The latest Matter update, Version 1.3, has been released with this specification supporting the kitchen and laundry room, entertainment and smart screens, electric vehicles (EVs) and energy and water management.
The Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) that created the Matter standard in 2022 said the new specification enabling vendors to integrate, test and deploy new features, updates and devices to market that have previously not been a part of the Matter standard.
Energy and EVs
The energy management support inside Matter 1.3 allows for devices to report actual and estimated measurements like instantaneous power, voltage, current and others in real-time as well as monitor energy consumption or generation over time.
Similarly, water management support includes leak and freeze detectors, rain sensors and controllable water valves with enhance monitoring, management and protection over water in and around the homes.
Matter 1.3 also supports EV charging equipment allowing users to control how and when vehicles are charged as well as:
- Manually start or stop charging
- Adjust the charging rate
- Specify miles of range
- Optimize charging for the cheapest and lowest carbon times
New appliance support
While the Matter 1.2 specification added support for nine different appliances, Matter 1.3 has included even further appliance support with five additional devices.
This includes microwave ovens that can be used for cooking time, power level and mode of operation. Smart ovens are also now supported with the ability to set the operational mode, temperature setting and pre-heating support.
Cooktops and extractor hoods are also supported for temperature control and measurement. Finally, laundry dyers are included in the Matter 1.3 specification after washing machines were included in the prior specifications. Users can use the dryer for remote start and stop as well as notifications and error states.
Additionally, the specification improves TV functionality for push messages and dialog support as well as interactivity options for TV apps, text and track support.
