iBeacon with HomeKit: what we can expect

iBeacon is a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication technology that enables mobile applications to capture and react to signals from beacons in the physical world. It enables mobile apps to calculate their position on a micro scale 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.

iBeacons in HomeKit

Currently, Apple has largely marketed iBeacon for the retail environment. With HomeKit, Apple’s homegrown BLE technology will be accessible to a larger customer base 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 arrive home and all systems will turn on according to pre-set conditions to welcome them and be ready for use.

Using iBeacon on smart home devices

iBEacon can be used to define actions for smart devices 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 wake up devices. Different apps, such as the Calendar app and the Notes app, can also be used to work together with Home Kit and iBeacon to give commands to the various smart devices in the house.

HomeKit currently offers native support with iBeacon to control lighting in the house, there is much more that can be done if you stretch your imagination. For example, a beacon placed on the key will help your smartphone to track the key when it is lost inside the house. Also, when the key is inserted into the lock, lights programmed in various ways will turn on as soon as you enter 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 temporarily turn your iPhone, iPad, or other compatible iOS device into a discoverable beacon. Thus, used with HomeKit, the user will be able to control locks, lights, doors, security cameras, switches, plugs, 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 kind of smart home apps can you create with iBeacon and HomeKit?

There are a plethora of apps available to control lighting and other basic activities around 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 app when they enter or leave the house.

Automatically lock or turn off appliances such as computers, laptops or TVs in the house when the beacon device is not nearby

Take photos from your security camera or webcam remotely and send them via email by activating the camera with the iBeacon. In this way, any intruder photos can be captured and safely stored even when the resident of the house is not 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 BLE beacon shipments are expected to exceed 400 million units in the next five years according to a report by ABI Research. With iOS 10 set to hit markets next year, the use of iBeacon technology will soon go global.