I can’t think of anything in my home I want to automate.

There were some wifi light switches with computer times, but they had really bad reviews on Amazon and cost $30 each.

Home automation is great with the Amazon ecosystem but it is more useful when you have more devices automated and then it gets really expensive. Have four echos to cover most living areas. I’ve automated the hot water recirculating pump, ecobee thermostat, entertainment system, and five lights so far but so much more to add.

Main use is still music which is much better now that Amazon removed the limitation of playing prime music from one device at a time.

Bought two Google Home’s as well but really disappointed in them. Can’t even tell it to play a song you uploaded to Google Music.

Really loving the hands free listening of music on demand and turning on/off lights and temp control of heat/ac. Entertainment center and hot water is nice too much not as useful.

Also you can use the echo to order some things at an additional discount which is nice since they usually do it for home automation stuff that works with Echo.

Moneymaker – is there any way to link the fire/ambulance panic buttons to an electronic deadbolt? i.e. have the act of pressing the button open the lock?

Seems much safer than giving unknown parties access to your home at any time via a code.

[quote=gzz]I can’t think of anything in my home I want to automate.
[/quote]

I can think of everything to automate. But don’t want/need voice control.
But I want to control remotely and have an auto-away feature.

As a whole, we Americans, are wasteful energy users. Automation should easily cut energy usage by 1/3. House with kids that leave everything on are energy hogs.

[quote=moneymaker]Here’s another thought. I have a home security system with monitored smoke detector and of course a panic button. Should i register (or is it even possible to) the door lock code with the fire department as they also do the ambulance calls if I were to push the medical or fire panic button. Mainly I’m thinking the scenario would be that we are out of town and a fire starts with the pets inside, every minute would be crucial. Kinda like the Farmers insurance commercial when the dog grabs the pizza off the stove and inadvertently turns on the stove top which then sets fire to the pizza box. Evidently a true story http://creativity-online.com/work/farmers-insurance-we-know-from-experience-agent-film/46977 except it was cake not pizza.[/quote]

MM, the fire department will get into your house if there’s an emergency; they won’t need a code. They might break a window or door, but if there’s an actual fire or other emergency, you won’t care. One of the best things you can do is let your neighbors know if you have a habit of leaving pets in the house when you’re gone because emergency responders will ask neighbors, who tend to come out to gawk when they see all the lights and hear all the noise, if they know whether or not there are people or pets in the house. You might also want to let some trusted neighbors know where you, your family, and your pets tend to sleep, etc. Sometimes, they can give emergency personnel important information about handicapped residents, elderly people, children, etc., and they can help firefighters/police know where to find them.

You can buy something like this for your pets, too, but since these things can easily become outdated or inaccurate, they aren’t as useful as giving information to your neighbors (pick trustworthy “Gladys Kravitz” types who are usually home and who are always paying attention to what’s going on in the neighborhood — but make sure they aren’t the gossipy types who will let others know when you’re out of town, because they might tell the wrong people):

Here’s Gladys Kravitz, in case you’re too young to remember this. 🙂

http://bewitched.wikia.com/wiki/Gladys_Kravitz

Sure it could be creepy to have microphones always on. Doesn’t bother me. If Amazon adds additional skills for emergency services, I think it will go from entertainment/cool device to a life saving device. Currently you can add a skill for “I’ve fallen and can’t get up” emergencies to send a text but it would be better to alert 911 directly.

FlyerInHI: fortunately, disconnected cars are still easy to buy, at least used. When they’re outlawed, I’ll leave this c#ntery and live somewhere less developed where laws are less strictly enforced.

As far as fridge cameras and sensors, nothing an icepick won’t fix. Tap. *CRACK*