Since the beginning, UniKey has been redefining the way the world accesses everything. What started out as a small team working tirelessly to deliver the world’s first residential smart lock has now grown into an organization of over 50 individuals dedicated to bringing all locks online. Today, we’re working with 17+ incredible partners worldwide, in several different verticals including residential, commercial, automotive, and beyond, with the end goal of bridging the physical and digital security worlds. To learn more about UniKey and our collective vision, check out the video below.
By Matt Dupree, Senior Mobile Developer at UniKey Tech
If you saw a toilet seat in a movie theater, you’d probably think to yourself, “Wait a minute. You don’t use that in here.
Many of us have a similar reaction when we think of using React Native at an IoT startup:
Wait a minute. React Native is fine for light-weight apps, but IoT companies need apps that make heavy use of the phone’s hardware, so don’t use it in this situation. Just don’t use that here.
My goal in this written version of my talk is to convince you that using React Native with hardware-intensive applications is not like using a toilet seat in a movie theater. Along the way, I’ll go over why we (at UniKey) adopted React Native, how we used it in our apps, the results we’ve achieved using it so far, and the trade-offs/challenges we’ve faced.
Why
I originally approached React Native a little over a year ago with loads of skepticism. I had heard all the horror stories of companies getting burned by first-generation cross-platform mobile dev tools, so I had a hostile view of cross-platform tools in general. React Native was no exception.
Eventually, I noticed that an increasing number of impressive companies had adopted React Native and this caught my eye:
My favorite app on this list is Skype. Microsoft owns Xamarin and they choose React Native for Skype. I think that speaks volumes.
With the increasingly impressive roster of these companies in the back of my mind, I stumbled upon an opportunity to do some pro-bono work for a charity. They needed an iOS and Android app, and I decided that React Native would be a good choice for building their app. It was a simple food pantry app with a form, and React Native did the job very well:
Fast forward 1 year, and we’re staring down the barrel of a pretty hairy deadline. UniKey partners with lock manufacturers to build smart lock products. We provide white-label apps, SDKs, and hardware reference designs so that partners can launch in months instead of years. Essentially, a core part of our value proposition is speed; making React Native a valuable framework. One of React Native’s core value propositions is to improve developer productivity by, among other things, sharing code between Android and iOS. The productivity gain is something we needed, but some folks were still skeptical of React Native in general and even I wanted to see proof of the React Native app working with our UniKey SDK before we struck out on this path.
I pitched my team on staying up all night to build a prototype React Native app with our SDK to prove that it was the way forward for hitting our deadline. They were down because they’re awesome and we built the thing in a night. That went a long way towards helping folks feel comfortable with the path we were taking.
How
So, that’s why we adopted React Native at UniKey.
Let’s talk about how we did it. Here’s a very basic diagram, you’ll find to the right, of the architecture for the apps:
At the top, we’ve got our UI code written in javascript with React Native. In the middle, we’ve got a bridge layer that mediates communication between the javascript layer and our UniKey SDK, which is the bottom layer in the diagram.
Results
Overall, we were very pleased with how things turned out. We were able to hit our deadline and our React Native apps work well. One of the things that I think allowed React Native to work so well for us is that the bread and butter of the experience of our apps don’t actually need to communicate with the React Native code at all. Our apps aim to allow you to access your home or office in a way that is more convenient than the key.
With our apps, you don’t even have to open the application in order to unlock the door. Because of this, our SDK does all the heavy-lifting with the hardware and doesn’t even need to talk to the React Native code in order to perform its most important function. In other words, there’s no performance penalty in using React Native for “passive entry” into a UniKey powered smart lock.
What’s really interesting about our work with React Native is that because we white-label apps and create SDKs, we can actually easily create fully-native and React Native apps and compare them side-by-side to see the results. The side-by-side comparison is impressive. You might even have a hard time telling which app is native and which is React Native.
Conclusion
So, there you have it: the how, why, and the results of our usage of React Native at UniKey. If you’re working on an IoT product, I hope I’ve convinced you that using React Native is more appropriate than using a toilet in a movie theater. To read Matt’s full post visit https://goo.gl/74ECDC.
Check out UniKey Technologies
For more information on UniKey Technologies, it’s projects, developers, and more visit unikey.com.
From its very inception, connected technology has been shaping our world into a more convenient and efficient place. The installation of smart sensors in traffic lights are anticipated to decrease congestion in highly populated areas. Connected healthcare devices are allowing hospitals and doctors to actively monitor patients from any remote location. In the case of industrial production, companies like AirBus have been utilizing connected tablets, glasses, and robotic tools to significantly speed up the production of their aircrafts. Across the globe, there are several examples of connected technology and its smart applications making our world a more efficient and convenient place to live in as the digital and physical aspects of our lives merge. In UniKey’s case, we’re using connected technology to change the way the world accesses everything, by replacing the entire keychain in a more convenient way than a key.
