The new Matter update could make your dishwasher and vacuum play nice

Your robot vacuum cleaner and smart refrigerator might soon get friendlier with your lightbulbs and locks.

A new version of Matter, the industry-favored internet-of-things standard, promises to make more connected devices compatible across different platforms, in what could be a major step toward a truly interoperable smart home.

While Matter’s debut last year only encompassed smaller gadgets like lightbulbs and thermostats, the Connectivity Standards Alliance’s (CSA) updated release this week brings the industry group’s protocol to bigger appliances. The new version spans nine new device types including refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and vacuums.

“Siri, wash the dishes”: Matter ostensibly allows consumers to control any device included in the standard with any of the major voice platforms—Apple’s Siri, Amazon’s Alexa, Google Assistant, and others—making it much easier to, say, cue your laundry to start after a dishwashing load or dim the lights as the temperature cools.

With backing from hundreds of industry companies, including voice-assistant makers like Apple, Amazon, and Google, as well as manufacturers such as LG, Samsung, and HP, the CSA is well-positioned to make this type of coordination happen. But the success of the standard still relies on these companies being willing to build support into their products.

Toward teamwork: Developers have seen interoperability as a key goal toward boosting the adoption of the types of connected home gadgets that tech companies have been pushing for the last decade or so. But thus far, companies say technical hurdles and lack of coordination among companies have stood in the way.

Google and Amazon took a step toward interoperability earlier this year with smart speakers from Harman that work with both Alexa and Google Assistant.

In addition to the new device types, Matter has also updated its software developer kit, testing tools, and certification system. The company said it plans two more updates next year that should bring the standard to even more devices.