from Hacker News

Dealing the Infuriating, Overwhelming and Unwanted Smart Tech in My Hotel Room

by lisasays on 7/18/23, 4:34 PM with 19 comments

  • by Lutzb on 7/18/23, 8:43 PM

    The reverse happened to me in a hotel room lately. Everything was touch controlled from two panels panel next to the bed: lights in the bathroom, floor, bar, bedroom, kitchenette, indirect (colored) mood lighting, the tv, the blinds, everything but the AC.

    Except, I could not figure out how to turn on the reading lamp on the bed-stand. What followed was a reverse UX drill-down. I tried every element and combination on the bed panel and the touch switches next to the door. (confusing everyone looking at my hotel window from the outside). Following the wires to a standard AC plug, I concluded it might not be operated by the touch panels. Just to be sure I unplugged it and plugged it in on the desk outlets. Nothing. So maybe some kind of touch activation in the base? Nothing. Do I need to touch it longer? Nope. Maybe touching the lamp shade? No, nothing again. Some kind of ring element to twist on the lamp arm? No, that's really just a nut to fasten the lamp arm. Maybe there was a pull wire that got ripped off? No. Sigh. I give up, maybe its just broken.

    Next day I figured out it was a unmarked black flip switch, flush on the opposite side of the black metal base.

  • by tssva on 7/18/23, 5:45 PM

    The author tries to make this an age issue. Young travelers love the technology and older travelers don't. I'm not sure where she thinks the cutoff point is. She makes sure to point out that one fan is 33, so that is below whatever she thinks the cutoff point is. My fiancee is 39 and doesn't love all the technology when we stay at hotels. I find it convenient and appreciate it. I'm 54.

  • by lockhouse on 7/18/23, 8:38 PM

    Honestly, I could use with more smart tech in my hotel experiences.

    Why can't my hotel chain of choice's app let me do the following all within the app:

    - Book the room

    - Check in (geo-locate to verify if necessary)

    - Be my room key

    - Be my TV remote

    - Help me pay for any additional purchases I make (over the counter medicine, toiletries I forgot, mini bar, room service)

    - Let me request extra towels/pillows/etc.

    - Check out

    My ideal hotel stay would involve very minimal interaction with humans.

  • by 8n4vidtmkvmk on 7/18/23, 10:34 PM

    I've stayed in both ends of the spectrum on my current holiday. One place let me control the color of the lights and every thing was digital. Like the author, it was annoying to decipher what I needed to swipe or tap to turn the damn lights off after being exhausted from a long trip. Wasn't as bad in the morning when I had a minute to decipher it but completely unnecessary.

    Another place gave us a metal key. You left it with the front staff when you went out and they gave it back to you when you returned. We thought it'd be annoying at first but they're very quick to do so, nice when they remember you and hand it over immediately.

    My current hotel is a happy medium. Not too much technology, but extremely comfortable. Front staff is kind and helpful. Telephone in the room if you need to reach them and WhatsApp too if you prefer texting them.

    Anyway, I agree with the author. Don't make me think after a long trip.

  • by genpfault on 7/18/23, 5:37 PM

  • by scrum-treats on 7/18/23, 4:40 PM

    Surveillance -- it's everywhere.

  • by 8n4vidtmkvmk on 7/18/23, 10:40 PM

    One more trend I hate.. touch panels on elevators instead of buttons. My current hotel the "buttons" are so finicky you have to press with like the entirety of your thumb for like 3 seconds in exactly the right location for it to activate.

    My wife and I were fiddling with it for a minute trying to go down and a cleaning staff noticed us struggling, came over, and then it took him 20 seconds to trigger it too! Tried using his knuckle to trigger it. C'mon!

  • by dvngnt_ on 7/18/23, 8:39 PM

    the worst I've seen is a hotel in NY that only had one network that all rooms connected to but also had Google cast TVs

    so in my google home application I could see the titles of all the other rooms and control it remotely

  • by francisofascii on 7/18/23, 8:00 PM

    Sounds like poor UX design all around. Some of these companies seem to be grasping a straws to be innovative and "new". Something the best solution is the easiest one. A $1 toggle switch, for example.