Residential
In the residential market, there’s still a lot of work to be done to improve the way people unlock their front doors. Leveraging cloud-powered, IoT applications, and Bluetooth Low Energy, UniKey is creating a whole new at-door experience where users only need their smartphone to unlock their front door. As the world begins to bring everything online, UniKey is creating the beginning and end to the experiences by the convergence of the digital and physical world. With unique integrations with connected devices and applications like IFTTT and Amazon Alexa, residential locks that are powered by UniKey’s mobile key platform can begin interactions and individualized events the moment users Touch-To-Open® their smart locks. Now imagine, this similar kind of technology in the automotive industry as users lock their front doors and continue the experience in their cars.
Automotive
The mobile key experience should not be something that begins and ends with the home. At UniKey, we visualize a world where cars can be accessed with the very same smartphone application that locks and unlocks your front door. Not only that, but with the momentous changes that autonomous technology is bringing to the automotive industry, cars should also be able to recognize and customize themselves according to their passengers. With ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and GM’s Cruise looking to make their vehicles autonomous, the process of confirming that a passenger is who they say they are just got trickier. By using UniKey’s eKey technology and Inside/Outside intelligence™, ride-hailing applications can work with the digital key app to confirm the passenger’s identity. The vehicle can then adjust its settings (seat positions, temperature, and music) according to the rider’s historic preferences; similar to the adjustments a home will go through when UniKey powered locks or readers are triggered.
Commercial
Statistically speaking, the majority of us spend a considerable amount of time at work. This is why UniKey is bringing commercial buildings and offices the same kind of integrated, mobile key technology. Securing commercial buildings with UniKey powered readers won’t just provide a stronger access control solution, but also the potential for interoperability. This means that if a person goes from one office building where they have an authorized mobile credential, they may use this same app and credential to access other buildings with UniKey powered locks or readers. Of course, the user will need to be authorized to use their mobile key for other locations. Nonetheless, this makes credentialing more secure and efficient.
Merging the Digital and Physical Worlds
Almost every industry in the world is experiencing great changes and progress by utilizing technology that connects the digital and physical world. As advancements take place and more historically offline devices make their way online, we’ll be given the opportunity to simplify the more rigorous and time-stealing tasks in favor of smart and efficient solutions. To learn more about the opportunities for connecting the digital and physical worlds, visit unikey.com
For this year’s Samsung Developer’s Conference, the energy and excitement surrounding smart Solutions and Things was infectious. Ever since the company’s inception, Samsung has inspired a loyal customer following which stems from decades of delivering high-quality electronics and appliances to our homes and offices. This year, with their introduction of new and highly-capable Smart Solutions and Things, Samsung is ramping up for its next wave of incredible products that are sure to deliver unmatched events and experiences. UniKey’s COO, Lee Odess, was there to give us a complete run-down and his top three takeaways from the show:
1) The Tech that’s Leading the Way
This year, Samsung unveiled Bixby 2.0 and the SmartThings Cloud. With Bixby 2.0, the company is looking to expand on voice-controlled products and give consumers the reliability and efficiency they’ve been looking for from this kind of voice recognition technology. Lee stated that “because Samsung has products in homes that are “essentials” and almost always on, such as TVs and refrigerators, the opportunity is there for Bixby to deliver the same kind of reliable experiences consumers have been anticipating from voice control technology.” Samsung is also driving change and smart initiatives through its big move with their brand name SmartThings by moving all their IoT products and services to one connected ecosystem called the SmartThings Cloud. We expect this to be the very tip of the SmartThings iceberg as Samsung is developing even more ways to simplify and connect everything around us.
2) Connected Everything
With the addition of Bixby 2.0 and the SmartThings Cloud, we can see the path Samsung is forging for the future of connected technology. After the introduction of Bixby 2.0, the show moved on to showcase Samsung’s latest smart appliances as well as the company’s vision of connecting just about everything. In response to this, Lee stated that “as a platform company whose very bones are comprised of IoT connected things, I’m excited for what’s ahead and to be partnering with Samsung.” As new advancements in IoT technology and products take center-stage, UniKey envisions the future of a connected world where the smartphone and mobile key begin and end the journey to every connected experience.
