Automating curtains with SwitchBot

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  • čas přidán 10. 07. 2024
  • Voice controlled curtains - wow it really is space year 2021.
    SWITCHBOT RANGE (AFFILIATED AMAZON LINKS)
    Amazon UK amzn.to/2XrM99R
    Amazon US amzn.to/3hXFe1L
    00:00 Boring irrelevant intro
    03:00 SwitchBot Curtains
    05:49 SwitchBot Remote
    06:21 SwitchBot Hub Mini
    08:06 Battery life (8 months)
    08:27 Solar Panel
    09:06 SwitchBot Switch
    10:56 Credits
    More info www.switch-bot.com
    FAQ
    Q) Are they noisy?
    A) It’d be up to you to define noisy - but they’re certainly not quiet. They sound like an electric motor pulling a curtain whilst not being particularly happy about it.
    Q) Can you schedule the open and close times?
    A) Yes
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  • Věda a technologie

Komentáře • 1,8K

  • @JohnVance
    @JohnVance Před 3 lety +209

    Took me a sec to realize you were reversing “Google” to avoid triggering a thousand actions in people’s homes. Very thoughtful!

    • @Mustakari
      @Mustakari Před 3 lety +36

      Ha! Everyone submitting to corporate surveillance in their home deserves it.

    • @skylined5534
      @skylined5534 Před 3 lety +10

      "Ok Skynet, don't eviscerate my species"

    • @sixunity1171
      @sixunity1171 Před 3 lety +6

      @@Mustakari "ajhaaah i us linux mint govermint not track me heeh i am very importent persun evryjune want me data imagin usingg google hom omg couldint be me"

    • @crispoman
      @crispoman Před 3 lety +9

      @@transfo47 The kind posted by someone logged in to a Google service, probably using his smartphone with GPS turned on. And no sense of irony, obviously.

    • @namelessguy199
      @namelessguy199 Před 2 lety

      @@crispoman Yes, I am signed into my google account on my phone with my GPS and Bluetooth turned on 24/7 because its convenient to be able to use Google Maps or my bluetooth earbuds anytime I want and my battery can afford it. Also I am not interested in fighting shadows.

  • @amelialikesfrogs5778
    @amelialikesfrogs5778 Před 3 lety +319

    I couldn't possibly imagine a more rediculous sentence than "I hope you've remembered to charge your curtains"

    • @aptom203
      @aptom203 Před 3 lety +28

      "I can't turn off my light because its firmware is updating." "My plug socket crashed." Are two phrases I definitely did not think I would ever have cause to say, and yet here we are.

    • @jafizzle95
      @jafizzle95 Před 3 lety

      @@aptom203 Ha yep, I was gonna say the same thing. I installed firmware updates for my light bulbs and power sockets the other day.

    • @antibodiesagainstkookery3871
      @antibodiesagainstkookery3871 Před 3 lety +10

      "I can't charge my curtains right now, I'm already charging my book and my cigarette."

    • @stranger7968
      @stranger7968 Před 3 lety +7

      @@aptom203 "I can't turn on my central heating because google servers are down". I never said that myself but some people did for sure because they own nest..

    • @vgamesx1
      @vgamesx1 Před 3 lety +2

      @@stranger7968 Well that wasn't just some weird thing to say, that was REALLY stupid, there's no reason a thermostat should ever stop working unless it's broken.

  • @leftysheppey
    @leftysheppey Před 3 lety +71

    I can only imagine Mrs Techmoan saying "oh, bloody hell, what have you bought now?", while you demonstrate with a cheesy grin how you can open and close your curtains from the sofa. She rolls her eyes and walks away

    • @ikke1981
      @ikke1981 Před 3 lety +11

      Matt, we've talked about this after the flippin' christmas tree...

    • @greenaum
      @greenaum Před 3 lety +5

      She can't technically roll her eyes, as they're stuck to the front of her face and made of felt.

  • @vacantplanet
    @vacantplanet Před 3 lety +106

    My house was already automated when I was a kid. I was the automation device. Opened/closed the curtains, and switched the TV channels

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před 3 lety +24

      But it had to be charged 3 times a day, then entered sleep mode for 8 hours. When asked to do anything it angrily replied "In a minute!" several times before complying. I rate this automation device 1 star.

    • @UnknownMaster21
      @UnknownMaster21 Před 3 lety +6

      It also needs sometimes little bit mysterious power, called "Love".

    • @LakeCityPulse
      @LakeCityPulse Před 3 lety +3

      I didn't have power locks in my car, and I'd explain that I had power locks. I just push this switch (push down on the lock) and the door is locked.

    • @ScottGrammer
      @ScottGrammer Před 3 lety

      "Move that aluminum foil on the rabbit ears a bit to the left...that's it...THERE! DON'T MOVE!"

  • @andrewchapman2039
    @andrewchapman2039 Před 3 lety +216

    Props for messing with the audio when you said "Okay Google", even their own adverts aren't so considerate!

    • @tatertacoma
      @tatertacoma Před 3 lety +10

      Yes! Someone said it! I have an Amazon Alexa but I still praise him for not saying common wake words!

    • @tparadox88
      @tparadox88 Před 3 lety +9

      Alexa ads are supposed to have an audio cue we can't hear that makes your Echo ignore it, but I wonder where they stuck a signal humans can't hear into a reproduction range based on what humans can hear.

    • @--..__
      @--..__ Před 3 lety +8

      Stop keeping a stupid spybot in your house and feeding training Google's algorhms for free..

    • @doublej1076
      @doublej1076 Před 3 lety +3

      @@tparadox88 if I remember right it works the other way -- Alexa only listens to a certain frequency band that they filter out in their commercials.

    • @bluekewne
      @bluekewne Před 3 lety +7

      @@--..__ Pssst, your iPhone/Android is a spybot for your data (also you do know you're posting using a Google account, right?)

  • @howardatkinson8958
    @howardatkinson8958 Před 3 lety +293

    Loud high pitched whine. "You can barely hear it."

