GE developing smart LED bulb with Apple HomeKit compatibility
General Electric Co., the pioneer in electrical products has announced that they will be working with Qualcomm and Apple to offer a way to connect smartphones with LED light bulbs using embedded chips in light bulbs. This is in line with Philips Hue. The new light bulb that is being developed will be compatible with Apple’s HomeKit (to be launched in near future).
“As we continue to grow our infrastructure business by connecting our brilliant industrial machines to the Internet, it is important that consumers experience connected things in easy-to-use, everyday ways. Lighting is how many first experiment with the idea of a smart home, and our insights show that consumers want the ability to control lighting from anywhere, automate lighting and pair lighting with other devices—like sensors, thermostats and door locks,” says Beth Comstock, President &CEO, Ge Business Innovations. “We’re excited to announce our support for HomeKit as it will bring a seamless, intuitive user experience using Siri and superior quality of light from America’s most trusted lighting brand for more than a century.”
The new LED bulb will come with embedded GE Align™ technology, giving users ability to automate lighting according to his/her natural sleep circadian rhythm. In short, the new bulb will help consumers improve natural sleep cycle.This is done by produced bright and bluer tone LED light in the morning that suppresses melatonin production in body and in the evening the tone changes to amber, similar to candle light and camp fire.
Other features include:
- Individual device control and grouping devices into scenes all under one command
- Interoperability and integration with other connected devices
- Secure pairing through authentication and end-to-end encryption between GE intelligent LED and iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch
