iBeacon with HomeKit: What to Expect
iBeacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication technology that enables mobile applications to capture and react to beacon signals in the physical world. It enables mobile apps to measure their position at the microscale and deliver hyper-contextual content to users based on their location. We take a look at how these two Apple Internet of Things (IoT) efforts will work together to simplify our lives.
iBeacon in HomeKit
Currently, iBeacon has been marketed primarily by Apple for the retail environment. With HomeKit, Apple’s local BLE technology will be accessible to a larger customer base that is setting up a smart home. At its most basic level, the iBeacon will inform Apple’s smart home of the user’s presence when they return home and all systems will power up to preset conditions to welcome them and ready to go.
Using iBeacon on smart home devices
iBEacon can be used to define actions for smart appliances such as lighting, fans, heating / cooling systems, television, etc. among other things. With Siri integration, simple voice commands and spoken reminders will automate systems and activate devices. Different applications, such as the Calendar application and the Notes application, can also be used to work in conjunction with the Home Kit and iBeacon to give commands to the various smart appliances in the house.
HomeKit currently offers native support with iBeacon for controlling lighting in the house, there is much more that can be done if the imagination is stretched. For example, a beacon attached to the key will help your smartphone track the key when it is lost inside the house. Also, when the key is inserted into the lock, the variously programmed lights will turn on as soon as one enters the house.
Apple iBeacon for the home
In 2014, Apple submitted a proposal to create the first dedicated iBeacon-compatible beacon hardware for its Smart Home product. Apple iBeacon will turn your iPhone, iPad, or other compatible iOS device into a temporarily discoverable beacon. Thus, used with HomeKit, the user will be able to control locks, lights, doors, security cameras, switches, sockets, kitchen appliances and much more. Apple will not supply the hardware for iBeacon, as many third-party hardware beacon devices are already available. Apple iBeacon will act more like a centralized control center that can be activated from the iPhone or iWatch.
What kinds of smart home apps can you create with iBeacon and HomeKit?
There are a large number of applications available to control lighting and other basic activities within the house. However, these have not yet been fully developed to be truly effective. We bring you some ideas where iBeacon can be applied with HomeKit to create a smart living space.
An iBeacon to notify selected recipients of your arrival. For example, the presence of family members can be detected through the application when they enter or leave the house.
Automatically lock or turn off household appliances such as computers, laptops or televisions in the house when the beacon device is not nearby
Take photos from your security camera or webcam remotely and email it to yourself by activating the camera with the iBeacon. In this way, any intruder photography can be safely captured and stored even when the resident of the house is not at home.
Turn on the music system in the car or at home to play any specific song when the beacon device is nearby
The beacons are easy to install and configure and shipments of BLE beacons are expected to exceed 400 million units in the next five years, according to an ABI research report. With iOS 10 set to hit the markets next year, the use of iBeacon technology will soon become widespread globally.