A tech columnist reviews the current state of smart home technology and finds that improvements will be necessary before widespread adoption can be expected.
Christopher Mims has this to say about the current state of smart homes, specifically a retrofitted suburban home in Maryland he visited recently: "If you were hoping for a robotic butler, a fully automated kitchen, or anything that couldn't be accomplished with a minimum of effort in a nonsmart home, you'll have to return to the worlds of science fiction."
What Mims describes the state of smart home technology as a suite of apps, run through smart phones, that might prove too complex for most consumers: "It's this task-driven approach to selling the idea of the smart home—offering a device or kit that solves a specific problem, rather than an all-in-one solution—that seems most likely to overcome the reluctance of most of us to add complexity to our personal sanctuaries."
In fact, "even when smart-home technology works as advertised, the complexity it adds to everyday life outweighs any convenience it might provide."
Mims does acknowledge, however, that the technology is in its earliest stages and is not without potential.
FULL STORY: Why I'm Not in a Hurry for a 'Smart Home'
Amazon's First Forays Into Homebuilding Are Worth Watching
A new player with a very familiar name has entered into the residential homebuilding market.
Why Some Smart Home Gadgets Are Dumb
An article in Quartz laments the underwhelming results of a generation of gadgets intended to make houses technologically enabled.
Honda's Smart Homes Save Energy and Make Money
Electric car companies such as Honda are creating smart homes by integrating built-in energy- and money-saving features.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
San Francisco's School District Spent $105M To Build Affordable Housing for Teachers — And That's Just the Beginning
SFUSD joins a growing list of school districts using their land holdings to address housing affordability challenges faced by their own employees.
Can We Please Give Communities the Design They Deserve?
Often an afterthought, graphic design impacts everything from how we navigate a city to how we feel about it. One designer argues: the people deserve better.
The EV “Charging Divide” Plaguing Rural America
With “the deck stacked” against rural areas, will the great electric American road trip ever be a reality?
Judge Halts Brooklyn Bike Lane Removal
Lawyers must prove the city was not acting “arbitrarily, capriciously, and illegally” in ordering the hasty removal.
Engineers Gave America's Roads an Almost Failing Grade — Why Aren't We Fixing Them?
With over a trillion dollars spent on roads that are still falling apart, advocates propose a new “fix it first” framework.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Borough of Carlisle
Smith Gee Studio
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)