Letsgood Blog What is HomeKit: user friendly explanation

"HomeKit is a framework in iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user's home. You can enable users to discover HomeKit accessories in their home and configure them, or you can create actions to control those devices. Users can group actions together and trigger them using Siri." - developer.apple.com/homekitBut what does it mean for a real people?Apple decided to enter the smart home market, but he choosed to do it in different way than others. There are tons of tech automation devices like door lock, bulb, thermostat, security camera, etc. The problem is that every device has diferent communication protocol and it's hard to use that simultaneously with one controller.Apple introduced HomeKit as a solution of current market situation - the new communication protocol to control all third-party devices which support HomeKit. It allows users to manage all smart home equipments from one place right in your pocket.Basic structure of HomeKitHomeKit allows developers to build application for controling smart tech accessories. Accessories are classified in homes, rooms and zones.AccessoryThere are the actual physical home automation devices, such as garage door opener. Every device has its own services, which control functions of device. Smart coffee machine has for example services like espresso, latte, cleaning and firmware update.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosRoomRoom is group of smart physical devices in your household (accessories). Kitchen may contains coffee maker, light, oven, ... Every room is associated only with one Home.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosZoneZone is used for classifying groups of rooms like First floor, Second floor. Every zone is associated only with one Home.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosHomeHomeKit includes top level group of devices named Home. Multiple homes can be set. Every home contains of rooms and zones (optional). You can set homes like "Our house" or "Grandma's house". It simplifies navigation through multiple connected devices.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosHomeKit featuresAfter building of hierarchy of homes, zones and rooms it is easy to go through accessories and manually control their services. It's pretty good, but that's not all! There are two smart features, which you will fall in love with.Action setWhat about defining group of actions that will be triggered all at once? Are you on a driveway to the house? Start action named "I am home" and things start to happen ... open garage door, unlock the door, switch on lights, increase temperature on thermostat, make a coffee, turn on television, do some popcorn, whatever you want.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosTrigerSmart home is all about automation. HomeKit enables setting up triggers to automatic start Action sets. Triggers can react to location changes (enter the room), time changes and to wide range of other factors that developers can imagine. Let ourselfs surprise how sophisticated triggers will be.Source: Introducing HomeKit, WWDC 2014 Session VideosSiri integrationThe amazing thing is that all accessories services can be controlled through Siri with voice. I can imagine: "Turn on lights in the living room", "Turn on TV in bedroom", etc."We are looking for real usage of HomeKit, we think that will be really great with all those introduced features." - Letsgood.com