FAQ

  1. Are Smart Houses going to lead to “Black Mirror” type catastrophes? How can we prevent Smart Houses from harming humanity in the long run?
    • It is recommended that consumers do proper research before getting involved in IoT. This research can include how it works and the different manufacturers. On the other hand, it is the responsibility of manufacturers to make a safe and secure product that is acceptable in the households of their consumers.
  2. How many devices can I effectively connect in my house at one time?
    • You can connect unlimited devices as long as they are from the same manufacturer. The difficulty lies in connecting devices from different manufacturers, and may prevent as many connections from being possible.
  3. Does IoT affect my security and privacy?
    • This depends on many particulars, such as the company that created the product and the settings you choose. In general, companies producing new IoT devices are well aware of the public’s concerns over privacy and security, so providing these two things will provide a competitive advantage over those that do not. Hopefully this will encourage IoT producers to include transparency over how much information is shared when using their product.
  4. What price range should I be expecting for a IoT device?
    • With the advancement in technology, the IoT devices would not be considered “cheap” by any means. Each device can range from $50-$250, depending on the make and model. To compare it to an automobile: the newer it is, the more expensive it will be.
  5. Do I need to have somebody come to my house and set up the devices?
    • Technically the answer would be no, the set up does not require an “expert”. It all depends on how well you can handle the physical and technological aspect of getting started. The installation process involved actually putting the device where you want it, and then connecting it via wifi, bluetooth, etc. Therefore, this can be rather subjective based on the user, but feel free to make it an old fashioned DIY project if you feel comfortable.