The IoT is here?
Whether you’re aware of it or not, the Internet of Things (IoT) is here and growing, and you are likely a participant. It started with a handful of general purpose connected devices — products like computers, smart phones, tablets, and printers whose connectivity largely fits into our decades-old concept of networks. Now a new breed of highly specialized devices are creeping their way into our lives with the aim of making everything connected, smart, and quantifiable. You probably own at least one of them already:
- wireless speakers like Sonos
- smart thermostats like the Nest
- “quantified self” devices like those offered by Fitbit, Withings or Jawbone
- smart appliances like certain WiFi-connected washers, dryers and fridges
- connected lighting like the Philips Hue
- wearables like Google Glass or the Samsung Galaxy smart watches
- wireless doorlocks
- inverters used in some PV systems
- smart plugs and switches like Belkin WeMo
- certain newer vehicles
The potential for growth in these new connected devices is absolutely staggering, at least if you believe the numbers touted by industry bellwethers like Cisco, who estimates that the world could contain 50 billion “connected objects” by the year 2020.
Stranded on an island
But what to do with all of this connectivity and the further deluge of data? If you own one of these newer connected products, you probably have access to some neat apps that allow you to track, control, and configure it, but it’s an island of product functionality that is very difficult to leave. You might have half a dozen connected products in your home, but unless they are part of the same manufacturer ecosystem, none of them are going to be able to talk to each other or act synergistically to give you a true “smart home” experience.
In the energy efficiency world, we often talk about the promise of “intelligent efficiency” in which connected systems enable greater operational efficiency by intelligently, invisibly, automatically managing energy. That’s the vision anyway. There are very few practical examples of the concept in action, especially in homes. In commercial buildings we at least have some open standards to work with (e.g. BACNet), but such interconnectivity standards haven’t yet taken hold on the residential side. Instead we have a variety of expensive and often vendor-centric ecosystems (think GE’s Brillion line or Apple’s recently announced HomeKit) or, increasingly, a smattering of smart gizmos that each speak their own languages (basically every connected device mentioned above).
Yonomi
There’s good news, though. Some bright folks are working out a solution to seamlessly orchestrate connected devices in the home, and it’s a free software service. It’s called Yonomi, and they’re accepting beta testers now. (Full disclosure: I am currently a strategic/technical advisor to Yonomi). If you own devices like the Nest, Fitbit, WeMo, or Philips Hue as well as a smart phone, you can start putting them to work for you now by joining their live beta.
For the moment, the important thing to know about Yonomi is that they are showing that we can start to make smart homes a reality today through free, painless-to-use software services that do not require special hardware hubs and controllers in the home. Real people can afford to do this. No electrical engineering degree or contractors needed.
For me personally, I am excited about what comes next. The Yonomi concept lays the foundation for smart homes to go mainstream. It also could also be a starting point for real intelligent efficiency in the home. Products turn off when no one is home or, even better, when someone is home but doesn’t “need” the functionality the product provides. It will be a long road to get there, and many have tried so far and largely failed, but to me Yonomi looks like the first step down a new and very promising path.