Local control - the most important feature

Smart home products have changed how we live, making our homes smarter and more comfortable. However, when picking these devices, it's important to think about whether they can work on their own, without needing the internet. This is called local control. After 20 years working with smart home systems, I've experienced the headaches from choosing products that require Internet access. Hands down, local control is a better choice for homeowners.

Local control is the ability of smart home devices to operate independently of the internet or a remote server. This means that commands are processed directly on the device, within a local network, rather than being relayed through a cloud service.

Here are several reasons why products offering local control stand out as a superior choice for any smart home setup.

Privacy:

Possibly the most compelling advantage of local control is privacy. With data processing and storage happening locally, sensitive information, like your daily routines or usage patterns, does not leave your home. This sharply contrasts with cloud-reliant devices, which send data to external servers, some in unfriendly or hostile countries, raising concerns about who has access to this information and how it might be used or potentially misused.

Reliability:

Devices that operate on local control are inherently more reliable. They are not subject to the whims of internet outages or delays in cloud processing. In scenarios where an internet connection is weak or unavailable, locally controlled devices continue to function seamlessly, ensuring your smart home always remains responsive and dependable.

Security: The security of smart home devices is paramount. With local control, the risk of external hacking attempts is significantly reduced since the system does not rely on the internet for basic operations. Additionally, local networks can be secured with robust encryption, making it more difficult for unauthorized access to occur.

Autonomy:

Locally controlled devices offer users more autonomy over their smart home ecosystem. You're not tied to the operational changes, subscription models, or privacy policies of a third party. This independence allows for a more customizable and stable smart home environment that adapts to your needs, not the other way around.

Longevity:

Perhaps one of the most practical reasons for choosing locally controlled smart home products is their longevity. The reality of the tech industry is that companies can and do go out of business. When a vendor reliant on cloud services shuts down, their products can become obsolete overnight, leaving users with expensive paperweights. In contrast, locally controlled devices are not dependent on the continued existence of any external service, ensuring that they continue to work indefinitely, regardless of the vendor's status.

Further, a company that is going strong can decide to stop supporting older products. Several prominent US brands stop turn off access to their products after 4 or 5 years pass, even though the devices still work as expected. This is a particularly despicable practice. Doing business with these companies is the same as renting - if the manufacturer can turn off your product on a whim, you DON'T own it.

While cloud-connected smart home devices may be attractive, the benefits of local control are undeniable. For anyone considering smart home tech, it's crucial to weigh these advantages. Privacy, reliability, security, longevity, and autonomy are not buzzwords but essential features that locally controlled smart home products offer. Over decades, I've seen the positive impact these features have on consumer satisfaction and peace of mind, making products with local control an exceptional choice for any smart home.