Philips Hue lights and other smart home devices will soon be able to detect movement thanks to free update

Motion sensors such as Eve Motion or the Philips Hue Motion Sensor are standard equipment in many smart homes. Such sensors are generally installed for the automatic activation/deactivation of lights. In future, however, this will be possible without additional sensors thanks to a new technology called Sensify ambient sensing, which allows nearby Zigbee devices to detect the presence of people.

As the video embedded below from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) explains, ambient sensing functions (in theory) when at least three compatible devices within range form a zone. If a person moves in this zone, the system detects the minimal changes in signal strength caused by the person's presence. 

Sensify has been in development since 2016 and the launch is now said to be imminent. While Ivani, the company behind the technology, has not yet confirmed any details about potential partners, the company asserts that some well-known manufacturers of smart home products are planning to roll out the technology "very soon". The CSA has informed The Verge that Sensify will not be a permanent feature of Zigbee, so the technology will only be supported by select products, not by every new Zigbee device.