Apple’s HomeKit home-automation system will reportedly get a version of Night Shift to reduce the amount of blue in smart light bulbs as each day nears its end. This feature, allegedly coming with iOS 14 in the fall, is supposed to help people sleep better.
In addition, Apple might be adding facial recognition to security cameras controlled with HomeKit.
Night Shift coming to HomeKit
Night Shift for iPhone and iPad debuted back in 2016. It automatically adjusts the colors of your display to the warmer end of the spectrum after sunset. The idea is that blue light confuses the brain into thinking it’s still daylight so less melatonin is produced by the body.
The science behind this is a little shaky, but Apple is nevertheless adding the feature to HomeKit, according to 9to5Mac. Lightbulbs that support this feature will automatically shift away from blue after it gets dark outside.
Facial recognition in HomeKit Secure Video
Apple introduced HomeKit Secure Video last fall. This makes video security systems more private by only storing video locally or on iCloud. Never on third-party servers.
The next version, supposedly coming in iOS 14, will be able to identify the people being videoed. This isn’t a breakthrough, as many security systems already have facial recognition. Still, it will be an enhancement for Apple’s offering.