Philips Hue: MotionAwareTM: Difference between revisions

Line 22:

*MotionAware™ functions through the principal of "triangulation"<ref name=":2" /> which utilizes the position of existing smart lights known positions to create presence of user in a 3D space.

*Philips Hue CTO George Yianni on the [https://youtu.be/Q532v-xMmj0?t=2451 HomeKit Insider Podcast] Describes the technology as "The Bridge Pro analyze radio frequency traffic between pairs of lights inside a room in order to work out is someone moving in that room"<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=November 24, 2025 |title=In Depth Talk with Philips Hue Founder & Head of Technology George Yianni on HomeKit Insider 286 |url=https://youtu.be/Q532v-xMmj0?t=2451 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube {{!}} HomeKit Insider}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Welander |first=Eric |date=2026-02-16 |title=Philips Hue Motion Aware: Futuristic Room Lighting Automation! |url=https://youtube.com/shorts/h6Ry6OOI1II?si=YzfdYiVPoY9a_jj- |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

=== SpatialAware ===

* As explained by [https://hueblog.com/2026/01/07/spatialaware-philips-hue-announces-new-lighting-feature/ Hueblog.com] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYKcF5yVeLc appgefahren], SpatialAware is similar technology used by Philips Hue that accounts for the placement of each smart light in a space and adjusts its lighting characteristics in respect to where light is emitted in the room. <ref>{{Cite web |first=Fabian |date=2026-01-07 |title=SpatialAware: Philips Hue announces new lighting feature |url=https://hueblog.com/2026/01/07/spatialaware-philips-hue-announces-new-lighting-feature/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=hueblog.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |first=appgefahren |date=2026-01-08 |title=Philips Hue SpatialAware & smart lighting at CES 2026 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYKcF5yVeLc |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube}}</ref>

==Privacy Concerns==

MotionAware'''™''' tackles the need of seamlessly integrating convenience of motion detectors while also reducing clutter of wiring around a living space, however there are potential trade-offs regarding privacy.

===Scan Your Room===

===Scan Your Room using SpatialAware===

*According to [https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space Signify], the setup requires users to make a scan of their room utilizing a smartphone camera to map out a room to determine the position of the lights.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Falkenburg |first=Tayran |date=January 7, 2026 |title=Philips Hue revolutionizes lighting design with Hue SpatialAware feature that understands your space |url=https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space |access-date=February 20, 2026 |website=Signify}}</ref>

*According to [https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space Signify], the setup requires users to make a scan of their room utilizing a smartphone camera to map out a room to determine the position of the lights.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Falkenburg |first=Tayran |date=January 7, 2026 |title=Philips Hue revolutionizes lighting design with Hue SpatialAware feature that understands your space |url=https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space |access-date=February 20, 2026 |website=Signify}}</ref><ref name=":3" />

*It must be noted that the means of setup requires use of Augmented Reality in respect to gyroscopic positioning of a smartphone to detect the position of each light in the space. That positioning data is then recorded into the app, that can be tied to the user's account for customization.<ref name=":3" />

*Concerns regarding privacy involves the need to ~~share~~ images/videos of personal spaces in order for the feature to work.

*Concerns regarding privacy involves the need to sharing partial images/videos of personal spaces to the app in order for the feature to work.

*As of now (Feb 2026) there are no reports of image/video data being discarded after set-up.

===Non-Official Support of Triangulation/Trilateration===

Line 47:

Line 53:

*Hue States that '''with a subscription''' ($0.99 per month or $9.99 per year), MotionAware'''™''' can be configured to detect motion and provide a timeline of the event<ref name=":0" />

== Other "anti-consumer" practices ==

=== Philips Hue (Germany/US) removes direct customer support via email ===

According to Fabian at Hueblog.com, Philips Hue Germany has removed means of customer support from direct channels and have redirected customers for inquires via social media and other 3<sup>rd</sup> party resources.

<blockquote>"[https://www.philips-hue.com/de-de/support/contact The German website] now only offers written contact options via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All of these services require registration. Alternatively, the only other option currently available is the telephone support hotline, which is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is still a link to a contact form, but the form itself can no longer be found."

- Fabian<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first=Fabian |date=2026-02-14 |title=Philips Hue no longer offers email support |url=https://hueblog.com/2026/02/14/philips-hue-no-longer-offers-email-support/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=hueblog.com}}</ref></blockquote>

* As noted by Fabian, communications are now done through social media in which requires individual registration, meaning Philips Hue customers will need to create a separate social media account in order to communicate with Philips Hue customer support as a substitute for direct email with the company. He further concludes that the US branch "still offers support chat that does not require prior registration"<ref name=":4" />

* As of February 20, 2026: Philips Hue US site has also switch to primarily social media sites for [https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/support/contact direct communications]

* Direct phone communications is still offered for their customer services.

* Link to "Send Form" no longer sends customers to a form, they are instead redirected to the [https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/support/contact-form Support Page]

==Products==

@@ Line 22: / Line 22: @@
 *MotionAware™ functions through the principal of "triangulation"<ref name=":2" /> which utilizes the position of existing smart lights known positions to create presence of user in a 3D space.
 *Philips Hue CTO George Yianni on the [https://youtu.be/Q532v-xMmj0?t=2451 HomeKit Insider Podcast] Describes the technology as "The Bridge Pro analyze radio frequency traffic between pairs of lights inside a room in order to work out is someone moving in that room"<ref>{{Cite web |first= |date=November 24, 2025 |title=In Depth Talk with Philips Hue Founder & Head of Technology George Yianni on HomeKit Insider 286 |url=https://youtu.be/Q532v-xMmj0?t=2451 |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube {{!}} HomeKit Insider}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Welander |first=Eric |date=2026-02-16 |title=Philips Hue Motion Aware: Futuristic Room Lighting Automation! |url=https://youtube.com/shorts/h6Ry6OOI1II?si=YzfdYiVPoY9a_jj- |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
+=== SpatialAware ===
+* As explained by [https://hueblog.com/2026/01/07/spatialaware-philips-hue-announces-new-lighting-feature/ Hueblog.com] and [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYKcF5yVeLc appgefahren], SpatialAware is similar technology used by Philips Hue that accounts for the placement of each smart light in a space and adjusts its lighting characteristics in respect to where light is emitted in the room. <ref>{{Cite web |first=Fabian |date=2026-01-07 |title=SpatialAware: Philips Hue announces new lighting feature |url=https://hueblog.com/2026/01/07/spatialaware-philips-hue-announces-new-lighting-feature/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=hueblog.com}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |first=appgefahren |date=2026-01-08 |title=Philips Hue SpatialAware & smart lighting at CES 2026 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYKcF5yVeLc |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=Youtube}}</ref>
 ==Privacy Concerns==
 MotionAware'''™''' tackles the need of seamlessly integrating convenience of motion detectors while also reducing clutter of wiring around a living space, however there are potential trade-offs regarding privacy.
-===Scan Your Room===
+===Scan Your Room using SpatialAware===
-*According to [https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space Signify],  the setup requires users to make a scan of their room utilizing a smartphone camera to map out a room to determine the position of the lights.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Falkenburg |first=Tayran |date=January 7, 2026 |title=Philips Hue revolutionizes lighting design with Hue SpatialAware feature that understands your space |url=https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space |access-date=February 20, 2026 |website=Signify}}</ref>
+*According to [https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space Signify],  the setup requires users to make a scan of their room utilizing a smartphone camera to map out a room to determine the position of the lights.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Falkenburg |first=Tayran |date=January 7, 2026 |title=Philips Hue revolutionizes lighting design with Hue SpatialAware feature that understands your space |url=https://www.signify.com/global/our-company/news/press-releases/2026/20260107-philips-hue-revolutionizes-lighting-design-with-hue-spatialaware-feature-that-understands-your-space |access-date=February 20, 2026 |website=Signify}}</ref><ref name=":3" />
+*It must be noted that the means of setup requires use of Augmented Reality in respect to gyroscopic positioning of a smartphone to detect the position of each light in the space. That positioning data is then recorded into the app, that can be tied to the user's account for customization.<ref name=":3" />
-*Concerns regarding privacy involves the need to share images/videos of personal spaces in order for the feature to work.
+*Concerns regarding privacy involves the need to sharing partial images/videos of personal spaces to the app in order for the feature to work.
+*As of now (Feb 2026) there are no reports of image/video data being discarded after set-up.
 ===Non-Official Support of Triangulation/Trilateration===
@@ Line 47: / Line 53: @@
 *Hue States that '''with a subscription''' ($0.99 per month or $9.99 per year), MotionAware'''™''' can be configured to detect motion and provide a timeline of the event<ref name=":0" />
+== Other "anti-consumer" practices ==
+=== Philips Hue (Germany/US) removes direct customer support via email ===
+According to Fabian at Hueblog.com, Philips Hue Germany has removed means of customer support from direct channels and have redirected customers for inquires via social media and other 3<sup>rd</sup> party resources.
+<blockquote>"[https://www.philips-hue.com/de-de/support/contact The German website] now only offers written contact options via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. All of these services require registration. Alternatively, the only other option currently available is the telephone support hotline, which is available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. There is still a link to a contact form, but the form itself can no longer be found."
+- Fabian<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |first=Fabian |date=2026-02-14 |title=Philips Hue no longer offers email support |url=https://hueblog.com/2026/02/14/philips-hue-no-longer-offers-email-support/ |url-status=live |access-date=2026-02-20 |website=hueblog.com}}</ref></blockquote>
+* As noted by Fabian, communications are now done through social media in which requires individual registration, meaning Philips Hue customers will need to create a separate social media account in order to communicate with Philips Hue customer support as a substitute for direct email with the company. He further concludes that the US branch "still offers support chat that does not require prior registration"<ref name=":4" />
+* As of February 20, 2026: Philips Hue US site has also switch to primarily social media sites for [https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/support/contact direct communications]
+* Direct phone communications is still offered for their customer services.
+* Link to "Send Form" no longer sends customers to a form, they are instead redirected to the [https://www.philips-hue.com/en-us/support/contact-form Support Page]
 ==Products==