3) Collaboration
Outside of the more technical aspects of this year’s SDC, Lee also noted the partnership between Google and Samsung which brought ARCore to Galaxy devices earlier this year. For the two tech giants, the project not only exhibited ground-breaking AR technology but also the high-quality products that can be actualized through strategic partnerships. “Instead of going at it alone and competing, they valued the IP, know-how, speed to market, costs, and all the other attributes collaboration brings,” Lee adds. We believe the products our team saw at SDC 2017 reflect the nature of how smart devices will be developed in these next few years. The future won’t be built by just one company, but by many.
Collaborate with UniKey
To learn more about what partnership and collaboration can yield for your company, visit unikey.com
At UniKey, our culture is very important to us. It unites our team and motivates us as it enforces the UniKey vision and goals that help us deliver an incredible access control platform. We spend a lot of time and consideration evaluating potential candidates based on how their values and ideologies align with our own. Altogether, our products are not only powered by ground-breaking technology, but also a collection of talented, self-driven, individuals. To learn more about UniKey’s culture and our team, visit https://unikey.com/careers/.
This year we’ve witnessed several critical cyber attacks. Very recently, our nation was hit by the Equifax data breach, which has left half the country and its financial data incredibly vulnerable. In May it was the ransomware attack, WannaCry, which affected over 200,000 computers across 150 countries. In June a Petya-like attack in the Ukraine left hundreds of businesses inoperable. In a recent article by Inside Counsel, CEO of FairWarning, Kurt Long, explains that these attacks and the cyber criminals behind them are becoming more sophisticated and organized as “Cyber criminals have morphed into businesses with capabilities to organize and build large attacks.” By the year 2020, the number of exposed points of entry for cyberattacks will reach over 20 billion as more and more IoT devices are brought into homes, offices, and cars.
Sacrificing Security for Speed of Development
Recently, studies have found that not enough companies are taking the right steps to prevent cyber attacks. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security states there has been an increase in the number of companies that are taking on the much more “difficult and expensive endeavor of attempting to add security to products after they have been developed and deployed.” Today, too many attacks are occurring because platform developers are bypassing crucial security protocols in an effort to push products out in a timely fashion.
And if the IoT and more specifically connected security systems are going to survive, security needs to be the main point of focus and must be prevalent throughout a system’s embedded software, communications, cloud platform, and applications. Proven methods of encryption and sophisticated PKI are the key to resisting attacks and hackers who will find a way to exploit any unpatched vulnerability. The necessity of keeping all of your components patched and up to date is something that is best showcased by the recent cyber attacks and events at last year’s Defcon Conference, which resulted in the hacking of 12 out of 16 connected smart locks; one of the four locks that remained secure was powered by UniKey.
Secure PKI
There are several recommended security protocols for IoT devices and platforms in place so that smart locks and mobile key platforms may not be subjected to the same kind of exploits that were discovered at Defcon 2016. For starters, one of the many methods of securing data transmission is the implementation of a robust Public Key Infrastructure, or PKI. PKIs are potentially a company’s greatest security asset, and could mean the difference between a resilient system and a hacker’s dream. A product’s PKI, especially those in the access control industry, should be designed to employ a unique shared secret for each phone, lock, and gateway in order to ensure secure communication. At UniKey, we treat each interaction between a user and our devices as unique interactions and as such they can never be replayed. Under UniKey’s PKI system, additional shared secrets are also produced every time a user attempts to pair their smartphone with a lock; adding another layer of protection against possible replay attacks.
Anticipate Attacks (Cryptographic Noncing helps prevent replay attacks)
Creating multiple layers of encryption and making sure your product’s PKI is up to par are not the only way to prevent cyber attacks. Developers must also be on the lookout for any bugs or attack surfaces in a system’s framework. Even if your company believes it has the most secure platform on the planet, routine security audits should be made on a regular basis. Additionally, it’s critical for platform and user security that companies understand and recognize the risks and limitations in their own platform, so they may implement preventative measures against botnets, DDoS, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, which have impacted several pieces of software and IoT devices across the nation.
To conclude, building access control that your customers can trust begins with the implementation of preventative security measures. There’s a very dangerous trend in place where IoT platform developers rush to get a device on stores’ shelves; leaving little time to properly fortify the software and hardware of the device. Ryan Dean of Altman Vilandrie & Company states that “there are lots of providers developing innovative [IoT] solutions, but when it comes to purchasing decisions, buyers are looking for a brand and product they trust.” In keeping up with the IoT trend, access control is going from legacy systems like RFID and magstripe cards to wireless, connected readers and deadbolts. As access control providers continue to make the move to IoT enabled, digital credentialing like mobile access control, it’s imperative that security remain at the forefront of every developer’s mind. To learn more about building secure access control products visit unikey.com.
