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Can IoT Help Advance the Micromobility Market

2021-06-03

Can IoT Help Advance the Micromobility Market? IoT is no longer just a buzzword. There are countless solutions built around it. One of the most common solutions is your virtual assistant, “Alexa.” The way that device manages other internet-connected devices in your home is almost priceless. But, this is not all IoT is good for. IoT has been heavily leveraged in industries like manufacturing, logistics, industrial automation, and more. Moreover, IoT is also being used in the micromobility sector. What is Micromobility? The term micromobility refers to lightweight transportation for individuals. It covers various types of transportation options that weigh less than 500kg (1200 lbs). Some examples are bicycles, e-bikes, electric scooters, segways, electric skateboards, and hoverboards. Unlike vehicles that can be used to travel long distances, the micromobility market focuses on short distances, usually less than five miles. There are many benefits to the micromobility market, which is why tech giants are heavily investing in it. In 2020, investment in the micromobility market was $800 million. It soon skyrocketed after the lockdown restrictions were lifted. The micromobility brands attracted close to $2.9 billion in 2021. Benefits of the Micromobility Market Let’s take a look at three specific benefits of the micromobility market that justify these high investments: #1: Convenience One of the best benefits is convenience. Transportation options can help users reach their destination quickly and with ease. #2: No Parking Issues Parking is a huge problem when it comes to personal vehicles. Here, micromobility can be of great use. With micromobility transportation options like segways and hoverboards, you will never again face parking issues. #3: Cost-Effective As the concept of micromobility includes ride-sharing, it will naturally become cost-effective; you can rent, and there is no need for any type of license for e-bikes or hoverboards. Challenges Faced by the Micromobility Sector The...

Data Science for IoT

2021-05-23

Data Science for IoT: How Does It Work? The Internet of Things (IoT) is a groundbreaking technology that changes the face of business and our daily lives. It has turned individuals into smart device-connected consumers and businesses into overlapping enterprises. Smart devices generate tremendous amounts of data wirelessly over the internet without human intervention, which is excellent for organizations eager to provide the best services to their clients. The only problem is that IoT creates too much information for traditional data science. And that’s how we get to data science for IoT. Data Science and How It Applies to IoT The simplest definition of data science is the study of processes that help us derive value from data. In the case of IoT, data refers to information created by sensors, devices, applications, and other smart gadgets. At the same time, value means predicting future trends and outcomes based on that data. For example, let’s say you use a fitness tracker that measures the number of steps you take per day. With this information, data science can tell you: But that’s just a simple example of data science in action. IoT is different because it’s a high-volume data producer. According to the report, the amount of data that IoT devices will generate by 2025 is expected to reach 73.1 zettabytes. The standard data science can’t handle it, so it has to evolve. IoT helps data science go to the next level. Key Differences Between Traditional and Data Science for IoT There are quite a few differences between traditional and IoT-based data science, but we will point out only a few key distinctions. Data Science for IoT Is Dynamic The classical version of data science is static because it’s primarily based on historical information. For instance, a company gathers data from its clients...

The Benefits of Using MQTT to Warp Speed to Industry 4.0

2021-05-21

The Benefits of Using MQTT to Warp Speed to Industry 4.0 The revolution of the Internet of Things brought changes to many different sectors of the economy, but one, in particular, is facing challenges that it never had seen before: manufacturing. A traditionally conservative industry, with a long life cycle for changes that might jeopardize production lines and be very capital intensive, many manufacturing companies are now being forced to face the massive pressure of the digital transformation imposed by IoT and Industry 4.0 which is why we’re exploring the benefits of using MQTT. There are two vital areas inside organizations that stand to be impacted greatly by the rise of Industry 4.0: Operational technology (OT: systems that operate in environments such as on a factory floor or in an oil/gas pipeline and its supporting systems) and information technology (IT: the systems that organize data and deliver it, such as data management systems and networks). Ironically, these areas have had limited synergy in most instances. However, IT/OT Convergence is changing the landscape. The advancements in IIoT and edge computing are playing a key role in bridging the gap between IT and OT. In this new paradigm, in which everything can be connected, the promise of sensors that collect copious amounts of data opens doors for better efficiency, performance, and ultimately, higher profits in a wide range of industries. Many industrial automation systems are being redesigned to accommodate the new digital transformation paradigms, including the need to consider what Industry 4.0 means for such environments. Automation protocols created many decades ago, like OPC UA/DA, and traditional Historian databases have now to coexist with de-facto standards, like MQTT – a lightweight and ever more prevalent interface that expands the usability of your data way beyond the boundaries of your factory floor, including having the Cloud as...

