github.com/benajaero/The-Tao-Of-Programming/blob/master/1.pdf
The-Tao-Of-Programming/1.pdf at master Β· benajaero/The-Tao-Of-Programming

My typeset of the eternal truth. Contribute to benajaero/The-Tao-Of-Programming development by creating an account on GitHub.

GitHub
Show threadMarcos DioneAug 30, 2025
@lritter TBH, I'm part of this house's AC system: I open/close awnings, blinds, windows and doors as needed. 3 awnings, 7 blinds (4 already electric), 12 windows and 8 doors in total. Sometimes it's annoying, specially when closing/opening hatches before/after a dust/rain storm.