    • @Ian_Staff
      @Ian_Staff Před 3 lety +25

      ...he shouts over the sound of the motor 😆

    • @mankysalad350
      @mankysalad350 Před 3 lety +71

      IT'S WHISPER QUIET

    • @anew742
      @anew742 Před 3 lety +12

      IT JUST WORKS

    • @clutchkman
      @clutchkman Před 3 lety +17

      Screeeeeeeeeeeeeee lol

    • @RCAvhstape
      @RCAvhstape Před 3 lety +24

      After it ruins your hearing in that frequency range, the sound almost completely goes away.

  • @TheRetroFuture
    @TheRetroFuture Před 3 lety +1381

    How long does the battery last

    • @dschonsie
      @dschonsie Před 3 lety +58

      description says 8 month........in real life maybe 3

    • @TheRetroFuture
      @TheRetroFuture Před 3 lety +158

      (this is a joke, skip to 8:00 to find out details in “THE BIT ABOUT BATTERY LIFE”)

    • @TheFool2cool
      @TheFool2cool Před 3 lety +15

      @Mark Ryan sorry if we offended you

    • @mrfoameruk
      @mrfoameruk Před 3 lety +5

      After 4 month I take it it will run half as slow and at 8 months it will take a few hours to open or close them.
      Thinking the solar panel may be no good now but at least will keep it topped up in the long run (i take it they're meant to be left connected continuously and not just for a few days every 6 months.)

    • @laserspaceninja
      @laserspaceninja Před 3 lety +39

      He never mentions the battery life...ever. Now I will never know.

  • @LobanRahman
    @LobanRahman Před 3 lety +438

    "The missus absolutely hates home automation ... So that's another plus!"

    • @buddyclem7328
      @buddyclem7328 Před 3 lety +2

      😂

    • @wendyokoopa7048
      @wendyokoopa7048 Před 3 lety +2

      @@BodywiseMustard lol. Jokes aside after a few dozen scenarios people are afraid to marry

    • @mikw1809
      @mikw1809 Před 3 lety +14

      @David Mander I don't need a curtain opener/closer, because my missus automatically does it. She's also a great dish washer, it ain't all bad you know

    • @johnnyfannucci
      @johnnyfannucci Před 3 lety +1

      You’d think she’d be pleased.

    • @johnnyfannucci
      @johnnyfannucci Před 3 lety +2

      @David Mander
      As opposed to getting married to a ?

  • @mikeselectricstuff
    @mikeselectricstuff Před 3 lety +1499

    Set up an account to control curtains... Seriously? Will it be a brick if their server dies?

    •  Před 3 lety +293

      My thoughts exactly. This also means that it's very likely the company behind it knows exactly when you open & close your curtains.

    • @Christopher-N
      @Christopher-N Před 3 lety +95

      @: Accompanied by automated raunchy jazz music.

    • @IIARROWS
      @IIARROWS Před 3 lety +208

      Exactly, we need legislation to avoid requiring data for something you pay and that don't need it? Ridiculous.

    • @ajburdett882
      @ajburdett882 Před 3 lety +69

      @ And that matters why? what are they going to do with that information? use it to send out spies to peak into peoples homes because they know exactly when Susan from birmingham wakes up in the morning? Jees why do some people think that every company is out to get them...

    • @Bastimon
      @Bastimon Před 3 lety +226

      It's so depressing to watch this trend. I am all for a free market and innovation and whatever but I really feel there should be some regulation. You build a product that has to be thrown out as soon as your servers went offline? They should be forced to implement an open standard to control things. Some REST and oAuth and there you go. But then nobody would bother downloading the tracking-infested app anymore, the shareholders won't be too happy...

  • @kek23k
    @kek23k Před 3 lety +71

    'My wife hates home automation, so that's another positive.' That got a solid chuckle from me :)

    • @recklessroges
      @recklessroges Před 3 lety +2

      [sarcasm] Yeah! Lets be cruel to the people that we live with. What could possibly go wrong?

    • @Mrree250
      @Mrree250 Před 3 lety +7

      @@recklessroges over reaction

    • @aritakalo8011
      @aritakalo8011 Před 3 lety +13

      @@Mrree250 Yeah, It seems the dry british humor doesn't suite everyones tastes.

    • @bettyswollocks1670
      @bettyswollocks1670 Před 3 lety +6

      Mine has always had voice controlled things she tells me to do it

    • @awo1fman
      @awo1fman Před 3 lety +2

      @@recklessroges I think you mean, "sarchasm", because you clearly can't recognize it yourself... 🙄

  • @UselessDuckCompany
    @UselessDuckCompany Před 3 lety +522

    Looks pretty useful for people with physical disabilities, after having someone else install it. Would be a shame if your google assistant misheard you and opened them up while you were walking around naked, as is the right of every home owner.

    • @Yukatoshi
      @Yukatoshi Před 3 lety +1

      Good point.

    • @erebostd
      @erebostd Před 3 lety +24

      @@drxym Did you watch the video? It has a 2 Meter charging cable to specificity charge it while installed, and only needs a charge every 8-12 months. It surely is a bit gimmicky, but „frequently“ charging? Come on...

    • @adamkatt
      @adamkatt Před 3 lety +11

      @@drxym I guess you watched a diff video.

    • @ohnoitschris
      @ohnoitschris Před 3 lety +11

      @@drxym he says in the video that it has an 8 month battery life at two uses a day, and there's an optional solar charger

    • @ohnoitschris
      @ohnoitschris Před 3 lety +42

      @@drxym if you're disabled but seriously can't get someone over twice a year to plug your curtain opener into its charger, you should reconsider how you treat people rather than getting mad at internet curtains

  • @davidcool5189
    @davidcool5189 Před 3 lety +37

    "Eight months battery life. Battery life: eight months."
    Has a bit of a Red Dwarf feel to it.
    Dave, everyone's dead. Everyone's dead, Dave.

