A home automation standard for everyone - the shared goal of Apple, Google and Amazon
When three technology giants join forces, the world turns a deaf ear. Apple, Google and Amazon are collaborating on a standard for home automation. Revolution or clever data theft?
As part of the "Connected Home over IP" project - abbreviated "CHIP" - Apple, Google, Amazon and other members of the Zigbee Alliance have announced that they are developing a new open connection standard for smart home devices. Security and data protection are supposed to be at the forefront, and among the key design aspects of this project. Is this an unexpected boon for customers and manufacturers, or a subtle feint to make it easier for the three giants to access your data?
Finally a uniform standard for all devices
The aim of this project is twofold. Firstly, Apple, Google and Amazon want to make as many smart home devices compatible as possible. Right now, if you want to integrate a new connected object into your smart home, you need to check the standards it works with. It's not so much the price of the gadget in question that will make you decide to buy it, but rather its interoperability. And the new standard should put an end to that problem.
Secondly, the project is supposed to simplify the development and production of new home automation devices. That's why many Zigbee Alliance members, including Somfy, Ikea, Schneider Electric, Signify, Silicon Labs, Wulian, Samsung Smartthings, Resideo, NXP Semiconductors and Legrand, are also participating in the CHIP project. It is also open to other companies, whether device manufacturers, processor suppliers or other developers from the home automation sector.
A safe and reliable standard
The project team has no intention of reinventing the wheel. It wants to build a new solution from the standards and products already developed. This will significantly speed up its development. The new CHIP protocol is intended to complement existing technologies and facilitate the manufacture of products compatible with Alexa, Siri and the Google assistant.
The team has set itself the goal of developing a new standard that is secure, reliable, functional and user-friendly. It will be based on the Internet Protocol (IP), which will be used to standardise communication methods for home automation devices, mobile apps and cloud services.
The "Connected Home over IP" project looks very promising, especially given the involvement of the three aforementioned giants, and industry experts have high hopes for it. The future will tell whether this is a genuine revolution or just a means of gaining easier access to user data.
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When I'm not stuffing my face with sweets, you'll catch me running around in the gym hall. I’m a passionate floorball player and coach. On rainy days, I tinker with my homebuilt PCs, robots or other gadgets. Music is always my trusted companion. I also enjoy tackling hilly terrain on my road bike and criss-crossing the country on my cross-country skis.