From cybersecurity to internal workplace safety, this year’s ASIS Convention is sure to pack many interesting topics, demonstrations, and industry education into three incredible days. In addition to all of the events and a massive showcase floor that will hold over 500 exhibitors, this year’s ASIS will host some unique keynote presentations. Among the list of speakers is former President George W. Bush, Shark Tank judge and serial entrepreneur, Mark Cuban, author and business consultant, Scott Klososky, as well as the first female F-14 Tomcat aviator/ former lieutenant, Carey Lohrenz.
The Demos
Beyond the anticipated list of speakers, ASIS is guaranteed to bring a promising amount of impressive demonstrations from access control companies who are utilizing technologies like AI, Biometrics, wireless readers, and platforms. For instance, you have Code Lynx’s Aries, a mixed reality security system, using Microsoft’s Hololens, that “provides the security operations center with a real-time body worn display of what the field units are seeing and interacting with.”
Moreover, expect to see plenty of information and demonstrations on the latest biometric technologies. BioSignature ID will be presenting their unique gesture-based security system that’s meant to prevent internet fraud. Additionally, Princeton Identity will be presenting their new IOM Access200 to ASIS attendees. Several companies will be featuring wireless readers this year, as well as open security platforms as more and more companies turn to these solutions to improve access control ecosystems.
Hot Topics
This year at ASIS, the hot topics range from cybersecurity, workplace safety, and global security. For cybersecurity, there are plenty of seminars being held to inform the industry on best practices and preventative measures against ransomware, malware, and DDoS attacks. Seminars like “What have physical security hackers taught us?” and “Become Stealth Online” will be sure to improve attendees’ knowledge on the subject in addition to teaching them preventative measures against cyber attacks. Best practices on workplace safety will also be taught through sessions on “Strategies for violent predator mitigation,“Safe Employee Termination,” and many more. Finally, ASIS 2017 will also shed some light on more difficult subjects like terrorism through seminars on response strategies and the development of strong, proactive communities.
Network with UniKey
As a team that’s working to advance and support the access control and security industries, UniKey will be attending this year’s ASIS Tradeshow. At ASIS, we hope to build more strategic relationships with companies who share the same vision of laying a foundation for the future of an access control ecosystem built on a sophisticated and interconnected network. To learn more about UniKey and our open access control platform, visit unikey.com and schedule a meeting with us at ASIS 2017.
In 2012 UniKey’s founder, Phil Dumas, went on Shark Tank and showcased a working prototype of the world’s first smart lock. Shortly thereafter UniKey became exclusively recognized as a smart lock company. In the 15 minutes Phil presented the product, the sharks and viewers were able to see its incredible built-in features. However, what they didn’t see was the concrete foundation this smart lock and its technology was laying for the future of the access control industry.
Most people know UniKey through its involvement with the Kwikset Kevo. The Kevo, powered by UniKey, however, is the closest UniKey Technologies gets to being a smart lock company, or a direct competitor to August, LockiTron, or Friday smart locks. In fact, UniKey views all of these lock companies as potential customers. Phil expands on this vision by stating, “while UniKey is the world’s largest smart lock company, we don’t make or sell any smart locks. Why is this? It’s because our vision is to change the way the world accesses everything, and in order to do this we cannot do it alone.”
Operating as a licensing and Access Control as a Service (ACaaS) company, UniKey was able to share its vision and technology with 15 partners, seven of which are number one in their region, in both the residential and commercial access control spaces. As a whole, UniKey is expanding its platform, technology, and ecosystem in order to offer it as a service to lock and security OEMs across the globe in an effort to transform this vision into a reality.
UniKey’s Secure Access Control Platform
The rate of adoption and support for mobile access control is growing rapidly as individuals and organizations recognize the opportunities mobile integration can hold for their products and customers. With the Kwikset Kevo, UniKey helped facilitate the adoption of smart lock technology at a residential level. However, in order to drive the acceptance of smart locks, UniKey developed a platform that would tackle all end user concerns and needs, starting with security. First off, UniKey’s platform was designed to face security threats through military-grade encryption methods. Additionally, the platform never has to compromise security for the sake of performance due to its refined scaling abilities; making the embedded software so resilient and efficient that partners can confidently host one to millions of users.
Partner with UniKey
Today, there are many companies looking to reform their legacy products in favor of producing locks and readers that will offer their users greater security, control, and experiences. To make this happen, UniKey equips partners with the greatest mobile access control platform and licensed technology that can reduce production impediments and accelerate the product’s time to market. To learn more about integrating with UniKey’s secure access control platform, visit unikey.com.
