House-sitting for millenials

That reminds me of the time I was writing the software to control the air conditioner (both in the wall thermostats and on the web), and my wife yelled at me because she couldn't figure out how to make the house cooler.

New general rule: if your wife can't figure out how to use it, you've failed.

probably fake.

but I did see a young woman walk right into a convenience store door once, because she thought it would open automatically.

She was Asian, though, looked like not a native so I don't really blame her. I blame America for being less technologically sophisticated than Bulgaria.

Conversely, years ago I saw a middle-aged lady walk backwards out onto the pavement (=sidewalk) because her hands were full and she expected to have to open the shop door with her back (but didn't!)...

Mike.

Of course the fact that she wasn't watching where she was going was of no consequence.

Only a lefty would think Bulgaria was in Asia.

There is an expectation thing, too. My wife was sitting in the cold because she said she didn't know how to turn up the smart thermostat. "Here, twist this thingy (grabs big ring on thermostat) and this needle thing points to the temperature and these numbers...". She expected it to be hard but it was just like any other.

DaveC:

I will never for as long as i live allow "apps" to control anything in my house!

Apples and oranges. The woman was Asian. Bulgaria is a small eastern European nation not known for its technical prowess. Only a pinfeather reactionary would confuse the issue and attempt to mix a metaphor based on that confusion.

We have switches, but a smart thermostat with an outside air sensor. The boiler will vary output water temperature as well, making for very steady interior temperatures in cold weather. Basic feedback devices, nothing much special.

Peter Wieck Melrose Park, PA

Hear! Hear! I look at devices for the IoT and how your home can be controlled while you are away, and how the doors unlock when you are close enough and so on an then I think about how easy stuff is to hack. Eric