Are we making things easier to use - or not?

[aschen]

I have an issue when technology is implemented with no real utility as I am sure many of y'all do. New fangled thermostats are useful for timing and changing temps from your phone and that sort of thing IMHO.

I was walking though Home depot about a year ago and overheard a couple debating if they would buy the 4000$ Samsung fridge with the giant LCD built into the door and "IOT" functionality. I should have minded my own business, but just said "you would have to be insane to buy that fridge" as I walked by. They started laughing and the sales guy just gave me an unamused stare.

Mostly I resent that a lot of new stuff is designed for disposal.

[masraum]

I previously had a networked(wifi), programmable thermostat in our old home.

It did not have access to the Internet. It was supposed to, but I don't really need that sort of functionality, and I think the security of most of those sorts of things is so bad that even if I did want the functionality, I would skip it.

What it did have was an API. And someone had created an app that ran on a PC that you could use to configured the thermostat program. You had a webpage that had a display for 7 days of the week and you could see all of the days and the various time changes and use your computer keyboard to punch in what you wanted. It was, IMO, exactly what these things should be.

It was something that I bought in HD. It was branded one thing, but was a rebranded "radio thermostat." I have no idea if the app is still available or what, but it looks like the company is still around.

https://www.radiothermostat.com/

Yep, looks like the app is still available.

http://setyourthermostat.com/tour/

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, a fridge that is connected to the internet and has a big display to browse the internet is just stupid in my opinion. If someone wants to buy gadgets that is fine, just don'y use my money.

I still have no idea why anyone at all would want a washer and dryer connected to the internet.

I do carry the internet around with me everywhere right there on my cell phone. I sure don't need it on my fridge.

[GH85Carrera]

The programmer for my sprinkler system is 20 years old, and still works great. It was a monster pain to program. It has so many functions to fit every possible need of any yard or garden it is overwhelming. It has 4 different overall programs that can be run one at a time or all 4 at once. Each of the four has 8 channels or timer setting going the 16 different sections. I replace the rechargeable 9 volt battery every 5 years just to be sure I never loose the program in a power outage. I would likely cry if I had to figure it out again.

I did see my neighbor's sprinkler system control unit that is all programmable from a computer. That would makes sense. Especially to be able to save the program and re-upload it needed. The unit I saw was all WIFI and and the unit goes in the garage as far as possible to get from my router. So I would likely need a repeater, and that setup. I decided if my system ain't broke, it works perfect, why fix it?

[RANDY P]

Backlighting!

rjp

[hcoles]

Aaah, the joys of the designing the human interface. IMO - here is what happens during the design phase. At some point the task of programming the interface is given to one of the electronic engineers with a limited time and budget. The buttons and lights/etc. needed are agreed to very early because the tooling needs to get started. Initially the time/budget included getting reviews/etc. maybe pulling people over 65 in off the street to see if they could get the device to do what they wanted. Then, reality hits, unforeseen issues arise, but the budget and time don't expand and the programming barely gets done and testing is limited. Changes that might be wanted for the mechanical parts are not possible having been locked in weeks/months ago. A presentation is made where the engineer shows how it works and all seems fine, of course he/she makes the programming look easy and there is no more time anyway to make changes. That's the design that goes out the door and into the field. Who writes the instruction manual is another story. In my experience that is the one of the last tasks to complete.
This could be a jaded view but I've been there. Possibly industry has completely changed but I doubt it.
Some like controls where the timing and other attributes can be setup, some don't - they just want to be able to get the system to run without reading a bunch of directions. As I get older I fall more into the later category.

[Nostril Cheese]

I have a fan.

[paulitr6]

Get an 8 year old to program it for you .

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by hcoles

Aaah, the joys of the designing the human interface. IMO - here is what happens during the design phase. At some point the task of programming the interface is given to one of the electronic engineers with a limited time and budget. The buttons and lights/etc. needed are agreed to very early because the tooling needs to get started. Initially the time/budget included getting reviews/etc. maybe pulling people over 65 in off the street to see if they could get the device to do what they wanted. Then, reality hits, unforeseen issues arise, but the budget and time don't expand and the programming barely gets done and testing is limited. Changes that might be wanted for the mechanical parts are not possible having been locked in weeks/months ago. A presentation is made where the engineer shows how it works and all seems fine, of course he/she makes the programming look easy and there is no more time anyway to make changes. That's the design that goes out the door and into the field. Who writes the instruction manual is another story. In my experience that is the one of the last tasks to complete.
This could be a jaded view but I've been there. Possibly industry has completely changed but I doubt it.
Some like controls where the timing and other attributes can be setup, some don't - they just want to be able to get the system to run without reading a bunch of directions. As I get older I fall more into the later category.

I figure they find they go find the top geek-nerd engineer (the alpha geek) that has never looked any woman in the eyes, and only looks at his shoes, not even the other engineers shoes.

The guy that designed the switches and input and the firmware. He designed it, so it is easy for him to program the device. For sure no users from the general population are asked to try it as a test, they might have to interact with an extrovert!

[Baz]

I was looking at some thermostats last night online and there's a fair variety of them which seem more straight forward to operate than this new one the contractor installed on Friday in my first post - photo #2.

I think for now I will go back through the operations of this new one with Mom and see if she's OK with understanding and operating it. If not, I still have her old one, and will take the easiest route and just put that one back in - hoping the wires will match up OK.

I will also try to position it a little lower - as Mom has lost an inch or two over the years - so this will help operations as well.

Thanks for all the input!