Whether it’s Latch or Kevo or even the Ellipse bike lock, mobile access control is experiencing a boom. In all key verticals: residential, commercial, automotive, and so on, we’re seeing this trend driving many companies to build sophisticated mobile access products. Some companies are developing these products on their own mobile key platforms, while others are partnering with reliable access control platform providers. In almost every use case, the benefits of integrating with a secure platform greatly outweigh the drawbacks. We discuss a few reasons why below:
1) Customization
For companies who are looking to have a considerable amount of customization throughout the development process of their product, choosing to partner with a platform provider will prove to be the most promising decision. A platform provider’s main concern will always lie in the overall performance of the software that’s embedded in your product, meaning the entire look of your reader or deadbolt will be up to you.
2) Scalability
When it comes to mobile access control, scalability is a must. Users will expect to be able to send, accept, and authenticate eKey credentials at any point. Creating a system that’s able to handle anywhere from 1 to 1,000,000 users is a specialty for platform providers as it’s something that is always anticipated in this tech savvy world full of growing digital adopters. Today’s platforms are also built in cloud environments, which make them more cost efficient. As demand for the products grow, there’s no need to worry about purchasing more servers in order to sustain software efficiency.
3) Reduction of Risk (and costs)
To dive a little deeper into the cost efficiency of mobile access platforms, integrators and partners can experience a significant cut in development costs and risks when building on a platform that’s already proven itself in performance, security, and user experience. What’s more, partners won’t have to worry about the legal and development roadblocks and expenses throughout production; accelerating time to market for the product.
4) Cutting Edge Technology
Additionally, one of the greatest opportunities platform providers have to offer their partners is the impressive pieces of technology that are unique to these companies’ systems. At UniKey all of our partners have the ability to take advantage of unparalleled IP, which include Touch-to-Open®, Inside/Outside Authentication, and machine learning capabilities. All of our technological staples work to unlock simplicity and enhance user experiences while upholding the greatest level of security in the mobile access control market.
5) Integrations
Finally, with more and more people connecting IoT products like the Nest and Alexa to their mobile access products, demand for integrations is growing. Keeping users’ wishes in mind, most platform providers operate and build their platforms on open APIs in order to ensure extensibility for their products and make future technological growth feasible through a flexible system. With these open APIs, partners can expand on their product’s features in order to offer customers unrivaled user experiences.
To learn more about UniKey’s secure access control platform, visit us at unikey.com.
Compare and contrast: the excitement around the release of the very first iPhone in 2007 vs. the hype around the iPhone 8. There’s a significant difference in the amount of eagerness and anticipation for these phones, 10 years and 15 models later. For consumers, these phones have become a fifth appendage and as a result, have come to blend in with the rest of their daily lives; only given a second thought when it breaks or doesn’t work. Access control, in a sense, is essentially the smartphone of the technology and security industries. There’s nothing overly flashy or ostentatious about it; it just simply works and remains consistent in its foundation and performance. However, in recent tech media outlets, the iPhone’s consistency is something that has been dubbed “boring”. Nonetheless, hundreds of thousands of consumers still love its unchanging and familiar user experience. Which is what got us thinking that perhaps the kind of technology and products that we produce should follow along these lines.
The Value of Consistency
What many critics of the smartphone are overlooking is the value in the consistent and straightforward nature of the product. When it comes to the smartphone’s user experience and performance, consumers know exactly what they’re getting. But if the user experience varies and is unpredictable it causes frustration. This is not unlike access control products, because if a user has an interaction with an access control platform that proves to be inconsistent in performance, then the end result is the same level of frustration produced by an unreliable phone.
Seamless Experiences
In 2017, access control (and even our smartphones) should be something that we can take for granted, so much so that it shouldn’t even be a thought in our minds, and become a reliably, uneventful part of our lives. With the latest technology, the next generation of access control is capable of offering a passive experience, where users can seamlessly be authenticated and admitted through a point of access. There should be no extra step in the access process wherein users must present a credential to a reader. We live in an age where access control technology can and should readily recognize who is approaching the check-point and over time come to learn users’ regular comings and goings to make the granting of access more perceptive and efficient. These are processes that should come to be natural to users due to their reliable and unchanging nature. There should be no question of a system’s quality or any coin-tossing on whether or not the system will perform adequately.
At UniKey, we deliver mobile access control solutions that are unobtrusive and homogenous in performance so as to provide the most ideal and nearly predictable user experiences. Our mobile key readers are constantly using the latest in technological advances like machine learning and BLE in order to make office and home security adept, dependable and simple. To learn more about the industry’s most reliable mobile key platform, please visit unikey.com