The Glue that Holds Our “Connected” Dreams Together
Image courtesy of Flickr Creative Commons The visage of our “smart” or “connected” destiny is often presented to us in broad strokes: self-driving vehicles, connected homes, logistics, wearables – the list continues on with each piece of evolving and maturing technology. Smart cities have a bright future, and the application possibilities seem expansive, but often lost in the conversation is the technology that actually enables the connected world. Within a smart city – or even at a micro level – within one specific industry deploying smart technology, are a wide range of considerations: how much data are we transporting? How will we transport that data? How can we make our system intelligent? Where do we need to install these intelligence-driving platforms? How can we connect our data, operational technology and information technology to the necessary access points? Who/what has access to this data and control over these machines? These are only a few of the considerations that companies must address that are responsible for the industrial services driving cities and municipalities. While security is indeed a critical piece of this landscape, before any kind of connected or smart city can be achieved, the literal communication platform upon which that connectivity is deployed must first be implemented in a way that is not only compatible with current technology, but that will also be compatible with future technologies as well. From our perspective, there are five critical elements behind a smart city connected infrastructure: Robust Cloud Services Infrastructure designed to support all consumers of smart city deliverables Core Network Architecture that can rapidly expand in bandwidth and reach Extended Access Layer network architecture that incorporates a wide range of wired and wireless technologies to reach every sensor and device or that needs to connect to the smart city infrastructure A wide range of reporting devices such as sensors, visibility devices and other end points that create the data that makes a smart city work Distributed intelligence technology that allows for local execution of applications at the access layer plus global communication of data/analytics and information While each one of these tools is important in its own right, there is a common, underlying thread that connects them: each facet depends on a robust, reliable and secure communication platform. For smart cities, these communication platforms must be capable of enabling multiple methods of connectivity, but most importantly, they must be able to provide industrial-strength Wi-Fi. Wireless connectivity is the backbone of communication between the sensors that power all facets of the connected industrial infrastructure and the big data transport that is critical to the analytics that power “smart” enterprise. Not all industrial Wi-Fi platforms are created equal, and one of the major questions facing the ongoing development of smart infrastructure centers on how to ensure that these networks are secure and compatible across multiple, and sometimes proprietary, technologies. This certainly opens up a veritable can of worms, including the idea of standardization, but without the driving force of reliable and robust communication technology, most smart city dreams will remain just that – a dream.
IoT Evolution Expo 2016 Recap
IoT Evolution Expo invaded Las Vegas this week by taking over Caesars Palace. The conference focus was to be a premier source of information needed to help drive your enterprise forward with the latest in IoT applications. A few of the tracks found this year at IoT Evolution included IoT Security, Fog Computing and IoT Enterprise. Overall this expo gave attendees the chance to listen to various talks and panel discussions, as well as hands-on demos on the exhibitor floor, and evening networking nights with industry experts and peers. Here are some of the posts during the event: Diving into the IoT Evolution sessions, we learn the weakness of our smartphone. Godfrey Chua, analyst at Machina Research, informs us that the smartphone can be a very weak link in IoT and M2M communications when it is used as a remote control. And…IoT Evolution continued with more panel discussions. Yann Kulp, VP SmartSpace North America with Schneider Electric tells us that, the panel with GE, Amazon, US Celluar and Argus Insights offered intriguing updates with the use of Wiser Air in your home and other Wi-Fi IoT applications. FreeWave was fortunate to participate this year on both the Oil and Gas: Pirates and Protection, as well as the Brown Field Round Table: What to do when it’s too late to start again panel discussions. The Pirates and Protection panel give us all a chance to dive deeper into the critical industries and what IoT secure options area available for these remote locations. My second panel of the night with the Brown Field Round Table gave attendees to hear real world case study examples of Sensor-2-Server implementation challenges with blending older SCADA systems with the latest IoT solutions for continuous real-time results. Time to see an IoT application at work! James Brehm & Associates tried their hand at capturing this IoT conference with virtual reality technology. A new solution from RICOH THETA. The 360 angle is best viewed prior to hitting up Margaritaville. Interesting to see the “Workspaces & IoT” concept discussed as well. Digital workspaces takes center stage at IoT Evolution as Global Workspace Analytics reports 3.7 million U.S. employees now work from home. Cynthia Artin with IoT Evolution informs us that,”while the IoT is arguably taking off faster in more industrial domains (factories, farms, transportation), and has the most “sizzle” in consumer domains (smart homes, smart cars, fitness wearables), there is new energy forming around IoT enhanced offices.” Now as this year’s IoT conference comes to a close, we remember all the ways IoT will change our enterprise and our life this year. One thing is clear, the more we innovate, the more we strive to become more efficient, automated and safety operated within fog computing and cloud applications. We hope you have enjoyed this week’s roundup, as always tells us about your IoT highs and lows.