    • @noxmrnox8024
      @noxmrnox8024 Před 3 lety

      I just started watching that show. It’s hilarious.

  • @g0g0duck20
    @g0g0duck20 Před 3 lety +83

    Thank you for not making the " Hey Google" audible

  • @andrewc14
    @andrewc14 Před 3 lety +94

    "open the right curtains, switchbot."
    -"I'm afraid I can't do that, Mat."

    • @robertoricardoruben
      @robertoricardoruben Před 3 lety +3

      Mat, this conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.

    • @Ichijoe2112
      @Ichijoe2112 Před 3 lety +1

      @@robertoricardoruben Daisy daaasiy give me your answer do.

  • @BlueShankPEI
    @BlueShankPEI Před 3 lety +46

    "One day lad, all this will be yours!"
    "What, the curtains?"

  • @petergrm8420
    @petergrm8420 Před 3 lety +6

    The "borring irrelevant intros" are half of the reason why I watch your videos 🙂

  • @tenchuu007
    @tenchuu007 Před 3 lety +221

    I didn't know I needed this until I saw your video but I really wish I knew how long the battery life is.

    • @Jamato-sUn
      @Jamato-sUn Před 3 lety +12

      EIGHT MONTHS BATTERY LIFE EIGHT MONTHS :D

    • @smartroadbiker
      @smartroadbiker Před 3 lety +19

      @@Jamato-sUn But you didn't answer the question of HOW LONG!!! Months is a time measurement, this things travels back and forth so making a time measurement pointless!!!! I want to know how many nautical-miles it will last for, I need REAL LIFE measurements!!!! 🤣🤣😉 (jking of course!)

    • @TheErador
      @TheErador Před 3 lety +10

      3642 inch-metres

    • @markshortall3384
      @markshortall3384 Před 3 lety +4

      How is your comment 5 days old if he only uploaded 20 minuites ago??????

    • @kutter_ttl6786
      @kutter_ttl6786 Před 3 lety +4

      @@markshortall3384Patreon. In the description it states that supporters get early access to videos.

  • @thehappylittlefoxakabenji8154

    Cool ! I remember making something like this when I was 10 years old using some bits of Meccano although the Meccano motor wasn't really up to pulling the curtains I could have geared it down further but it was taking nearly five minutes to open the curtains ! my solution was to fit a bigger and more powerful motor a windscreen wiper motor which promptly pulled the curtains off the wall !

    • @timelordtardis
      @timelordtardis Před 3 lety +5

      🤣

    • @kingofthepod5169
      @kingofthepod5169 Před 3 lety +6

      Reminded me of the time I had a cable from my bed to turn off the lights and ceiling fan. No I really did that with nylon keychain braiding rope.

    • @skylined5534
      @skylined5534 Před 3 lety +5

      Meccano! That, Lego and Lego Technic were some of the best toys ever!

    • @eDoc2020
      @eDoc2020 Před 3 lety +7

      @@kingofthepod5169 I also extended my ceiling fan pull cord to my bed using a piece of string. I used an adhesive hook and a paper clip to act as a makeshift pulley on the wall so it stays out of the way. For well under $1 it's a great remote control solution which doesn't require an online account.

    • @kingofthepod5169
      @kingofthepod5169 Před 3 lety

      @@eDoc2020 I had a hook in my ceiling. The cord ran from my window across my bed around the hook to the lights and fan. It was off only sadly, never thought of pull cords

  • @kinglooper
    @kinglooper Před 3 lety +9

    I love how mildly convenient this is.

  • @BobBell808
    @BobBell808 Před 3 lety +56

    Judge: "Ma'am, what are the grounds for your divorce?" Mrs: "My husband has automated every flippin' thing in the house! It's like living in the movie, 'Honey, I shrunk the kids!'"

    • @donaloflynn
      @donaloflynn Před 3 lety +1

      Judge: Hey Google, grant this divorce.

    • @kennarajora6532
      @kennarajora6532 Před 3 lety

      @@donaloflynn I get it, because everything's automated.

  • @ChristianRogersMoneyBruh
    @ChristianRogersMoneyBruh Před 3 lety +22

    That flipping a switch robot looks very cool. The gears are turning in my head on what I would use one for.

    • @Christopher-N
      @Christopher-N Před 3 lety +3

      "A sign lit up, saying 'Please do not press this button again.' " -- Simon Jones as Arthur Dent

    • @bland9876
      @bland9876 Před 3 lety +1

      You could turn on your computer remotely

    • @TheRailroad99
      @TheRailroad99 Před 3 lety +2

      @@bland9876 that can be done without any extra things, the function is called "wake on lan" and can be used with every computer from the last 15 years.
      The switchbox might be useful to automate existising curtain/ window shutter controls.

    • @catfish552
      @catfish552 Před 3 lety

      @@TheRailroad99 You could turn on the power strip or wall socket that the computer is plugged into.

    • @leftysheppey
      @leftysheppey Před 3 lety

      I'd personally use it for bedroom lights. I'm forever forgetting to turn them off until I've gotten into bed

  • @TimLeeSongs
    @TimLeeSongs Před 3 lety +46

    My first thought was that scene in Home Alone where Kevin’s trying to convince the robbers there’s a house party going on 😂.

    • @5roundsrapid263
      @5roundsrapid263 Před 3 lety +3

      Google Home actually did a remake of that scene with Alexa and an adult Macaulay Culkin.

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před 3 lety +1

      I need an automated Michael Jackson cardboard cutout dancing in my living room... time to get on Kickstarter

    • @TimLeeSongs
      @TimLeeSongs Před 3 lety

      @@AfferbeckBeats XD

  • @jimdandy2024
    @jimdandy2024 Před 3 lety +3

    I've an idea that takes seconds to implement. Open and close your curtains by hand. Perfect, works every time.

    • @geraldhenrickson7472
      @geraldhenrickson7472 Před 3 lety

      This assumes full mobility and independent thought.

