How many connected devices do you have at home?
Five years ago, I wrote that I had 30 connected devices at home. How has that changed over the last half-decade?
Some of my devices have consolidated. My Eufy security cameras have a hub - so despite having more cameras, They're using fewer IP addresses. Similarly, I've replaced most of my LIFX bulbs with Zigbee which also use a hub-and-spoke model.
So these are the devices I currently have connected:
- Video Doorbell
- Solar Battery
- LIFX bulb in external light
- Security camera
- EInk display
- Alexa
- Robot vacuum cleaner / mop
- TV
- Android TV box
- Amazon Fire TV stick
- Chromecast
- Internet Connected Record Player (yes! Really!)
- PS4
- Nintendo Switch
- AV Amplifier
- Another Alexa
- Home server
- Eufy Cameras Hub
- Philips Hue Light Hub
- Internal LIFX bulb
- Smart heating control
- Office TV
- Wife's work laptop
- Wife's personal laptop
- Wife's phone
- My work laptop
- My personal laptop
- My phone
- My tablet
- Power strip
- Lifx lamp
- Internet connected plasma ball
- Gym TV
- Another robot vacuum cleaner
- Internet connected electric blanket (my side)
- Internet connected electric blanket (her side)
- Solar panel inverter
We have a lot of smarthome kit! I've probably forgotten some. And I haven't counted my various Raspberries Pi and obsolete computers. But we're only a family of two. Larger families are likely to have more phones, tablets, and many other devices.
Is the future the "hub" model? Most of these devices don't need a power-hungry WiFi connection. Keep the airwaves clear for high-bandwidth devices and move everything to ZigBee or similar?
Either way, the number of devices in a typical home is only going to increase. What do we need to do to prepare for that?
Alex Gibson says:
Paul Webster says: