2026.02.26 - No More Keys, Please.

This morning I read the following article on The Verge about the Aliro smart lock standard releasing their 1.0 spec.

I get so excited by this stuff. Mostly because I hate keys. They're old and clunky and heavy and annoying. We don't need them anymore.

I installed a Nest Yale smart lock at home years ago. I can open it with a code, with my smart watch, or with my phone. No keys needed. I also drive an EV that requires no key. I had finally eliminated all keys from my life when I decided to rent an office space. Despite entrances to all the buildings accepting keycards, the actual office door required a key. Drove me nuts.

This is irrational, to an extent. I accept that. But if I can turn my smartphone into my house keys, my car keys, my wallet, my passport, my computer, my camera, AND my phone, thereby keeping my pants pockets relatively clutter free, I will. I mostly have.

That being said, I don't want to be locked into a single ecosystem. I've recently been moving toward open source and self hosted smart home devices. Anything that prevents lock in or sharing too much private home data with tech companies that have become increasingly less trustworthy. (I've long been a fan of Big Tech, but they're losing me, and if you can lose me, I'm not sure how you keep most people who are inherently less trusting of technology).

Open standards are critical to making this happen. Matter over Thread is a big one. Aliro could be next. I hope we get some cool new devices soon that support all these standards. I will absolutely upgrade.

Now if I can only get someone to install them at my office so I don't need this one damn key...