M0010.003 - Smart Automation
Smart Automation
- Utilizing advanced automation tools like IFTTT, smart home systems, and smart appliances to streamline daily tasks and improve efficiency.
- Smart automation allows for the customization and integration of various devices and services, enabling a seamless, automated environment that reduces manual intervention.
- These technologies can simplify routine activities, enhance comfort, and improve the overall management of home and work environments by automating tasks based on specific triggers or schedules.
One thing to be cautious of is that some of these devices come with subscription plans or reoccurring payments, and if you don't use the tool, it can be easy to forget about the payment and spend tons of money you don't need to over the course of a year.
Setting reminders or calendar events to check if you're still using the service or check for unexpected charges on your credit card can help cut unnecessary costs.
Additionally, many smart services now come with legitimate privacy concerns, and many companies have failed to protect personal information they've collected.[1] This is not to say that smart automation is bad, but just to be mindful of the risks and implementation of these devices in your life. In other words, don't put a smart camera in your bathroom, and don't give ChatGPT your medical history.
Examples
- Applications: There are a variety of applications for desktop and mobile devices which automate certain activities.
- Apps like If This Then That allow you to set up automated actions between apps and devices, such as automatically saving email attachments to cloud storage or turning on lights when you arrive home.
- Alternatively, apps like GoblinTools use LLMs to help automate executive function tasks like breaking down tasks into their component parts or interpreting/translating unclear communication.
- Smart Home Systems: Using smart home hubs like Amazon Alexa or Google Home to control lighting, temperature, security systems, and more through voice commands or scheduled routines.
- This has some overlap with simple automation, but the contrast is there's often much more flexibility in how the device is programmed, and while on it's face it's more complicated, it can often be easier to manage while traveling or when you're laying in bed and just don't want to get up to change it.
- Smart Appliances: Automating household chores with smart appliances like robotic vacuum cleaners, smart refrigerators that track inventory, or washing machines that start based on energy usage patterns.
- Using a robotic vacuum to run every day while you're at work significantly reduces the need for and time spent manually vacuuming and cleaning the house, though it does require more vigilance to ensure power cables or other small objects are not in its path.
Discussion
Smart automation can help with transition forgetfulness by either ending a task at a certain time or when a specific condition is met, or by allowing the person to remotely complete or stop a task. Additionally, the use of LLMs to begin or refine lengthy tasks can help with task initiation and achieving task completion. Additionally, using automation to target certain behaviors (like using phone automations to disable notifications, certain apps, and switch to grayscale to prevent staying up to late) can be helpful when feeling the impacts of decision fatigue.
Sub- and Co-Mitigations
| Mitigation | Description |
|---|---|
| M0005 - Task Splitting | Breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts to reduce overwhelm and increase productivity. |
| M0010 - Automation | Setting routine tasks to occur automatically. |
| M0010.001 - Subscription Plans | Using subscriptions to regularly order things you use frequently (e.g. food, supplements, shampoo, etc.) |
| M0010.002 - Simple Automation | Using simple tools and apps to perform tasks automatically. |
| M0014 - Calendaring | Using external tools to keep track of and plan for tasks and deadlines, reducing the likelihood of forgetting or double-booking. |
Expressions
| Expression | Description |
|---|---|
| EX0001 - Task Initiation | The act of making a decision to begin a specific task and then taking action to begin the task. |
| EX0003.002 - Transition Forgetfulness | Forgetting the current task while moving from one environment to another. |
| EX0004 - Task Completion | Difficulty completing tasks once they've been started. |
| EX0006 - Night Owl Pattern | Staying active or awake well into the night. |
| EX0011 - Decision Fatigue | Poorer decision making after long periods of making decisions. |