[dad911]

It's for Mom?

I'd buy wifi so you can control it from your house.

Rebates from utility company around here. Florida doing anything?

[Baz]

Originally Posted by dad911

It's for Mom?

I'd buy wifi so you can control it from your house.

Rebates from utility company around here. Florida doing anything?

Yes - for Mom.

I called the contractor and was told if I fiddled with the thermostat - it would void the warranty.

So they are going to come back and do what's needed.

Ideally re-install the previous thermostat but a little lower so Mom can see it better.

To her credit, today when I was over there she seemed to understand how the buttons worked on the new one. We'll see what the tech can do.

I was at Winn Dixie picking up provisions for her earlier and the girl at the deli said both her grandmothers are still alive...one is 99.....the other 93. Both at assisted living facilities. Which is where Mom might be heading too in the near future.

Anyway - that's all I know at this point. Everything is a process, huh?

[Porsche-O-Phile]

“Over-featurization” is a curse.

Sure, there are some products that really ARE much better with additional features but when somehow there’s a need fo introduce a microprocessor into literally EVERYTHING (toothbrushes included now...) it’s gone too far.

I seriously wonder how screwed we’d be if NK lobbed a nuke into low orbit and detonated it (EMP). Most cars, virtually all banking, electrical grids, non-hardened communications (like cell phones), etc. would be bricked in an instant for millions.

One reason I like simple, Luddite type stuff for a lot of things! Sure computers are really cool and make life better for some things but when we get to the point where our very survival depends on them working properly then that’s too far - not a place I choose to go.

[SCadaddle]

Timely post! I had a new HVAC system installed in my home August of last year. We put in a new thermostat at the same time. I came home this afternoon to a warm house. Checked the thermostat and it was completely blank. In a near WTF? moment I remembered having to put a pair of AAA batteries in the thermostat when we installed it. Sure enough, a new pair of batteries and she was up and cooling again.

[billybek]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Timely post! I had a new HVAC system installed in my home August of last year. We put in a new thermostat at the same time. I came home this afternoon to a warm house. Checked the thermostat and it was completely blank. In a near WTF? moment I remembered having to put a pair of AAA batteries in the thermostat when we installed it. Sure enough, a new pair of batteries and she was up and cooling again.

Most thermostats have a common terminal and will draw power from the furnace 24 VAC transformer if you have enough wire in the wall to do that. Not all.

Some will even run a the small amount of power required to run the stat through one of the switched loads. Not enough current to energize whatever it is feeding through.

If you pull the stat off the wall and check to see if you have a 5 wire RWBGY or maybe a pair of three wire 18 gauge.

If you have enough wire to do this, the batter simply becomes a backup and lasts a very long time.

[ckelly78z]

I suppose for those that follow the latest trends, and must have the latest updated Iphone, new features are not that big of a deal. If you are like me, technology doesn't mean much, and I have an older Samsung 5 hand-me-down, which is light years ahead of the flip phone it replaced.

I just don't see the need for a "nest", or other digital programmable thermostat, maybe these are the same folks who have remoter control window blinds, and security systems ?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by SCadaddle

Timely post! I had a new HVAC system installed in my home August of last year. We put in a new thermostat at the same time. I came home this afternoon to a warm house. Checked the thermostat and it was completely blank. In a near WTF? moment I remembered having to put a pair of AAA batteries in the thermostat when we installed it. Sure enough, a new pair of batteries and she was up and cooling again.

Very weird. Many/most HVAC systems include a wire that goes to the thermostat that has the capability to power the thermostat, at least, that's how my old digital, programmable thermostat worked. I actually ran a new cable from the HVAC to the thermostat because mine didn't have enough wires to provide that power.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by billybek

Most thermostats have a common terminal and will draw power from the furnace 24 VAC transformer if you have enough wire in the wall to do that. Not all.

Some will even run a the small amount of power required to run the stat through one of the switched loads. Not enough current to energize whatever it is feeding through.

If you pull the stat off the wall and check to see if you have a 5 wire RWBGY or maybe a pair of three wire 18 gauge.

If you have enough wire to do this, the batter simply becomes a backup and lasts a very long time.

That. I ran a new wire with more conductors so I could utilize that power supply.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by ckelly78z

I suppose for those that follow the latest trends, and must have the latest updated Iphone, new features are not that big of a deal. If you are like me, technology doesn't mean much, and I have an older Samsung 5 hand-me-down, which is light years ahead of the flip phone it replaced.

I just don't see the need for a "nest", or other digital programmable thermostat, maybe these are the same folks who have remoter control window blinds, and security systems ?

I don't feel the need for remotely accessible thermostat. But having a programmable thermostat is or can be more energy efficient.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Porsche-O-Phile

“Over-featurization” is a curse.

Sure, there are some products that really ARE much better with additional features but when somehow there’s a need fo introduce a microprocessor into literally EVERYTHING (toothbrushes included now...) it’s gone too far.

I seriously wonder how screwed we’d be if NK lobbed a nuke into low orbit and detonated it (EMP). Most cars, virtually all banking, electrical grids, non-hardened communications (like cell phones), etc. would be bricked in an instant for millions.

One reason I like simple, Luddite type stuff for a lot of things! Sure computers are really cool and make life better for some things but when we get to the point where our very survival depends on them working properly then that’s too far - not a place I choose to go.

My brother's 1954 VW bug will still be driving after an EMP. I just wonder how many cars would survive if the car was not running at the time. With no power to the main engine CPU it should survive. Let's hope we never have to find out.