The smart home has many competing standards: now comes a unified one, it's called Matter and it has all the big names in the industry behind it.
Manage multiple devices dedicated to the smart home through a single system. It seems utopian, but it could soon be possible thanks to a new standard, called Matter, which will soon become an integral part of the main smart home management tools developed by Amazon, Apple and Google.
With the three big names in the smart home device landscape united under the same standard, the idea of a unified management platform becomes increasingly realistic and close. In fact, there was already a first attempt in 2019, when the alliance between the most important partners of the sector still called CHIP saw the light without, however, turning into anything concrete. Now, not only do they try again but, under the name of Matter, the U.S. giants declare themselves ready to release the first certified devices according to technical peculiarities established by the group already by the end of the year. What are the features that will have to be integrated?
Smart home, the advantages of the Matter standard
To receive the certification issued by Matter it is necessary that the devices for the smart home follow some precise guidelines. The tools must adopt a royalty-free standard, which will allow them to communicate autonomously, without any impediment due to proprietary specifications.
So, once installed in your home (or in other places where the tools find their natural home) the devices will be able to connect to each other, regardless of the brand they belong to. Among those currently in use on smart systems are Amazon's Alexa Smart Home, Apple's Homekit or Google's Weave protocols.
The advantage, from the end user's point of view, is obvious. It will no longer be essential to buy products made by the same manufacturer in order for them to be able to "talk" without obstacles; it will be sufficient to connect them to the electrical outlet to carry out the usual operations in a fluid manner, free from thoughts or constraints of any kind.
Even for developers, this identity between devices can translate into a significant benefit. Instead of making multiple options, each declined for a specific manufacturer, they will be able to focus on a single solution capable of integrating seamlessly on any type of device.
Smart home, simpler with the Matter standard
The CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance, Tobin Richardson, stressed the importance of the breakthrough that will bring a breath of fresh air into homes, effectively simplifying use for those users less familiar with technology. "As these different devices become more complex networks, it's all the more important that they all speak the same language."
"This sign," Richardson added, leveraging the main aspect behind the choice, "will help ensure that you can add any light bulb, any door lock, anything you want to connect.