The New Smart Home Standard

2021-05-20

What MATTER(s) Now – The New Smart Home Standard What is Matter? Matter, an industry unifying IoT wireless network standard that is yet to be released. It aims to be a dependable, frictionless, and secure communication basis for linked objects. The project was started and announced in 2019. Using a specific collection of IP-based networking technologies, starting with Thread, Wi-Fi, and Ethernet, Matter, a platform built on IP (Internet Protocol), enables communication between smart home devices and ecosystems. Matter is streamlining development for manufacturers and enhancing compatibility and ease of use for consumers. It is built on market-proven technologies donated by businesses throughout the industry and developed in a collaborative and open-source manner with an implementation-first approach. Matter attempts to establish interoperability across smart home devices and Internet of things (IoT) platforms from various suppliers and lessen fragmentation among various vendors. Amazon, Apple, Google, Comcast, and the Zigbee Alliance, now known as the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA), created and introduced the project group. Schneider, Huawei, NXP, Silicon Labs, and IKEA are later members. Matter-compatible items and software upgrades for already-available products are anticipated for fall 2022. The Matter standard is licensed by CSA, although the Matter code repository is open source under the Apache license. How Matter Affects the Industry Matter uses Wi-Fi or Thread for radio communication, with Bluetooth® still present for device setup functions. Before Matter, there were Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Lora that work with smart home appliances. However, Matter builds a bridge among all of them. In fact, Ikea recently announced the creation of its own bridge that would link the Matter devices with its current Tradfri line of products. A few of the largest names in the market collaborated to introduce Matter. There are more than 170 firms engaged, with the most well-known names including Apple, Samsung, Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee...

10 Best Smart Watch Manufacturers in the USA

2021-05-19

10 Best Smart Watch Manufacturers in the USA: Wearable Product Supplier and Brand The wearable technology market is growing rapidly, and smartwatches are one of the most popular types of wearables. If you’re looking for a top-quality smartwatch, then you should check out the manufacturers on this list. These companies are leaders in the industry, and they produce some of the best smartwatches on the market. So if you’re ready to join the wearable revolution, then these are the brands you need to know about! These are the top smartwatch manufacturers in the United States, and they offer a wide variety of products to choose from. Whether you’re looking for a fitness tracker, a smartwatch with a built-in camera, or a device that can track your heart rate, there’s sure to be a product on this list that meets your needs. And with so many different manufacturers to choose from, you’re sure to find the perfect smartwatch for you! Apple watch Apple introduced its first wearable Apple Watch in 2015 and has since become one of the top smartwatch manufacturers in the world. The company offers a wide range of products, from fitness trackers to smartwatches with built-in cellular connectivity. In 2021, Apple released its latest Apple Watch Series 7, which includes new features like an always-on display and blood oxygen monitoring. The retail price of the Apple Watch 7 is from $399 to $529. Apple Watch is the most expensive smart watch on the market. Fitbit Fitbit is a fitness tracking company that offers a variety of products, from fitness trackers to smartwatches. The company was founded in 2007 and released its first product, the Fitbit Tracker, in 2009. The Fitbit Versa is the company’s best-selling smartwatch, and it features a wide range of health, the price of the Fitbit Versa is...

What Are Wireless IoT Sensors and Why Are They Useful

2021-05-16

What Are Wireless IoT Sensors and Why Are They Useful? The Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming our world in tremendous ways. By enabling everyday objects to communicate wirelessly, we can automate data exchange and create new efficiencies that positively impact lives and organizations. Underlying the IoT is wireless sensor technology, which allows us to collect information about surrounding environments over extended periods with little manual effort. Wireless sensors can be configured to measure a variety of variables, from air temperature to vibration. Overall, there are many different types of wireless sensors available in the marketplace. Many wireless networks contain hundreds, sometimes thousands, of wireless sensors. Already, these devices are used across a wide range of sectors, including retail, agriculture, urban planning, security, and supply chain management. In this article, we dive deeper into how wireless sensors work and explain why they’re so important for the IoT revolution. What Do Wireless Sensors Do? Wireless sensors gather data about local conditions and share findings with other powerful components or platforms for further processing. Sensors are typically distributed across large geographic areas and programmed to communicate with central hubs, gateways, and servers. One major advantage of wireless sensors is they require a low level of maintenance and a small amount of power to function. Sensors can support IoT applications for years before needing a battery change or charge. When it comes to building wireless networks, one of the biggest questions developers face is how to arrange wireless sensors in the field. Sensors, or “nodes,” must be distributed in such a way that supports the overarching objective of the network developer. How Are Wireless Sensors Networked? The two most common arrangements for wireless sensors are the star and mesh topologies. The “mesh” topology describes networks in which sensors connect to as many other nearby nodes...

