analysis: CES 2023 Driving better interoperability


across connected homes AT CES 2023, the Home Connectivity Alliance (HCA) announced a milestone – HCA Specification 1.0 – a new industry standard set by 15 to provide consumers with even more interoperable and energy-efficient connected home solutions.Simon King reports


T


he Home Connectivity Alliance is an organisation founded by


manufacturers of HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) systems, home appliances and TVs and was created with the goal to develop safe, interoperable standards for connected home ecosystems. “This is a monumental achievement for our members to release the HCA Interface Specification 1.0 within one year of the organisation‘s launch at CES 2022,” said Yoon Ho Choi, president of the Home Connectivity Alliance. “The availability of this specification will enable the large appliance industry to begin development of interoperable and energy- efficient ecosystems between trusted global brands that will provide convenience, help stabilise the electrical grid, and help deliver cost savings for consumers.” As a founding member of the HCA, Samsung


Electronics said it continues to relentlessly pursue innovation, including the industry- leading SmartThings platform, to aid the HCA’s mission to develop standards that promote interconnectivity. Chanwoo Park, executive vice president and head of service business group of the Digital Appliances Business at Samsung Electronics, said: “Through combined industry efforts in HCA, we are working to make the smart home more accessible to consumers via the devices they use every day in the home. “We are taking a fresh look at how devices can enhance consumers’ lives and how the appliance industry can work together to create a safer connected home that our customers can trust.”


Interoperability to promote compatibility The HCA Specification 1.0 expands on existing industry standards to clearly define interoperability standards that ensure long- lasting devices like appliances, HVAC systems and TVs operate seamlessly across brands, including legacy appliances already operating in consumers’ homes.


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As a pioneer in the smart home industry, Samsung’s SmartThings platform has paved the way for interoperability within the connected home. SmartThings supports Internet of Things


(IoT)-enabled devices from a range of manufacturers, as well as first-party smart home appliances, providing consumers with more convenience and options within their connected home. With the introduction of the HCA Specification 1.0, this enhanced interoperable experience will soon make the connected home attainable by more consumers than ever.


Bringing sustainability into the heart of the connected home The release of the HCA Specification 1.0 paves the way for enhanced energy efficiency throughout a consumer’s entire connected home through holistic data insights. Customers can raise their Energy IQ by identifying the appliances and devices in their homes that consume the most energy and adjusting usage accordingly. Furthermore, innovations like SmartThings AI


Energy Mode allow consumers to automatically manage their energy usage and costs using intelligent, real-time insights via a single app on their phone. The HCA Specification 1.0 enables member brands to provide consumers with sustainability-focused, actionable insights for better energy efficiency and real-world savings.


Competitors working together for our consumers’ connected future The introduction of the HCA Specification 1.0 for interoperability is just the first step in the HCA’s standards journey. The HCA is already working in parallel with


energy industry leaders to provide even more energy-efficient solutions across the household. HCA currently includes 15 global brands, including Samsung, AEG, American Standards, Arçelik, Electrolux, GE Appliances, Haier, LG, Resideo, Trane, Vestel and others. Mr Choi said: “Membership provides the


opportunity to collaboratively innovate and share expertise with peers to further develop the connected home ecosystem and bring more convenience and options to consumers.”


January 2023


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