I agree. Much like software, I like to wait for the beta and RTM versions to run for at least a year or two before buying. Let some services packs and bug fixes release before jumping on the bandwagon. Otherwise, I feel like a guinea pig...
I heard and read about the smart grid, appliances and technology about an year ago. What fascinated me was the ability to be able to save money and energy by using these appliances. But i will think twice before i throw away my old but still running washing machine/fridge for some smart applicance, which is still untested. It is for sure a potential market for the appliances but i do not see much growth until the industry/government standards are in place. Another big problem will be of privacy protection, as is currently the case with internet, phones and mobiles.
Thanks Hwong. I would imagine utilities have a lot to protect in addition to their investment--I'm sure they are a target for eco and/or terrorist attacks as well. I'll admit I wouldn't expect utilities to be so security-conscious, but I'm glad to hear they are.
Smart meter implementations by utility often emphasize on security. Utility care very much about this hence they are investing alot of money for products like IBM's datapower in between the communication network. That way people cannot hack into the grid. It works just like the way you type your credit card number online and they ensure that it is safe. I wouldn't worry too much about security as utilities pay highest priority to security
Dave--thanks. I didn't know that, but it would make sense. Such an activity would benefit the utilites companies and hurt consumers. I agree--let's hope the utilitiy companies pay attention.
An anecdote from here in Mass.: A nearby city's water-use monitoring system was flawed from the get-go and consumers were getting under-billed for water for years. Suddenly, the city realized this and updated the bills--to the tune of $100K in some cases. Residents were told they should have been aware their water bills were too low and to pay up.
Security experts already have stated and proven that the new “smart” utility meters that are being rolled out to homes and that are eventually supposed to connect to the “smart” grid are vulnerable to hacking.They have already proven that the meters can be reprogrammed to allow intrusions.Hackers would be able to raise a homeowner’s power bill and can also allow hackers to turn on and off power at will.The security experts have brought these vulnerabilities to the attention of the utility companies. Let's hope they listen.
Well, as of today we are very close to definition Barbara reported below; just to give you an example, recently Stanford has studied flu propagation; researchers have provided people with a personal sensor which was doable to report periodically health parameters' status via hot spot wireless connection hanged up by each one time-to-time.
Great discussion folks! Here's how IMS and GE define "smart:"
Note 1) IMS Research uses the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturer’s definition of smart appliances: “a product which has the capability to receive, interpret and act on a signal received from a home energy management system, utility, or third party energy service provider, and automatically adjust its operation depending on the signal's contents and settings from the owner”.
I'm not sure that smart appliances or the smart grid is any more susceptible to hacking than any other utility or network. I think in this case "smart" will be limited to the ability to read and communicate back and forth on the grid. In terms of appliances, I'm not overly concerned about security but it is a good questions readers raise: if the appliances are hooked by computer into a smart grid network, can access be gained through a back door we can't even imagine yet?
Smart home is what everyone would like to have but problem is everyone's definition of smart would be different. But yes in households where kids are all grown up and husband wife both work, smart home idea really works fine. Its been a while that smart home idea is reavolving around but no real action has happened. I guess it would be great if everyone can afford robots who can be programmed as desired remotely...
prabhakar_deosthaligot the point, what exactly is smart? from comments so far, its obvious that we see it differently.
Barbara is definatley talking about smart in terms smart energy management and control, but that is not all that smart is about.
Truely, until the grid gets smart, advanced smart energy management will not be possible, but within a home, there is a lot of "smart" that can be put into things.
Advanced sensors and home energy meansurment systems can help a home user manage energy efficiently, which is smart enough.
The Zigbee alliance is really paving the way for this, with an IEEE protocol for smart home automation, smart metering and remote control of appliances.
We should be seeing alot of smart getting into homes in coming years even before the grid gets smart.
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Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
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