    • @jimdandy2024
      @jimdandy2024 Před 3 lety +1

      @@geraldhenrickson7472
      Anyone that does not have full mobility and independent thought will already have a solution. Like a carer for example, or another solution.
      I doubt very much that they have been sitting in the dark for years waiting for this contraption.

  • @XOIIOXOIIO
    @XOIIOXOIIO Před 3 lety +70

    It's a shame that they have that delay operating together.
    Also, wow those are loud, damn.

    • @sweaterfish6311
      @sweaterfish6311 Před 3 lety +16

      Yeah, what kind of low rent Bond villain has curtains that open out of sync and make a horrible screeching sound as they do it?

    • @XOIIOXOIIO
      @XOIIOXOIIO Před 3 lety +12

      @@sweaterfish6311 I mean, it's great for an austin powers villain.

    • @RV233
      @RV233 Před 3 lety +1

      Price 🤦🏻‍♂️

    • @Iceflkn
      @Iceflkn Před 3 lety

      We want it perfect and we WANT IT NOW! 😜 (Not that I disagree lol)

    • @boredfartless4221
      @boredfartless4221 Před 3 lety +1

      @@sweaterfish6311 Zamak Finger

  • @i_shoot_stuff
    @i_shoot_stuff Před 3 lety +82

    spins around in chair petting hairless cat:
    hey google, close the curtains

    • @Christopher-N
      @Christopher-N Před 3 lety +9

      Very Blofeld. I'd change the recognition from "Hey Google" to "Computer" for a _Star Trek_ theme (using alternate descriptives for discussing any other computer in the same room, of course).

    • @tbrown5657
      @tbrown5657 Před 3 lety +8

      It needs that low-pitched hum all the moving set pieces in the Bond films had. Then I'm in :P

    • @skylined5534
      @skylined5534 Před 3 lety +3

      "ONE MILLLLLLIONNN DOLLLLARS!"

    • @peterjf7723
      @peterjf7723 Před 3 lety +3

      @@Christopher-N If you do that you should have the computer voice sound like Majel Barrett-Roddenberry.

    • @CantankerousDave
      @CantankerousDave Před 3 lety +4

      Hey Google, drop my minion into the piranha tank.

  • @AkosJaccik
    @AkosJaccik Před 3 lety +49

    Ah, yes. Expensive inconvenience dressed up as forward-thinking convenience. It's IoT alright.

  • @greendryerlint
    @greendryerlint Před 3 lety

    My father, who was an unsung visionary in his own right, created automation for the curtains in our front window back in the late 1960s. It ran off of line voltage and used thin ropes, and had a wired remote and not a wireless one, but would open the curtains and the sheers behind them separately, and had 3 settings for both--all open, part open, or closed completely, as I recall. I still have the hardware he hand built for this somewhere. The apparatus was housed in a wooden box, attached to the floor, and had integral limit switches to stop the curtains at the desired setting. He had other home automation he created during that era, such as a unit that would detect the headlights of a car pulling into the driveway using a CDS cell mounted in the garage door and turn on floodlights, which would then turn off after a preset time, and a unit that could be programmed to wake you with TV, radio, lights, buzzer, or any combination of these. As a lot of us feel about our deceased parents, I wish I had appreciated him more when I was younger, and I wish he could have gotten some patents and made some money from some of the things he created, which were well ahead of their time. I also should mention that he never had an engineering degree or any formal training.

  • @michael931
    @michael931 Před 3 lety +58

    Hello tech support, I've lost the password to my curtains...

    • @Fifury161
      @Fifury161 Před 3 lety +2

      Well pull yourself together!

    • @heifetz14
      @heifetz14 Před 3 lety +1

      @@Fifury161 Thankyou,Tommy.

  • @TheBauwssss
    @TheBauwssss Před 3 lety +4

    Thank you for garbling up the activation commands for your Google Home device 😁👍 Saves me from having to scream "Ok Google, cancel" (or "stop") at the top of my lungs. Thank you very muchos, Matt!

    • @greenaum
      @greenaum Před 3 lety

      Ah! I thought it was in case we recorded it and went round his house and messed with all his stuff. Or broke into his Google account, or something like that, I dunno.
      Really Google ought to allow you to choose your own phrase instead of that. Everything you say to it gets sent to Google HQ anyway, your phone / whatever device doesn't have the software on board to do voice-recognition. Though a phone certainly has the power to, it would need training a few times to your particular voice, where Google have everyone's voice on an enormous computer.
      That said, there's people have set up Raspberry Pi's, or similar, to recognise their voice. Then once it does, it opens a connection to Google and sends the rest of what you say off there. Meaning, though, that Google don't get to hear anything from your house until the Pi decides to send it sound, rather than them listening idly all day. Of course you don't have to involve Google at all, a Pi can do enough voice rec to automate your house and probably answer your stupid questions better than those Amazon spybots do. But using Google means you can integrate all your other Google stuff if you have it.

    • @TheBauwssss
      @TheBauwssss Před 3 lety

      @@greenaum Youu actually can, in a sort of weird way. Just go to your Google account and open assistant settings. Then click on retrain/refine speech model (don't know exactly what the option is called), and a window opens up asking you to say "okay Google" three times. Now just say what ever you want to have as the activation command and you're done 😁👍 Viola, hacked AF but nevertheless a custom wake word/activation command for your Google Home 👌😎

    • @greenaum
      @greenaum Před 3 lety

      @@TheBauwssss And it'll have that? Even though I wouldn't be withing a mile of everyone else's "OK Google"?
      I'd expect it to be arrogant enough to reject me. Alphabet Inc having decided on the words the world is going to say, and not having space for any wild and seditious ideas.
      Last time I was in Google's voice settings I was too busy being appalled at how much of my voice they had stored away.
      Did you know there's been, for a decade or two now, voice synths that can take on a real person's voice? The original one (by BT) required you to read a script with all the phonemes and their transitions in it. The example was they could have given Steven Hawking his real voice back if he'd recorded that speech, though Steven would argue the '80s dalek board IS his real voice.
      But that was then. Eventually they're gonna collect enough phonemes and maybe fill in the missing ones with maths. Especially with things having such stupid names these days.
      It means voice rec will never be any good for real security purposes, and in years to come you won't be able to trust you're speaking to someone unless they're literally in front of you. They could probably fake that right now, they've had long enough, obviously it's not something a researcher would publish.

