In the past few years, smart home tech has gone from a niche category to one that's started to worm its way throughout our entire world. Apple's HomeKit has played a part in that, but as the market becomes more advanced, Cupertino's implementation is starting to strain at the seams.
Perhaps it's time for a serious re-think of HomeKit: not just how it works, but the very fundamentals that have taken us this far. The good news is that there's some evidence Apple may be headed down that road already, and hopefully, we're getting closer to seeing exactly what that reality might look like.
CHIP Ahoy!
In December of 2019, Apple teamed up with Amazon and Google to announce the launch of Project Connected Home over IP (CHIP). The top line idea was a bold one: create a new connectivity standard to make smart home tech more universally compatible. Also involved is the Zigbee Alliance, an industry group made up of companies working in the Internet of Things space, including major players like Samsung, IKEA, and Signify.
