Apple Homekit - good basis for DIY home automation?

[Dreadnaught]

8 hours ago, MikeSharp01 said:

The big issue is data capture. All those companies listed above want to be sure they gather their share of the data about how we live our lives

 

Good point about privacy. Matter/Thread is being designed to accommodate Apple's greater focus on privacy that is inherent with Apple HomeKit. More details here if you're interested (scroll down to the "Home" section): https://www.apple.com/ca/privacy/features/.

 

In regard of their prioritisation of privacy, all companies are not the same.

 

 

[MikeSharp01]

Matter has a curious edge in its last objective:

 

"Open: The Project’s design and technical processes should be open and transparent to the general public, including to non-members wherever possible." 

(Source: https://github.com/project-chip/connectedhomeip#readme)

 

The whole nature of it hinges, for me, on those last 5-6 words although I appreciate the sentiment in which it is meant by accepting the fact that some aspects of the system will be propriety components. My worry is that it will be in these places we, those of us not intending to be members, will loose control of the data this system could generate / expose.

[Dreadnaught]

@MikeSharp01, and others interested on open-source home automation, this might also interest you, this time regarding the Thread mesh-networking technology:

 

"OpenThread released by Google is an open-source implementation of Thread technology, based on the draft Thread 1.1 specification."

 

https://www.threadgroup.org/support#OpenThread

https://openthread.io

[markharro]

Having now invested in an Apple Homepod mini and the nanoleaf bulb and got the whole lot working together with homekit I have to say that my initial impression is extremely favourable. It just works, instantly and consistently. This Thread technology looks extremely promising and seems to me to offer real potential for a low-cost DIY home automation system that can rival a more "professional" system

[Dreadnaught]

A good article out today on the new Matter home automation standard: 

https://www.theverge.com/22832127/matter-smart-home-products-thread-wifi-explainer