  • @Fake_Blood
    @Fake_Blood Před 3 lety +8

    I was fully expecting some muppets at the end there.

  • @gtoger
    @gtoger Před 3 lety +80

    I sincerely hope there's an episode of The Pedant Puppets that features the SwitchBot line of home automation devices. Or maybe a sub-channel devoted to them all living in their terrible tech dystopia.

    • @AfferbeckBeats
      @AfferbeckBeats Před 3 lety +13

      Yeah, the young one would be boasting about how easy it is to turn the light on without having to go all the way over to the switch. Then fidgets around with his phone logging into accounts and connecting bluetooth devices for 5 minutes before finally turning the light on.

    • @MarktheOddJob
      @MarktheOddJob Před 3 lety +4

      Imagine the day autobot tow trucks tow away illegally parked hover cars!

  • @daveayerstdavies
    @daveayerstdavies Před 3 lety

    My uncle had automatic curtains in 1975. I thought it was the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

  • @peteranderson037
    @peteranderson037 Před 3 lety +50

    Now available at Run Silent, Run Drapes stores everywhere.

    • @esmerylan
      @esmerylan Před 3 lety +8

      Nah, I think Nadine would be very disappointed in how loud that mechanism is.

    • @joshwalund9863
      @joshwalund9863 Před 3 lety +3

      I was hoping this joke would be here.

  • @tamarmolerick3814
    @tamarmolerick3814 Před 3 lety +32

    I have never fully recovered from waking up on the first day of 2000 and finding that I did not own (a) a silver suit (b) a hover car.

    • @ohnoitschris
      @ohnoitschris Před 3 lety +1

      Shoulda awoken in a music video from the time

    • @andrewgwilliam4831
      @andrewgwilliam4831 Před 3 lety

      I used to have that problem. However, tonight I saw "Black Panther" for the first time, and now I want to live in Wakanda. 😞

    • @michael931
      @michael931 Před 3 lety

      They should have predicted that in the future everyone would drive silver cars... that came true.

  • @JordonBeal
    @JordonBeal Před 3 lety +2

    The intro, format, and overall presentation on this channel reminds of Beyond Tomorrow/Beyond 2000 and The Next Step, and this fills me with an immense amount of nostalgic joy.

  • @Timoteo3858
    @Timoteo3858 Před 3 lety +1

    I've always considered myself as a bit of a "techie." As such I've been subscribed to your channel for several years.
    Given the state of the world in the past year, I have found that your presentations are very soothing and give me a place to escape from "the madness." For continuing in your presentations, I am thankful that you here.
    Tim in Florida, USA

  • @AnonymousCaveman
    @AnonymousCaveman Před 3 lety +5

    Perfect if you're in a wheelchair or limited movement.
    Also didn't think you could upload something on a subject so simple yet make it so entertaining to watch. Great stuff techmoan 💜

  • @_techana
    @_techana Před 3 lety +82

    One night in 1986, my sister and I were watching a TV show called "Beyond Year 2000" I think. The episode was about home automation. I asked my elder sister: how long is it till the year 2000? She answered: 14 years. I then enthusiastically said: we'll live to see these things! She replied: who knows! My sister passed away in December 1999 💔

    • @scotthind5637
      @scotthind5637 Před 3 lety +9

      What a sad story mate... I too used to watch beyond 2000 & towards 2000 with my sister. sorry for your loss x

    • @BBC600
      @BBC600 Před 3 lety +1

      😢

    • @DeAthWaGer
      @DeAthWaGer Před 3 lety +1

      They have a youtube channel with all episodes archived. Enjoy!

    • @Christopher-N
      @Christopher-N Před 3 lety +4

      I was going to 'like' your comment for the _Beyond 2000_ TV series I used to watch, but then you stated your sister passed away. I am sorry.

    • @Starter61
      @Starter61 Před 3 lety

      Ohh... so sorry... sad....

  • @TwoColorShoe
    @TwoColorShoe Před 3 lety

    That switchbot button is a lifesaver if you live in an old residential building. We have the ability to buzz people in, but it requires us to interact with a panel in our apartment. Now, instead of using my key to enter my building I just press a button on my phone and the switchbot buzzes me in, haha.

  • @ScottGrammer
    @ScottGrammer Před 3 lety

    --> Names first chapter "Boring irrelevant intro." Brilliant. Love your channel!

  • @syrophenikan
    @syrophenikan Před 3 lety +118

    What about battery life? Seems like it wouldn't be long before it needs a recharge. What a pain.
    (kidding - take my money NOW!!!! Welcome to the FEW-ture!)

  • @james2k2
    @james2k2 Před 3 lety +9

    Where did the puppets go? I miss them a lot!

  • @MrGF1582
    @MrGF1582 Před 3 lety

    Mate, I've enjoyed your videos for years. Well done! Keep'em coming! Cheers!

  • @ferretkiller9454
    @ferretkiller9454 Před 3 lety

    Always something interesting to watch when your videos come up in the feed!

  • @extraemontamontes3618
    @extraemontamontes3618 Před 3 lety +92

    "The mrs hates it so that's another positive" LOL

    • @hoppend
      @hoppend Před 3 lety +2

      came here to say this....😂

    • @recklessroges
      @recklessroges Před 3 lety +4

      [sarcasm] Yeah! Lets normalise torturing each other, and invalidating each other's desires, especially during lockdown in the middle of a pandemic. [1970's called and want their misogyny back]

    • @himynameisben95
      @himynameisben95 Před 3 lety +28

      @@recklessroges are you alright man? Is something bothering you? Would you like to talk about it?

