Building a Smart Home Without the Microphone
Listening isn’t all it’s cracked up to be
Smart speakers and smart home devices have become a staple of modern life, but for some, the “always listening” aspect is a major turn-off. Many of us have heard the urban legend that our smart devices are recording everything we say and selling our personal data on the black market. This isn’t entirely true, but the truth is worse. In reality, smart speakers are “always listening,” but for a specific wake word. Until that word is detected locally, no audio recording is being sent to an external server. The data usage of these devices is also a good indicator of whether they’re being used for recording. However, this doesn’t mean there are zero privacy issues. Smart speakers can activate by mistake, potentially as often as once an hour. A few seconds of recording every hour isn’t the same as constant surveillance, but if you don’t want to risk accidentally recording a particularly sensitive few seconds, there are alternatives.
Use Smart Displays for Full-Home Control
Most smart displays come with always-listening microphones, but these can usually be disabled. What you’re left with is a screen that you can customize with plenty of smart home controls that let you adjust lights, play music, or watch videos. Smart displays like the Google Nest Hub or the Amazon Echo Show have physical switches that will disable the microphone, preventing any audio recordings, even locally. Some smart displays also come with physical camera shutters, which can be useful for disabling the camera as well. For example, my Lenovo Smart Display has a physical slider to block the camera, which is a nice touch. Using a smart display for full-home control can be a great alternative to smart speakers. With a screen, you can customize your smart home devices and adjust settings without relying on voice commands. Most smart displays also have a more straightforward interface, making it easier to navigate and control your devices.
Customize Your Smartphone with Even More Shortcuts
Smart displays are nice for one central control unit, but the convenience of voice-activated assistants is that you can reach them from anywhere. However, if you’re already glued to your phone, you might not need much more than that to control an entire smart home. Android and iOS both support customizable smart home widgets, even from your lock screen. With a little tweaking, you can give yourself a panel to quickly turn on or off every gadget you own. For example, I have a collection of shortcuts from the Philips Hue app on a page of my home screen. However, the Google Home app also has its own shortcuts widget that you can customize with whole-room control that encompasses multiple different device categories. You can also use voice commands on your phone to control your smart home devices. Gemini on Android and Siri on iOS both support smart home commands, and usually the exact same ones that you would use on their respective smart speakers. On Android, Gemini has a much better understanding of both time and natural-language commands. You can set Gemini to be your default voice assistant and use it to control your smart home’s devices. Gemini’s ‘Saved Info’ feature is also a handy tool for tying multiple commands together into a single shortcut.
Use Voice Commands on Your Phone That You Control
If you don’t want to give up on voice controls entirely, you can use your phone instead of a smart speaker. Gemini on Android and Siri on iOS both support smart home commands, and usually the exact same ones that you would use on their respective smart speakers. Using your phone to control your smart home devices can be a more convenient and private option. With Gemini, for example, you can set it as your default voice assistant and use it to control your smart home devices. Gemini’s ‘Saved Info’ feature is also a handy tool for tying multiple commands together into a single shortcut. Additionally, you can still use a smart speaker without the microphone. Most smart speakers have a mute button that can be used to disable the microphone. This doesn’t mean that the speaker won’t work at all, but it will prevent any accidental recording. In conclusion, building a smart home without the microphone is possible. By using smart displays, customizing your smartphone with shortcuts, and using voice commands on your phone, you can create a smart home that is convenient and private. It may require a little more effort and creativity, but the end result is worth it.