To Protect Privacy, Apple's Smart Speaker Said To Have Opt-In Camera Capabilities.
Apple is developing a Siri-activated home speaker, similar to
Amazon’s Echo, that will interact with users and allow them control a
range of smart home devices.
More interestingly, Apple’s speaker will come equipped with a camera to understand who’s in the room. But to keep up with Apple’s privacy standards, the camera feature will only be opt-in only, meaning users will have to activate the feature before they can use it, according to a person familiar with the project.
Bloomberg on Friday was the latest to report that Apple is working on such a device.
Apple has multiple prototypes of the device in its lab, one with the camera and another without, the person said. The prototypes suggest that Apple could launch a high-end version with the camera and cheaper version without.
The camera is supposed to identify which user is in the room and surface different user preferences. By understanding who’s in the room, the device could respond with a user’s personal preferences on music, lighting and temperature, for example.
Microsoft faced similar privacy concerns with its Kinect camera accessory for the Xbox gaming console, said Paul Erickson, a senior analyst at research firm IHS Markit. Microsoft had developed capabilities that recognized body type, height and gender, but never fully implemented them due to potential consumer discomfort, said Erickson.
While Apple claims it is more careful about protecting user privacy, the company’s speaker, like the Amazon Echo, will be always listening for a wake-up command. It would activate itself upon hearing “Hey Siri.” (Users can already do this with an iPad and control various smart home devices.)
The person familiar with the project said the speaker will serve as the centerpiece of HomeKit, Apple’s program for third-party smart home devices to connect in iOS and can be controlled through Siri. Apple introduced the HomeKit standard in 2014 and it has slowly gained adoption. At the iPhone 7 launch earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that more than 100 HomeKit devices are slated to be introduced this year alone. They range from smart door locks to thermostats to light bulbs to security cameras. And in Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 10, there’s a “Home” app, Apple’s own app for managing HomeKit-certified gadgets.
Amazon launched the Echo smart speaker back in 2014. The cylindrical device was powered by Alexa, Amazon’s intelligent voice feature. At first, no one was sure what to make of it, but it has quickly emerged a breakaway hit for Amazon. Developers have been eager to developer integrations on it, such as ordering an Uber car or a pizza from Dominos as well as controlling smart home devices. Google is expected to introduce Google Home, its own smart speaker powered by the company’s new AI “assistant,” as early as next month.
Apple has not responded to a request for comment.
follow me on twitter @steph_sneh
More interestingly, Apple’s speaker will come equipped with a camera to understand who’s in the room. But to keep up with Apple’s privacy standards, the camera feature will only be opt-in only, meaning users will have to activate the feature before they can use it, according to a person familiar with the project.
Bloomberg on Friday was the latest to report that Apple is working on such a device.
Apple has multiple prototypes of the device in its lab, one with the camera and another without, the person said. The prototypes suggest that Apple could launch a high-end version with the camera and cheaper version without.
The camera is supposed to identify which user is in the room and surface different user preferences. By understanding who’s in the room, the device could respond with a user’s personal preferences on music, lighting and temperature, for example.
Microsoft faced similar privacy concerns with its Kinect camera accessory for the Xbox gaming console, said Paul Erickson, a senior analyst at research firm IHS Markit. Microsoft had developed capabilities that recognized body type, height and gender, but never fully implemented them due to potential consumer discomfort, said Erickson.
While Apple claims it is more careful about protecting user privacy, the company’s speaker, like the Amazon Echo, will be always listening for a wake-up command. It would activate itself upon hearing “Hey Siri.” (Users can already do this with an iPad and control various smart home devices.)
The person familiar with the project said the speaker will serve as the centerpiece of HomeKit, Apple’s program for third-party smart home devices to connect in iOS and can be controlled through Siri. Apple introduced the HomeKit standard in 2014 and it has slowly gained adoption. At the iPhone 7 launch earlier this month, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that more than 100 HomeKit devices are slated to be introduced this year alone. They range from smart door locks to thermostats to light bulbs to security cameras. And in Apple’s latest mobile operating system, iOS 10, there’s a “Home” app, Apple’s own app for managing HomeKit-certified gadgets.
Amazon launched the Echo smart speaker back in 2014. The cylindrical device was powered by Alexa, Amazon’s intelligent voice feature. At first, no one was sure what to make of it, but it has quickly emerged a breakaway hit for Amazon. Developers have been eager to developer integrations on it, such as ordering an Uber car or a pizza from Dominos as well as controlling smart home devices. Google is expected to introduce Google Home, its own smart speaker powered by the company’s new AI “assistant,” as early as next month.
Apple has not responded to a request for comment.
follow me on twitter @steph_sneh
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