First Responders: Saving Lives, Time and Money Through Innovation
How the Internet of Things is Changing the Landscape for First Responders and Industry According to the National Fire Protection Association, in 2013 there were 369,500 home fires causing some $6.8 billion in damages1 — plus an additional 98,000 apartment structure fires contributing an additional $1.6 billion in losses2. A frightening picture, isn’t it? The numbers are staggering — and yet innovation for emergency responders at both a local and national has not been a priority. The Internet of Things (IoT) aims to change that. Companies are now exploring how IoT technology can disrupt the way emergency responders do their jobs, saving countless lives and millions of dollars in the process. The IoT also holds immense promise for industrial applications, which often take place in remote locations where connectivity and communication platforms are rarely available. The IoT is a vast world, enabling the physical world to communicate with the digital world in new and amazing ways. But thanks to innovations fueled by companies focused on industrial, military, and government applications, we can traverse beyond a network of connected thermostats and smart TVs into an environment where first responders, industrial crews, and our military can communicate and receive critical information in real time. An example of technology that is changing the world of emergency responders as well as industries like Oil and Gas, the Military, and Utilities are ruggedized, industrial shorthaul and Wi-Fi platforms that offer secure collection, control and transport of Voice, Video, Data and Sensor information at incredible speeds. So what does this mean for the industries mentioned above? Imagine first responders being enabled to pull up building plans and architectural details as they arrive on scene. Structural notes are delivered at incredible speeds, giving the emergency responders valuable insight into stairway and fire escape placements and potential danger zones. Communication between police, fire crews and ambulance drivers is streamlined — delivered at blazing fast speeds. In other situations, police can access vehicle databases or hospital services, preserving precious minutes than can mean the difference between life and death. For industrial applications, the IoT holds promise for new levels of connectivity — enabling crews to access and consume information at a moment’s notice. This means workers can collect and transmit important data quickly and securely — even in harsh conditions. Beyond connectivity, the Internet of Things also holds massive promise for the monitoring of emergency responders and industrial crews in the field. Critical sensor data — such as oxygen levels, body and ambient temperature, heart rate and more — can be viewed in real time, giving the ability to monitor the vitals of emergency responders and workers in an instant and watch for danger signs and track bio data in the field. This data can be logged and analyzed, fueling innovation that will help keep these employees safe. The IoT is a vast and ever-growing field — and it holds incredible promise for making our cities a better and safer place to live and work. For emergency responders, where seconds saved can be lives saved, and industries where time is money, the IoT holds remarkable promise for changing the way we communicate, gather data, and work in the field. ————- Sources: 1 – http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-by-property-type/residential/home-fires 2 – http://www.nfpa.org/research/reports-and-statistics/fires-by-property-type/residential/apartment-structure-fires
DistribuTECH Day 3 Recap: Utilities-as-a-Service?
We’ve wrapped up another year at DistribuTECH, and we’re leaving Orlando feeling invigorated and excited about the industry