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  3. Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs.

Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs.

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ownyourdata
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  • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

    Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

    I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

    He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

    The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

    #OwnYourData

    recyclist@toot.communityR This user is from outside of this forum
    recyclist@toot.communityR This user is from outside of this forum
    recyclist@toot.community
    wrote last edited by
    #6

    @stefano We have a wireless alarm system that just makes a noise, I rejected the SIM option as I wondered what I was going to do if it alerted me when I was hundreds of miles away.

    The company don't offer this any more, a SIM system is mandatory, and you have to pay extra annually to cover the SIM costs.

    1 Reply Last reply
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    • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

      Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

      I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

      He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

      The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

      #OwnYourData

      nuintari@mastodon.bsd.cafeN This user is from outside of this forum
      nuintari@mastodon.bsd.cafeN This user is from outside of this forum
      nuintari@mastodon.bsd.cafe
      wrote last edited by
      #7
      This post is deleted!
      1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

        Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

        I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

        He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

        The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

        #OwnYourData

        tarabara@indieweb.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
        tarabara@indieweb.socialT This user is from outside of this forum
        tarabara@indieweb.social
        wrote last edited by
        #8

        @stefano We are losing ground to people who lack foresight and patience.

        I experience this all the time with bright, well-meaning people who run full speed with the first viable solution but never stop to play through the long-term and/or complex scenarios.

        1 Reply Last reply
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        • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

          Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

          I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

          He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

          The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

          #OwnYourData

          paet@social.tchncs.deP This user is from outside of this forum
          paet@social.tchncs.deP This user is from outside of this forum
          paet@social.tchncs.de
          wrote last edited by
          #9

          @stefano

          A few years ago, my brother bought an electric awning. He was really excited about it because, apart from the power connection, no additional switches needed to be installed. This awning doesn’t offer that option either.
          Once set up, it connects to the home Wi-Fi and can be controlled from anywhere in the world via an app. Great! Right?
          Unfortunately, the manufacturer hasn’t updated the app in so long that it no longer works on the phone.
          The awning is now stuck closed and is just electronic waste...

          1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • s1m0n4@ohai.socialS s1m0n4@ohai.social

            @stefano the main issue is that often there's no possibility of choice.
            If you don't want an alarm system relying on the cloud, soon you won't be able to install an alarm system at all.

            It's what I hate the most about our times.
            Everyone conforms to what most people do. I assume this is a drawback due to data availability and analysis, and marketing strategies adapting through those data.

            T This user is from outside of this forum
            T This user is from outside of this forum
            theolodian@mastodon.social
            wrote last edited by
            #10

            @s1m0n4 @stefano yeah, if we replace our alarm it will be by building my own alarm using Home Assistant. That’s not accessible for the vast majority of people. Even for me it will take years to get around to doing it.

            raymaccarthy@mastodon.ieR 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • R relay@relay.publicsquare.global shared this topic
            • mu@mastodon.nzM mu@mastodon.nz

              @stefano

              It can get pretty bad

              https://spectrum.ieee.org/bionic-eye-obsolete

              frischling@wehavecookies.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
              frischling@wehavecookies.socialF This user is from outside of this forum
              frischling@wehavecookies.social
              wrote last edited by
              #11

              @mu @stefano yeah, I often think about company. They did a good invention, went belly up, and then what? You have to sue them to be able to maybe see again? No way.

              1 Reply Last reply
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              • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                #OwnYourData

                bewo001@darmstadt.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                bewo001@darmstadt.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                bewo001@darmstadt.social
                wrote last edited by
                #12

                @stefano many telcos have migrated their SMS infrastructure to the cloud as well.

                1 Reply Last reply
                0
                • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                  Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                  I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                  He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                  The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                  #OwnYourData

                  maya_b@hachyderm.ioM This user is from outside of this forum
                  maya_b@hachyderm.ioM This user is from outside of this forum
                  maya_b@hachyderm.io
                  wrote last edited by
                  #13

                  @stefano

                  sigh. reminds me of a project I inherited where through a comedy of errors and wishful thinking, there was no way mobile data was going to work given the then current constraints.

                  so, I made the entire client/server control interaction work with SMS messages instead.

