Newsletter Archives

• ‘Matter’ wants to talk to all your devices. Should you talk back?

  Posted on March 21, 2022 at 02:43 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  The most exciting development coming in wireless connectivity this year was quite the rage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January. Since all the cool names were already taken, the new technology is called simply “Matter,” and it promises to unite the devices in your home or office that you can talk to — and which may even talk back.

  The platform isn’t the brainstorm of some garage startup. It’s being brought to the market by heavyweights such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and many other household names. They’re united under an umbrella organization called the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), which includes more than 400 companies. At first glance, that’s an impressive exercise in herding cats.

  Read the full story in our Plus Newsletter (19.12.0, 2022-03-21).

  Public Defender IoT, Newsletters, Public Defender, safety, Smart Devices, Smart home

• Have a smart home? A company may change your thermostat.

  Posted on June 28, 2021 at 02:43 CDT by B. Livingston • Comment in the Forums

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  PUBLIC DEFENDER

  

  By Brian Livingston

  You may be surprised to learn that installing “smart home” devices could mean that a private company can turn your thermostat up and down — no matter what setting you thought you had entered.

  As parts of the US swelter in a heat wave — Houston hit a blistering 95°F (35°C) on June 19 — area residents reported to local station KHOU-TV that energy companies had remotely raised their thermostats from 74°F to 78°F without their knowledge.

  Read the full story in the AskWoody Plus Newsletter 18.24.0 (2021-06-28).

  AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Public Defender AskWoody Plus Newsletter, Electricity, Public Defender, Public Utilities, Smart home

• The dangers of home “smart” devices

  Posted on February 9, 2017 at 08:13 CST by woody • Comment in the Forums

  Good overview in the IoT forum, from MrJimPhelps.

  Read it twice before you install a new smart thermostat – or light bulb….

  Other Smart home