What is IoT

2021-05-15

What is the Internet of Things, or IoT? A Simple Explanation. The Internet of Things, or "IoT" for short, is about extending the power of the internet beyond computers and smartphones to a whole range of other things, processes, and environments. Here's everything you need to know. The Internet of Things (IoT) market continues to grow with the increasing number of connected devices. These connected, or “smart,” devices can be found in every industry you can think of, such as manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture. You’ve probably encountered smart devices in your own home, even! Still, it might seem hard to picture how these devices make up the larger ecosystem that IoT is. You may be wondering, what is IoT, exactly? Although IoT is very vast, this is everything you need to know about the Internet of Things the next time a friend or a coworker mentions their smart cars, watches, or doorbells. What is IoT? If you just Google “What is IoT?” many of the answers are unnecessarily technical. Case in point: “The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.”—An unnecessarily technical explanation of IoT If you’re confused, you’re not alone if you’re confused. Most people neither want nor need to dive into the nitty-gritty of IoT. In this post, I’ll provide you with a simple explanation of the Internet of Things and how it works. Before we jump in, note that “The Internet of Things” and “IoT” can and will be used interchangeably. IoT Explained: Simple and Non-Technical You might be reading this on desktop or tablet, but whatever device you’re using, it’s connected to the internet....

IoT Security in the Era of Remote Work

2021-05-08

IoT Security in the Era of Remote Work? Arguably one of the largest corporate impacts of the pandemic is the shift in working habits and thus remote work IoT security. At the height of lockdown restrictions, remote working became the norm, and this continues to be the preferred working model for many employees even as offices have begun to open back up. For example, according to a recent Pew Research, 76 percent of employees who are working from home cite their preference as their primary reason for doing so. Post-Pandemic Remote Work As employees and employers alike settle into remote working for the long-term, it’s important that they stay abreast of emerging security concerns. When the abrupt pivot to the remote model happened two years ago, both enterprises and employees scrambled to ensure everyone and everything was connected. In the chaos, security was often an afterthought, but companies have an opportunity today to eliminate any lingering vulnerabilities and ensure a more secure remote model. IoT Security Concerns When the majority of workers operate out of a physical location, there are generally robust security procedures in place. It’s not always possible—or practical—to implement these when employees are working remotely. In addition, the WFH model introduces its own security concerns, ranging from weak passwords on personal computers, poorly secured wi-fi, or the family’s Alexa passing along malware. So, what can be done to address these vulnerabilities? Some helpful tips for both IT departments and employees include: Network Security Network security is another important consideration. Employees may be cognizant of security best practices in the office, but it’s not unusual for them to be much less vigilant at home. Companies with remote staff must educate them on home network risks, including the fact that many household products like baby monitors or smart TVs can introduce numerous security...

What Is a Smartwatch

2020-07-09

What Is a Smartwatch and What Do They Do? Everything you need to know about smartwatches A smartwatch is a portable device that's designed to be worn on a wrist. Like smartphones, they use touchscreens, offer apps, and often record your heart rate and other vital signs. The Apple Watch and Wear (formerly Android Wear) models prompted more consumers to appreciate the usefulness of wearing a mini computer on their wrists. In addition, specialty smartwatches for outdoor activities often supplement other, bulkier devices in an adventurer's tool kit. A Short History of the Smartwatch While digital watches have been around for decades—some with abilities like calculators and unit converters—only in the 2010s did tech companies begin releasing watches with smartphone-like abilities. Apple, Samsung, Sony, and other major players offer smartwatches on the consumer market, but a small startup actually deserves credit for popularizing the modern-day smartwatch. When Pebble announced its first smartwatch in 2013, it raised a record amount of funding on Kickstarter and went on to sell more than one million units. At the same time, advances in silicon miniaturization opened the door to other kinds of dedicated-purpose smartwatches. Companies like Garmin, for example, support smartwatches like the Fenix, which are more rugged and optimized with sensors and trackers to support back-country expeditions. Likewise, companies like Suunto released smartwatches optimized for scuba diving that withstand extended time at significant depths. What Do Smartwatches Do? Most smartwatches—whether they're intended for daily use (as with the Apple Watch) or for specific purposes (as with the Garmin Fenix)—offer a suite of standard features: Types of Smartwatches Broadly speaking, smartwatches occupy two niches in the wearables market. First, a general-purpose smartwatch—like the Apple Watch and most Google-powered Wear devices—blend form and function. They're designed to replace mechanical wristwatches and are heavily smartphone-dependent. Think of them...