    • @hoofie2002
      @hoofie2002 Před 3 lety +12

      @@recklessroges it’s called British humour

    • @awo1fman
      @awo1fman Před 3 lety +8

      @@recklessroges 😱💨 Whoosh! That's the sound of the original sarcasm/sarchasm going over your head... 🙄

  • @GarNelson1
    @GarNelson1 Před 3 lety +39

    I have the same problem with my wife and my "cool" home automation projects. She hates them all. :-)

    • @reactking7093
      @reactking7093 Před 3 lety

      Lol why tho???

    • @GarNelson1
      @GarNelson1 Před 3 lety +4

      @@reactking7093 "why talk to the lights when I can just flick the switch?" :-) When the automation hub gets confused I can see her point.

    • @michaelsteinbach
      @michaelsteinbach Před 3 lety +2

      Mine likes the lights but hates the talking speakers. Oh, and if the internet goes out, she then hates the lights too.

    • @HenryLoenwind
      @HenryLoenwind Před 3 lety +1

      Just get rid of them all---including the dishwasher, washing machine and tv remote.
      Risk is that she'll replace you with a little automation device...

    • @moosemaimer
      @moosemaimer Před 3 lety +2

      "I love it, it's like a movie!"
      "It's like living in a movie, I hate it!"

  • @markh5210
    @markh5210 Před 3 lety

    I used to work in a cinema which had powered curtains and masking. The curtains were a conventional cable mechanism with a motor turning the drum over which the cables were wound over. One night the cable came off the drum and got caught in its own mechanism- cutting the cable was the only option for staying open with an expensive repair job following.
    A 1990s theatre I do some work in (in normal times) had a powered curtain which has been decommissioned and is now manually flown.

  • @silverfilmsofficial
    @silverfilmsofficial Před 3 lety

    There arent many channels that make me stop whatever I'm doing to watch a video about curtain robots, in fact there's just one!

  • @realcundo
    @realcundo Před 3 lety +12

    I'd have loved it if it worked without an app/home automation. That's too much future for me. All I need is a timer to open curtains in the morning.

  • @tm06ufo
    @tm06ufo Před 3 lety +90

    When I hear: download an app and make an account... Not for me!

    • @IvorySoul696
      @IvorySoul696 Před 3 lety +5

      You literally downloaded an app and made an account to comment on this video...hypocrites are so annoying.

    • @OjStudios
      @OjStudios Před 3 lety +5

      Maybe not download an app but account creation is a must. But maybe it's the idea of creating more and more unnecessary accounts just to do one thing. If somebody really wants to "automate" things nowadays. Make "a thing" where you create an account with your real information and you can use that to login absolutely everywhere.

    • @Light-DelaBlue
      @Light-DelaBlue Před 3 lety +10

      @@IvorySoul696 and the day the companies die and server are down no automation anymore!

    • @lethauntic
      @lethauntic Před 3 lety +1

      Yeah, spending 5 minutes to make an account is far too much work.

    • @Light-DelaBlue
      @Light-DelaBlue Před 3 lety +6

      @@lethauntic is not the problème. The problème is the day the compagnie are gone your switch bot don't work anymore.

  • @Subgunman
    @Subgunman Před 3 lety

    I had the pleasure of working with 1" Ampex video tape machines back in the late sixties, they were a bit fragile and had continuos problems with the solenoid's used to switch between play and rewind modes. In the early sixties in high school I worked with Panasonic color VHS tape machines, reel to reel machines using the VHS format. The joys of reminiscing old technology!

  • @josephsager9425
    @josephsager9425 Před 3 lety

    I think you just solved the dumbest automation problem that I've been try to solve for months now.
    I bought a remote start for my car, but it doesn't have any auxiliary channels so it can't turn on my rear defogger. I've been trying to figure out how to wire a relay or something, but I could just tape one of these bots to my dash on the rear defogger button. And with Alexa integration with my remote start, I'll be able to create a scene that tells the remote starter to start and then actuates the bot to turn on the rear defogger.
    What a time to be alive!

  • @queegfivehundred8197
    @queegfivehundred8197 Před 3 lety +13

    I remember that Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em had one episode where Frank had all sorts of troubles with an automated house, which then had problems because of him.

    • @andrewgwilliam4831
      @andrewgwilliam4831 Před 3 lety +1

      I wish I'd watched that instead of "Demon Seed". 😫

    • @attentionaddicts
      @attentionaddicts Před 3 lety +1

      YES, the one with Betty's brother's house.
      "Oh my gawd, it's the ballcock"

  • @nutsnproud6932
    @nutsnproud6932 Před 3 lety +5

    Thanks for the video. In the 1970s families had free remote controls - the kids. I lost count the number of times I turned the TV channel over, turned lights on/off or made tea.

  • @hazeldavis3176
    @hazeldavis3176 Před 3 lety

    This would've been incredibly useful after my stroke. I can think of several disabled friends who would really benefit from this as well. ETA- I am thinking more about the switchbot than the curtains, but those would've been a nice addition.

  • @worldtraveler930
    @worldtraveler930 Před 3 lety +1

    Wow an entire episode about solutions looking for a problem! 😁

  • @rcajavus8141
    @rcajavus8141 Před 3 lety +4

    "One of those things that could be quite useful if I could find a use for it" story of my life :D

  • @PlanetRuncorn
    @PlanetRuncorn Před 3 lety +3

    hahah Love it, I always Remember Frank Spencer in the Home automation Episode where he broke everything, as soon as you started talking about the 70s and home automation this was the first thing that popped into my head ...

    • @greenaum
      @greenaum Před 3 lety

      Yep, in those days everything went bonkers and started chasing you round the house. Nowadays it just sits there, locked up, doing nothing.

  • @tahaistheboss98
    @tahaistheboss98 Před 3 lety

    This is very useful for elderly folks who can't get off the chair very easily to open or close the curtain

  • @MagellanicCosmos
    @MagellanicCosmos Před 3 lety

    Your content is top tier; you make literally anything interesting and your content is binge worthy.

