Little by little, it has become completely normal to incorporate a variety of connected devices into the home, designed to make everyday life easier. From intelligent programming of the coffee maker’s ignition to automating the heating system to maintain a temperature at home.
If you are thinking about setting up your own smart home, it is important that you take into account the compatibility between the different devices you are going to use, especially if they are from different brands. It should be noted that not all of them work with the same system, so you may have problems connecting them together.
You probably have an Apple HomePod as your main speaker for listening to music, but from that device you want to control the smart bulbs in your living room, but these work with Google Assistant, of course, this will not work, since both are not compatible.
This is where smart home bridges come into play. This device allows different platforms in your home to communicate with each other, no matter if you want to connect Apple HomeKit with Alexa or vice versa, the bridge will make them work perfectly.
What types of smart bridges are there on the market?
There are two kinds of smart home bridges: those based on software and those based on hardware. They both work very similarly, but with some notable differences.
For example:
- Bridges based on software: These bridges run on a laptop or mobile device. They are the most flexible option, since they allow you to connect any smart device, regardless of its platform. However, to use it requires technical knowledge to configure it. One of the best-known programs for this task is IFTTT, since it allows you to create connections between devices in a simple way.
- Bridges based on hardware: They are independent devices that connect to your WiFi network. They are the simplest option, since they do not require advanced technical knowledge to configure them. However, they are less flexible, due to the fact that they only allow you to connect devices that are compatible with their functions.
How do smart bridges work?
Smart home bridges work as a translator between different platforms. For example, if you have a bridge that emulates the Apple HomeKit API, you can connect a HomePod to other platforms, such as Alexa or Google Home.
With this technology you can ensure that all your connected equipment fits perfectly in your home. You will avoid compatibility problems and guarantee a stable connection. Now, do you really need a smart bridge for your home?
The answer to this question depends on your situation. If you have all your devices on the same platform, meaning your TV, speakers, light bulbs, coffee maker, heating system and even the washing machine are compatible with Google Home or Alexa, there is no need as they will all work with each other.
But if you want to connect a device that is natively only compatible with HomeKit, in this case it is necessary to purchase a bridge for it. smart home. The bridges act as the mediators that make it possible for all your connected devices to work in harmony.
