I recently learned about Home Assistant here on Lemmy. It looks like a replacement for Google Home, etc. However, it requires an entire hardware installation. Proprietary products just use a simple app to manage and control devices, so can someone explain why a pretty robust dedicated device is necessary as a replacement? The base model has a quad core processor, 4 gigs of ram, and a 32 gig hard drive. Admittedly it’s no gaming PC, but it’s no arduino either.

What actually happens when I turn on a smart switch in my home? Does that command have to be sent to a server somewhere to be processed? What really has to be processed, and why can’t a smartphone app do it?

Edit: I am still getting new replies to this (which are appreciated!), but I wanted to share what I’ve learned from those who have posted already. I fundamentally misunderstood how smart switches work. I had very wrongly assumed that when my phone is connected to the WiFi, it sends a signal over the local network to toggle the switch, which is connected to the same network, and it turns on/off. While there are technologies that work like this (zigbee, kinda?), most smart home devices rely on a cloud server to communicate the signal. This enables features like using the switches from outside the home network, automation, voice controls, etc. The remote server is what’s being replaced.

  • wowwoweowza@lemmy.ml
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    6 months ago

    That’s true. It doesn’t.

    I like the idea that some folks have entirely private systems run by raspberry-pi. That sounds fun.

    But what can it do more easily than an mid 20th century home can do?

    • d2k1@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      6 months ago

      But what can it do more easily than an mid 20th century home can do?

      One word: Automations. Everything from lights to irrigation, HVAC to surveillance cameras, fishtanks to plant monitoring, managed by a single, extensible open source platform, hosted locally in your own home.

      Of course that is not trivial. If you don’t see your smart home as a hobby you enjoy putting time and effort into then the smart home scene is not for you, especially not Home Assistant.

      Sounds like you are in a fine place with your home, so you are probably not the target audience here.

      • wowwoweowza@lemmy.ml
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        6 months ago

        Nope. Just like living. Not sure what all the hoo-haw’s about. Never felt so old in my life.

        Who doesn’t like hand feeding the fish? Why even have them?

    • thejevans@lemmy.ml
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      6 months ago

      Also, notifications. I’m a fairly forgetful person, so I set up notifications to let me know if I left windows open or devices on before I go to bed or leave for work.