  • @willyarma_uk
    @willyarma_uk Před 3 lety +46

    I'm a smart-home programmer and as long as there's a protocol document available then its cool, but usually these things are locked down and it makes it a total pain.

    • @superhavi
      @superhavi Před 3 lety +4

      The guys at iObroker have already figured out the switchbot switch thingy. It's just using BLE. The curtains will most likely do the same.

    • @willyarma_uk
      @willyarma_uk Před 3 lety +3

      Just had a look on github and theres a few things for this which is cool, but i meant my comment to be in general

    • @mjaerkens
      @mjaerkens Před 3 lety +5

      I'm so far down the rabbit hole I don't even want to be dependent on MQTT so I built my own tcp server to mediate between my homemade IoT devices.

    • @informativt
      @informativt Před 3 lety +1

      I would so love home automation if everything was following open standards and hubs where less internet dependent. And while I don't mind making my own stuff, it seems to be the only way to make it proper.

  • @mrburnz884
    @mrburnz884 Před 3 lety +20

    "She says it's like living in the house from Honey, I Shrunk The Kids. So there you go, that's another postive." 🤣

    • @cavemanvi
      @cavemanvi Před 3 lety +1

      Too bad he didn’t mention the battery life...

  • @jjthegreat1981
    @jjthegreat1981 Před 3 lety

    Wanted to put in my thanks for intentionally garbling "hey google". This attention to detail is most appreciated in a house full of assistant gadgets.

  • @reeffeeder
    @reeffeeder Před 3 lety +1

    I quite enjoyed the boring irrelevant intro, thanks!

  • @noelsherron
    @noelsherron Před 3 lety +4

    If you’re curious, the Nixie tube shot is from Colossus: the Forbin project

  • @FatNorthernBigot
    @FatNorthernBigot Před 3 lety +8

    Some old scifi ideas will never happen. I remember Jean Luc Picard saying "Computer! Play some jazz". Ridiculous!

    • @mrxmry3264
      @mrxmry3264 Před 3 lety +1

      tea, earl grey, hot.

    • @FatNorthernBigot
      @FatNorthernBigot Před 3 lety

      @@mrxmry3264 Make it so.

    • @DJ_Macphisto
      @DJ_Macphisto Před 3 lety

      What do you think Alexa or Google Assistant does? It's basically the same thing.

    • @FatNorthernBigot
      @FatNorthernBigot Před 3 lety +3

      @@DJ_Macphisto I thought the joke was obvious. I should have used some sort of humorous emoticon. Sorry.

    • @iansandwell4717
      @iansandwell4717 Před 3 lety

      There is always one

  • @toStringy
    @toStringy Před 3 lety +1

    Best video of yours yet. Hilarious!

  • @copescale9599
    @copescale9599 Před 3 lety

    HEY HEY HEY THOSE BORING IRRELEVANT INFOS IS WHY I WATCH YOUR CHANNEL! You do them so well

  • @Crispy_Bee
    @Crispy_Bee Před 3 lety +7

    I'd set it up so that everything only works when you first say "COMPUTER" and then it registers with the Star Trek: TNG-Computer Bleep.

    • @crispoman
      @crispoman Před 3 lety +2

      Make sure to put the microphone in the mouse, just to prove Scotty right.

  • @rivards1
    @rivards1 Před 3 lety +8

    And yet , all our nostalgia has not been able to will into existence sexy purple-haired Moonbase twins

  • @timalston
    @timalston Před 3 lety +1

    I have a very similar setup, and had a similar issue with friction stressing the motors (on closing, opening is less effort for them). A simple solution was to add a narrow strip of UHMW tape (Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) along the top of the curtain rod. Glides so smoothly now I'm sure it'll improve the battery life.

  • @antibodiesagainstkookery3871

    A few years ago we bought electric roller shutters for better security. I was concerned that we'd have difficulty waking up in the morning with the shutters blocking all light, so I phoned around until I found a company that could provide a timer remote control. So we would be awoken by the sound of the shutters coming up in the morning and the light streaming through the window.
    And I really was genuine in that, but the boyish part of me was suitably impressed by how futuristic it was when the shutters automatically opened at 7am! It was like the scifi movies and books I'd read!

  • @gandalfwiz20007
    @gandalfwiz20007 Před 3 lety +3

    "It's curtains for you Rocky, curtains!"
    - Bugs Bunny

  • @IOwnCalculus
    @IOwnCalculus Před 3 lety +64

    Pulling your phone out to move the drapes...
    ...a curtain call?
    I'll see myself out

  • @grandmaster1004
    @grandmaster1004 Před 3 lety

    Pleasantly surprised to see it actually works!

  • @chikkn
    @chikkn Před 3 lety

    You're videos are always so interesting thankyou for putting in all the effort and work it must take to make them

  • @OrgaNik_Music
    @OrgaNik_Music Před 3 lety +33

    So when their servers inevitably close down, those things become useless?

    • @mrxmry3264
      @mrxmry3264 Před 3 lety +25

      that's why i wouldn't use anything that depends on a server on the internet. if it can't happen locally, it ain't gonna happen.

    • @mfaizsyahmi
      @mfaizsyahmi Před 3 lety +9

      There will always be folks who would jailbreak the devices and hook them up to community-run servers, or better yet makes it so that you can host your own server. The spirit of tinkering will never die!

    • @tyrgoossens
      @tyrgoossens Před 3 lety +1

      As far as I can see the device itself is bluetooth and you only need the account to connect it to a voice assistant. A quick google shows that people have integrated it with Home Assistant, an open source program. Since it's just bluetooth I imagine any app will also keep working as long as your device is supported.

    • @reactking7093
      @reactking7093 Před 3 lety +2

      How would it be useless when it's a physical product. It isn't an app or a wifi only device. It literally gives you a physical remote. So yes you'd probably lose the voice feature worst case scenario.

    • @reactking7093
      @reactking7093 Před 3 lety +3

      @@tyrgoossens that's what I'm saying I see a lot of these paranoid comments that have no idea what their talking about.