                  It wasn't a consumer application so we were the "cloud" anyway, but in the end the SMS system worked better as it was more reliable than the available mobile data.

                  plus, if the underlying system that supports SMS isn't available, you definitely aren't getting mobile data - and it doesn't care what level of 'G' you're on 2, 2.5, 5... whatever. Given that 3G has been switched off in a lot of areas already, anything 3G is now dead to the world too. SMS isn't though.

                  1 Reply Last reply
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                  • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                    Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                    I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                    He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                    The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                    #OwnYourData

                    pmb00cs@mastodon.onlineP This user is from outside of this forum
                    pmb00cs@mastodon.onlineP This user is from outside of this forum
                    pmb00cs@mastodon.online
                    wrote last edited by
                    #14

                    @stefano too many people plan for how things work when everything is functioning as it should. Not enough people see the need to plan for how things work when everything is falling apart.

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • T theolodian@mastodon.social

                      @s1m0n4 @stefano yeah, if we replace our alarm it will be by building my own alarm using Home Assistant. That’s not accessible for the vast majority of people. Even for me it will take years to get around to doing it.

                      raymaccarthy@mastodon.ieR This user is from outside of this forum
                      raymaccarthy@mastodon.ieR This user is from outside of this forum
                      raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie
                      wrote last edited by
                      #15

                      @theolodian @s1m0n4 @stefano
                      Why not simpler? Wires, siren, sensors / magnet reed switches, lamp and battery UPS controller using even just a relay & key-switch? Or simple mpu (PIC18F) if display, keypad and zone needed.

                      Edit:
                      My son did a demo one with a 555 timer, for exit delay, on a model with a door, window (reed switches + magnets) key-switch for school.
                      Anti-tamper 4 wire is simple.

                      T 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                        Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                        I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                        He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                        The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                        #OwnYourData

                        xs4me2@mastodon.socialX This user is from outside of this forum
                        xs4me2@mastodon.socialX This user is from outside of this forum
                        xs4me2@mastodon.social
                        wrote last edited by
                        #16

                        @stefano

                        True indeed...

                        1 Reply Last reply
                        0
                        • raymaccarthy@mastodon.ieR raymaccarthy@mastodon.ie

                          @theolodian @s1m0n4 @stefano
                          Why not simpler? Wires, siren, sensors / magnet reed switches, lamp and battery UPS controller using even just a relay & key-switch? Or simple mpu (PIC18F) if display, keypad and zone needed.

                          Edit:
                          My son did a demo one with a 555 timer, for exit delay, on a model with a door, window (reed switches + magnets) key-switch for school.
                          Anti-tamper 4 wire is simple.

                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          T This user is from outside of this forum
                          theolodian@mastodon.social
                          wrote last edited by
                          #17

                          @raymaccarthy @s1m0n4 @stefano the OP was on about notifications, way beyond me to DIY those. You can get ESP32 alarm control boards ready made, and then you can connect them into HA for the advanced functions. Then you can also integrate any other HA sensors, etc. Looks far easier than rolling your own from scratch. Even so it will have been at least 5 years before I actually get around to it.

                          hackbyte@joinfriendica.deH 1 Reply Last reply
                          0
                          • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                            Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                            I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                            He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                            The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                            #OwnYourData

                            lemgandi@mastodon.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
                            lemgandi@mastodon.socialL This user is from outside of this forum
                            lemgandi@mastodon.social
                            wrote last edited by
                            #18

                            @stefano First you sell your soul. Then the company that bought it goes under.

