For me it’s about comfort and security and it’s all about automation rather than what I can control through an app on my phone or via voice command. Blinds open an 8:00 am, close in the afternoon. Outside lights turn on 10 minutes before sunset and off at 11:00 but on for 10 minutes if motion is detected on the deck or front porch. Turn on closet lights when motion is detected and off 2 mins when motion stops. Spam me and my wife with texts when water is detected in the furnace room.
Automation is what makes a house a smart home IMO and you need a hub for that. One that works locally rather than all in the cloud like Google and Alexa which are not really smarthome hubs. Alexa has come pretty far with routines though, don’t know much about Google home.
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