Ikea’s Smart Home Reset Goes Back to Basics

He highlights that Ikea is on the board of the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) and has been actively contributing to the development of the Matter platform since its Project CHIP 2019-2021 days: “Only now have we been able, as a company, to take a strategic position to completely change. »

Last September, Ikea updated its DIRIGERA smart home hub, which itself had been the subject of connectivity and compatibility issues on forums, with support for Matter. This includes operating as a Matter Bridge, connecting older Ikea devices (those based on Zigbee technology) to the broader ecosystem instead of rendering them completely useless.

The Matter ecosystem is not yet truly universal; the industry continues to work on it. Entire categories of connected products, such as smart security cameras, video doorbells, robot vacuums, and smart locks await Matter support. Enthusiasts have been digitally bridging the gaps between best-in-class devices, made by different brands, for years at this point, even decades for hardcore automation DIYers.

Unfortunately, there’s not much here for real smart home brains. “Early adopters will obviously appreciate the lower prices, and I think most will appreciate the interoperability, not having to buy a specific hub and being able to actually use what they have at home,” says Granath. “I think they’ll also appreciate some of the improvements we’ve made to the remote controls, without needing a separate remote for everything.” He is also aware that for the vast majority of Ikea customers, “the deal doesn’t matter”. This is simply what allows them to get lower prices and, in theory, far fewer installation problems.

A smart home?

The ALPSTUGA air quality sensor is probably the device that indicates the direction in which Ikea’s contributions to future smart homes are going. Like its predecessor, the VINDSTYRKA, it can connect to Ikea air purifiers to automate fan speed based on levels of PM2.5 particles in the indoor air, and this new iteration also adds CO2 monitoring.

cc by phonePhotography: Courtesy of Ikea

“We are improving some sensors, taking into account the feedback we received throughout the process, trying to make them more useful,” says Granath. “I actually brought one home. I put it in my living room and my wife said, ‘Oh, another smart product,’ but I said, ‘OK, but watch the CO2 values. If they’re below a thousand, you’ll sleep better.’ Now she’s frantically checking the levels, opening doors and trying to get the number down.

Another element that explains why this is not, in fact, a technological Groundhog Day, reliving 2012 again and again, is the place now of AI in the smart home: “Matter is a piece of this puzzle,” says Granath. “It’s a good foundation in terms of technology to create this change. And with the maturation of AI, we’re at the point where infrastructure, connectivity and real intelligence will coincide and actually create the smart home that we’re looking for.”