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Interoperability
In home automation, we often speak about the interoperability of systems. Indeed, the compatibility of systems and hardware is a key condition for the smart home's potential being fully realised. But what exactly is meant by interoperability and how does it govern home automation interactions?What is interoperability?
Interoperability is a term used to describe the ability of systems to communicate with each other, i.e. to exchange information.- Computer interoperability
- The different fields of interoperability
-Semantic interoperability: to achieve this, each of the systems needs to interpret the information exchanged in the same way. If not, this is referred to as a semantic conflict, i.e. a misunderstanding between the two systems.
-Syntactic interoperability: this is how data is coded and formatted. To communicate effectively, the two systems should ideally share the same syntax.
-Organisational interoperability: here, the obstacle to interoperability isn't the exchange or understanding of information, rather the differences in how to treat the interactions: conditions governing access to information, confidentiality policy, etc. Interoperability can only exist if both parties reach an agreement.
- A specific example of interoperability
In its 2018 annual public report, France's Court of Auditors also found that interoperability is central to the development of digital in the healthcare system and that all of the information systems need to be able to communicate in order to guarantee the efficiency and security of data sharing. Discover all our products
Interoperability: issues and challenges
- Why is there a hurdle to interoperability?
The only exception is open source software developers, which actually encourage interoperability by circulating systems and sharing the design model and the language to allow others to use and improve them.
To bypass these restrictions, all of the players on the IT market would need to reach an agreement on interoperability and therefore find a common interest in it. Compatibility between systems, formats, software and networks can only come about by adopting standard norms and protocols. However, interoperability is a complex technical challenge and for all products and systems to become interoperable there would need to be strong intent from all market participants: companies, consumers, standardisation bodies, decision-makers in France, Europe and around the world, etc.
- Why foster interoperability?
An end to access or implementation restrictions could enable a common standard to emerge. Validated and shared by all, this would guarantee the compatibility of formats and systems, and communication between all technical products.
For consumers, this standardised *interoperability would be a sign of free choice, ridding them of the compatibility issues that force them to buy products from the same company. Thanks to the effect of emulation and competition, the market would see a boom in innovation and the offering, and far from being diminished would in fact be strengthened.
Interoperability and the Internet of Things
The smart home is an excellent example of the benefits that can be gained from interoperability. Indeed, the smart home's potential can only be fully realised if open protocols allow all smart systems and objects to communicate and interact.This is why some smart product manufacturers have chosen to adopt interoperability. It's hopeful that with a growing number of suppliers on the home automation market, the trend of using compatible protocols and languages will gather pace. For a smart home setup to be truly beneficial, the majority of smart products and services need to be able to integrate into it, otherwise users can only buy from their usual supplier's catalogue, which limits their choice - even though the market for smart solutions is huge.
Although you still need to carefully consider the compatibility of the accessories you're adding to your smart home system, we hope that many manufacturers, like Legrand, which recently opened up its interoperability programme to Google, Apple and Netatmo in particular, will soon understand the issues around interoperability in the smart home and that many more of them will open up their protocols to enable improved interactions between their products and other home automation accessories.