  • @IJ_uk
    @IJ_uk Před 3 lety +3

    "1970s home of the future".... Well the ceiling fits that 100% 😂😂😂

  • @iamapopsicle9457
    @iamapopsicle9457 Před 3 lety

    That ceiling is just lovely : )

  • @jonsmith1271
    @jonsmith1271 Před 3 lety +1

    Great video (as usual ) welldone. I once bought 100 quid security camera which required pairing to the network hub via a mobile phone app. 2 years on, the app no longer worked on my phone, and the service provide of the camera changed terms and conditions of use - result 100 quid of stuff now useless. Lesson learnt was to never by stuff with requires apps, the Internet and specialist software.
    Thanks again - great video :)

  • @trig
    @trig Před 3 lety +4

    That noise was pretty awful, and did the curtains actually butt up together firmly or was there an annoying light gap?

    • @mrfoameruk
      @mrfoameruk Před 3 lety +2

      Great for a bedroom... The curtains open and the noise the motor make wakes you up like an alarm going off.

    • @awo1fman
      @awo1fman Před 3 lety

      Any gap doesn't have anything to do with this product. If the curtains don't have a gap when you close them by hand, they won't when you use this.

    • @eldonerc2524
      @eldonerc2524 Před 3 lety

      Would imagine that will depend on your setup. Where you program the stop/start.

  • @nixbuongiorno
    @nixbuongiorno Před 3 lety +13

    And the big question still is: Would Nadine Hurley want these?

    • @AndrewBehm
      @AndrewBehm Před 3 lety +1

      Far too noisy for her, I’m afraid

    • @DatBeastard
      @DatBeastard Před 3 lety +1

      Not quite as silent as she would like, I'd say.

  • @blackwatchbandstudio
    @blackwatchbandstudio Před 3 lety +1

    "Don't pay too much attention to my specific installation" is a dangerous phrase to use when showing a lightswitch like that. As an American, I've never seen anything quite like it

  • @fecundity10
    @fecundity10 Před 3 lety +1

    Wow somehow it was simultaneously interesting and mundane. Loving TechMoan's work as always.

  • @JackBealeGuitar
    @JackBealeGuitar Před 3 lety +4

    I love it except the app control, I much prefer some kind of remote that I could use that I know will work for the life of the device and not disappear from whatever app store, it also means you need to be glued to your phone to open the curtains. In five years times these will be useless when the app is no longer supported

    • @wendyokoopa7048
      @wendyokoopa7048 Před 3 lety

      Same also after an incident I heard about another smart controlled device having it's app hacked and areas of a certain kind getting held for ransom I'm afraid for my curtains

  • @VideosfromNH
    @VideosfromNH Před 3 lety +9

    In the future, I envision a toilet being controlled remotely. Say you went to work and forgot to flush. Of course, you'll need to create an online account for that functionality.

  • @edgardovigocastillo794

    I love your life style, leaving the past with the future at the same time, awesome!

  • @yusufh741
    @yusufh741 Před 3 lety +1

    Amazing Video Like Always ❤

  • @aaaaeeeeffffeeeekkkkssss
    @aaaaeeeeffffeeeekkkkssss Před 3 lety +5

    Can you do a video on a henry hoover? people outside the uk might not know what it is

    • @Ichijoe2112
      @Ichijoe2112 Před 3 lety

      Ya mean the bloke who made the vacuum cleaners?

    • @aaaaeeeeffffeeeekkkkssss
      @aaaaeeeeffffeeeekkkkssss Před 3 lety

      @@Ichijoe2112 i mean the henry hoover. not all hoovers have a face on them.

  • @VEC7ORlt
    @VEC7ORlt Před 3 lety +14

    Create an account to operate my curtain, aw hell naw.
    Sometimes smart is way too smart.

  • @arri275555
    @arri275555 Před 3 lety

    That was the Grip Department for the doors. Love your content 🤙🤙

  • @txm100
    @txm100 Před 3 lety

    Loved the intro :)

  • @okiwangko
    @okiwangko Před 3 lety +4

    10:22 Oh yeah, buy the Switchbot so you can control your switch with our switch, so you can switch off thing with our switch which switches the switch off.

  • @DavideCester
    @DavideCester Před 3 lety +11

    I got captured by the scenes on the screen at the beginning... that's "Colossus - The Forbin Project" (www.imdb.com/title/tt0064177/). That aestethics is so cool!

    • @kek23k
      @kek23k Před 3 lety

      Thanks for the recommendation, that's my movie for tonight sorted! :)

  • @_GALLINA
    @_GALLINA Před 3 lety

    I loved the premise!

  • @shanonshoffstall247
    @shanonshoffstall247 Před 3 lety

    Thanks for the info. I did not know about switchbot. I purchased a bot for my building door opener button. I had to trim 2 mm off the arm, and works great with the hub. Now I do not worry about forgetting my keys and getting locked out of my building.

  • @Ropetupa
    @Ropetupa Před 3 lety +18

    "Boring irrelevant intro"
    Passive aggressive has a new name, and it is Techmoan. :D

    • @aritakalo8011
      @aritakalo8011 Před 3 lety +4

      Well or just being british?

    • @Ropetupa
      @Ropetupa Před 3 lety +1

      @@aritakalo8011 same difference.

  • @joshuascholar3220
    @joshuascholar3220 Před 3 lety +9

    Wow, you've demonstrated that the IOT is every bit as absurd and clunky as I always thought it would be.

    • @mrxmry3264
      @mrxmry3264 Před 3 lety +1

      most people don't even think about security or privacy when they buy such things.

  • @peterkambasis
    @peterkambasis Před 3 lety

    Overall, a classic Techmoan episode right here.
    I think 10-11min is your sweet spot. Great details, great jokes. In and out like a good boy scout. Cheers!

  • @michealkenny
    @michealkenny Před 3 lety

    I used to have a towel heater switch at the very back of a full wardrobe and the Switchbot was great for putting it on a schedule and activating it remotely.