Totally relate to this. I've had similar issues with voice control—especially when there's background noise or multiple people talking. Plus, sometimes simpler tech consumes less standby power, making it more energy-efficient overall... something worth considering.
Interesting point about standby power, but is voice control really that much less efficient? I mean, newer devices are getting smarter with energy-saving modes. Personally, I find voice commands handy when my hands are full—like carrying lumber or paint cans around the house. Sure, it gets awkward sometimes (especially when guests think you're talking to them...), but isn't a bit of awkwardness worth the convenience in certain situations?
You make a good point about convenience—voice commands definitely have their moments. I've had my fair share of awkward encounters too, like when I was setting up a client's living room and casually asked the TV to turn on some music. The client thought I was talking to them and started suggesting playlists... took us both a minute to realize what was happening. Pretty funny in hindsight.
But from an efficiency standpoint, even with smarter energy-saving modes, voice-controlled devices still draw a bit more power than traditional remotes or manual switches. It's not huge, but it adds up over time, especially if you've got multiple smart devices around the house. I recently read an article that compared standby power usage across different smart home gadgets, and voice assistants were consistently higher than simpler remote-controlled devices. Not a deal-breaker by any means, but something worth considering if you're aiming for maximum energy efficiency.
Personally, I think it's about finding the right balance. Convenience matters, especially when your hands are full or messy (paint-covered fingers and remotes don't mix well—trust me). But if you're looking to minimize your home's energy footprint, maybe limit voice control to specific rooms or situations where it really shines. Or just embrace the occasional awkwardness as part of modern life... after all, who hasn't accidentally triggered their assistant mid-conversation at least once?
Haha, your story about the client suggesting playlists made me chuckle—I had something similar happen. I was hanging curtains in a client's home, and without thinking said, "Hey, can you turn up the lights?" The homeowner immediately jumped up to adjust the dimmer switch manually... took us both a sec to realize I was talking to their smart speaker. Awkward moment for sure.
"paint-covered fingers and remotes don't mix well—trust me"
So true, especially when you're juggling fabric samples or wallpaper paste. Convenience definitely has its perks despite the energy trade-off.
Haha, been there myself—voice commands are great until someone else thinks you're talking to them. At least your client was quick on the draw with the dimmer... beats awkward silence and blank stares any day.
