WWDC 2014 and HomeKit

On June 2, 2014, Apple held its long awaited WWDC in San Francisco. Apple announced the new OS X Yosemite, iOS8, and the release of several new exciting API’s. But the one that was of particular interest to us is the new platform for smart-home accessories, HomeKit.

HomeKit is an iOS framework that enables the discovery and control of third party devices by an iOS device like an iPhone or iPad. Essentially, a central app would be able to control multiple devices, addressing the issue of reluctance to download yet another app. HomeKit will enable users to control devices such as plugs, light and locks within their home. What’s more is that all of this can be operated through Siri – providing a much more seamless experience and the ability to operate a number of devices through one command.
However, it is noteworthy that whilst Craig Federighi spoke at lengths about the wealth of possibilities that HomeKit would allow, he didn’t mention a particular network protocol that it will use. Given the growing prominence iBeacon has had with businesses over the past year, it seems natural that Apple will try to make this transition into the home. We can certainly foresee the power of an iBeacon-enabled smart home that is based not solely on manually inputting commands but more on proximity and location. For example, imagine a person arriving home after work, the front door unlocks, and their lights turn on.
iBeacon does appear to have the characteristics to suit the purpose, in terms of its ability to determine the user’s proximity, issue location based triggers to user’s phones, and automatically react to a person’s presence and location. What are your thoughts on HomeKit?
To learn more about iBeacon, visit our Proximity Services Resource Center. If you’d like to purchase beacons, visit our GemTot Beacon Page.