                            1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                              Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                              I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                              He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                              The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                              #OwnYourData

                              bms48@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                              bms48@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                              bms48@mastodon.social
                              wrote last edited by
                              #19

                              @stefano http://infrastructures.org/ is still a thing, but I missed the tower-like sea structure graphic they had up

                              1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                                Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                                I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                                He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                                The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                                #OwnYourData

                                beatpoet13@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                beatpoet13@mastodon.socialB This user is from outside of this forum
                                beatpoet13@mastodon.social
                                wrote last edited by
                                #20

                                @stefano
                                all my Life people laugh sayin I got my head inda clouds, now them's got their businesses, memories n contacts there, while da heavier da clouds get, da harder da rains onda rising plains ...

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                                  Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                                  I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                                  He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                                  The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                                  #OwnYourData

                                  kevin@mastodon.km6g.usK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kevin@mastodon.km6g.usK This user is from outside of this forum
                                  kevin@mastodon.km6g.us
                                  wrote last edited by
                                  #21

                                  @stefano The landscaper we used to use installed Nest irrigation controllers because they were 'smart' and 'connected'. Then Google acquired Nest and the product line was discontinued, the cloud service was shut down in a few months, and those controllers could no longer be managed or monitored.

                                  1 Reply Last reply
                                  0
                                  • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                                    Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                                    I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                                    He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                                    The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                                    #OwnYourData

                                    rik_dhuyvetters@mastodon.onlineR This user is from outside of this forum
                                    rik_dhuyvetters@mastodon.onlineR This user is from outside of this forum
                                    rik_dhuyvetters@mastodon.online
                                    wrote last edited by
                                    #22

                                    @stefano Vorwerk recently discontinued the cloud services for their Neato vacuum robots, bricking tens of thousands of 500€+ devices.

                                    stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • s1m0n4@ohai.socialS s1m0n4@ohai.social

                                      @stefano the main issue is that often there's no possibility of choice.
                                      If you don't want an alarm system relying on the cloud, soon you won't be able to install an alarm system at all.

                                      It's what I hate the most about our times.
                                      Everyone conforms to what most people do. I assume this is a drawback due to data availability and analysis, and marketing strategies adapting through those data.

                                      madcannedtuna@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      madcannedtuna@mastodon.socialM This user is from outside of this forum
                                      madcannedtuna@mastodon.social
                                      wrote last edited by
                                      #23

                                      @s1m0n4 @stefano idk. I’m still installing Napco alarms which they haven’t changed their design in god knows how long. Still comes with a POTS line out, and if you want to use cellular or mesh radio dialing you just put it on the POTS line out.

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      0
                                      • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                                        Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                                        I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                                        He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                                        The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                                        #OwnYourData

                                        aosmith16@hachyderm.ioA This user is from outside of this forum
                                        aosmith16@hachyderm.ioA This user is from outside of this forum
                                        aosmith16@hachyderm.io
                                        wrote last edited by
                                        #24

                                        @stefano
                                        This is one of my big concerns with a battery we just had installed to go with our existing solar panels. The app for the panels was so we could check on efficiency but the battery is entirely app driven. Not that we had many options for our particular panels due to some foibles (and a bankrupt company), but very not ideal.

                                        1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafeS stefano@mastodon.bsd.cafe

                                          Yesterday, one of the younger electricians was telling me about the beauty of the new alarm systems he installs. While acknowledging the quality of my current one, he said, "It uses a SIM card and calls you. The new ones are 4G or Wi-Fi and use the cloud, so notifications go straight to your smartphone, it's not calling anymore."

                                          I asked him, "And what if the cloud stops working? Why should I have to depend on the company’s cloud to receive alerts from my alarm? My alarm is 10 years old and works perfectly. Can you say with certainty that the company’s cloud will still be effective 10 years from now?"

                                          He looked puzzled for a moment, then admitted he had never thought about it.

                                          The real problem is that people do not realize what this means until things actually happen.

                                          #OwnYourData

                                          fiar_light@beige.partyF This user is from outside of this forum
                                          fiar_light@beige.partyF This user is from outside of this forum
                                          fiar_light@beige.party
                                          wrote last edited by
                                          #25

                                          @stefano Silly! The Cloud is forever!

                                          Why, just look up at that gray sky and you'll see what I mean!!

                                          And ever!
                                          /s

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