Matter Update Adds Support For More Devices
Last week the Connectivity Standards Alliance (the organization behind Matter) released the Matter 1.2 specification. Approximately one year after the introduction of Matter 1.0, Matter is adding support for nine new devices including robot vacuums, smoke alarms, kitchen appliances like refrigerators and ovens, and washing machines.
The Circana Take:
- Support for more device types is an important step for the growth of Matter. New devices should bring momentum and added attention to the specification and show consumers that Matter certified products are worth investing in.
- Matter’s bigger challenge is the user experience and getting products to work and connect to each other as promised.
Finally, A Smart Home For Chickens
Technology start up Coop has a plan to make raising chickens easier. The company designed a Wi-Fi connected smart chicken coop featuring smart lights and a set of cameras for easy control and monitoring. In addition, Coop is touting its AI software (dubbed Albert Eggstein) that can detect the movement of chickens and the lookout for any potential predators lurking around. Another smart feature includes sound detection software which can ‘infer the chickens’ moods and behaviors. Coop has just entered full scale production and early-bird pricing on the package starts at $1,995. $19.95 a month gets users access to the AI features.
The Circana Take:
- As raising chickens at home becomes more popular in the US, smart features designed to more effectively manage the process will become commonplace. While the smart coop relies on many standard connected features like lights and camera monitoring, the real appeal could be in its AI engine for detecting predators and evaluating the health and happiness of the chickens.