A breakthrough technology called Sensify is poised to revolutionize the smart home industry by turning millions of Zigbee-powered light bulbs into motion sensors with a single firmware update. This innovative solution, developed by Ivani, can transform existing Zigbee devices into occupancy sensors, eliminating the need for additional hardware and making smart home automation more accessible and convenient.

The Sensify technology, which has been in development since 2016, leverages the Zigbee network to detect disturbances in radio frequencies, allowing it to detect motion and occupancy in a given space. According to Ivani cofounder Justin McKinney, the technology requires three or more devices positioned around a detection area to work, and can provide precise detection zones based on where the devices are situated.

One of the most significant implications of Sensify is its potential to bring ambient sensing to popular smart lighting systems like Philips Hue. Speculation has been circulating that Hue is working on a Zigbee sensing technology, and the well-informed hueblog.com reports that Zigbee wireless network sensing is the technology Hue will most likely use. Although Signify, the owner of Hue, has not confirmed this, the potential for Sensify to be integrated into Hue's ecosystem is significant.

The technology's performance is reportedly "equivalent or superior" to passive infrared sensing (PIR) tech, which is traditionally used for motion sensing. Moreover, Sensify does not require line of sight, as PIR does, and can run locally on Zigbee networks without relying on cloud connectivity. This means that any sensing data is only accessible to the manufacturer deploying the technology, ensuring user privacy and security.

The advantages of Sensify are twofold. Firstly, it eliminates the need for additional hardware, making it a cost-effective solution for smart home automation. Secondly, its scalability is vast, as many homes already have devices that can utilize the technology. As McKinney notes, "There are tens of millions of devices with the base firmware already out there; we're just working on the final touches to light up the full experience."

While Ivani is currently the only company offering a Zigbee-based solution, there are other wireless network sensing (WNS) technologies available that use Wi-Fi. Origin Wireless, for example, has developed Wi-Fi sensing technology that has been used in products like Linksys Aware and Threshold's smart plug. However, Ivani's Sensify tech is the only one that can be deployed as a software update to existing Zigbee systems.

The potential applications of Sensify are vast, ranging from lighting control and security to energy management and elder care. As McKinney puts it, "It really is the promise of what home automation was supposed to be." With its partners poised to deploy the technology soon, Sensify is set to revolutionize the smart home industry and make automation more accessible and convenient for users.

As the smart home industry continues to evolve, innovations like Sensify are crucial in realizing the full potential of home automation. With its ability to turn existing devices into motion sensors, Sensify is poised to make a significant impact on the industry and bring users closer to a seamless and automated smart home experience.