What you should know about the Apple HomeKit

March 01, 2020

Apple’s HomeKit is Apple’s new health home automation system that lets you wirelessly control your health home.

Apple’s HomeKit isn’t available yet but you’re probably keen to know what it’s going to do and how it’s going to do it.

HomeKit boils down, first to simplify health home automation as we know it today. Apple has created a common language for all smart health connected objects compatible with its system. Manufacturers can use it to develop these iDevices. HomeKit will also rely on Siri to allow the user to control their devices by voice. For me, it's on this aspect that Apple could convince: being able to use smart health connected objects from several brands with a single system.

apple homekit

Manufacturers should therefore include support for HomeKit in their products. Apple has already announced partnerships. In WWDC last June, iHome, Haier, Withings, Philips, iDevices, Belkin, Honeywell, Kwikset were notably cited. During the last CES, I presented the first HomeKit devices to you.

Of course, HomeKit is made possible thanks to iOS 8. You will find on your smartphones and tablets an application allowing you to add your iDevices as well as all the rooms in your house; or your apartment for that matter. Once set up, you can control them wherever you are.

Another Apple product, which you may already own, will serve as a hub. Indeed, Apple TV was discreetly added in support of HomeKit during the deployment of iOS 8.1 and Apple TV 7.0.1. The Apple TV will play the role of the Nest Smart Thermostat for Google a bit … except that there is no compatibility issue with the Apple TV.

It looks like it will also be possible to use Siri via Apple TV to control your HomeKit devices when away from health home. But Apple TV won't be needed to control HomeKit in general. It can act as an intermediary and will rather be an entry point to your local network.

Watch Tim Cook's ehealth presentation at WWDC 2014:

(Embed) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w87fOAG8fjk (/ embed)

With HomeKit, everything must have its own name and be stored in a common database accessible by Siri. Siri should be able to recognize and control what you ask him. If you have multiple bedrooms or multiple kitchens, each room should have a name. Likewise, each device but also its functionalities must be named.

Of course, it will also be possible to create groupings. A grouping will, for example, ask Siri to turn off all the lights in the house rather than asking it room by room. You can also create scenes. Another example: when you go to bed, Siri can lock the doors, turn off the lights and activate the alarm for your alarm clock.

As you read this, some people may wonder about privacy and security. HomeKit includes end-to-end encryption between iOS devices and smart health connected objects. HomeKit has layers of privacy and security; according to Apple. The HomeKit API requires that third-party applications be run in the foreground.

Finally, there is no evidence that there will be a HomeKit app. It may work in the background of iOS 8 and may be controlled with it via features like Siri or geolocation.