Are these connected home gadgets smart or stupid?

Call me old-fashioned, but at times I can be skeptical of smart home gadgets. I like staring at my phone as much as the next guy, but I’ve grown accustomed to doing certain things non-digitally—and I’m not always easily convinced that should change. I’m also highly critical of any smart item that makes a task, well, more difficult, or creates a solution for a problem that doesn’t exist.
I guess I’m sort of known around the office for voicing my opinions about these things. So that’s why I found myself heading out to the show floor at the International Home and Housewares Show this year with a list of connected gadgets that my editor thought I should take a look at. Next to one of his suggestions, he’d written “Kori hates it, so I think she should check it out in person, haha.”
Haha indeed, Mr. Editor, Sir! My mission was clear, my mind open. I’d check out this smart home nonsense and we’d see who had the last laugh.
Oh yes, we’d see.
Source: smarthome.reviewed