Smart, connected Service oriented

Here are three videos about embedded, from the MS point of view. The interesting one is the retro view, from 2007.

1. Microsoft 2019 (Published 2009) General MS video- notice not a desktop or server to be seen. 100% embedded, much surface computing technology. MS has a team working on every single thing you see here. Surface is multi-touch, multi-user, multi-media input and output. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiqgmAYrd3c&feature=PlayList&p=8C7EA2FCDDE88894&index=0&playnext=1

2. Microsoft 2010 (published 2007) This is the really interesting one. In 2007 MS were showing exactly the 2010 product rollout. Everything you see here is Windows 7 or Windows Mobile 6.5. Point is, Microsoft not only spins a vision, they MAKE it happen. Their vision statement is a product roadmap. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RiTb3-t4YJk&feature=PlayList&p=8C7EA2FCDDE88894&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=1

3. Smart, Connected, Service Oriented Devices (now/Transition, published 2009) This is the ‘embedded’ extension of the current vision. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoG0yicRl10

Smart, connected Service oriented edge servers- see them here

About Middleware

We will be hearing more about this. In a diverse world, with many operating systems, languages, technologies middleware is what keeps things togehter. Middleware is 'everyware'.

Lawrence Ricci

Original post is here:
http://www.internetevolution.com/messages.asp?piddl_msgthreadid=229093&piddl_msgid=195928#msg_195928

Yes! The Internet of Things! This is the substance of Web 3.0. This is where Internet Evolution is going!

Making things connect is what I do, what I have done for a decade. Now that 32 bit embedded CPU’s can cost as little as candy in a vending machine or be as powerful as a desktop (Intel Atom) we have the hardware we need. The gating factor has been software- specifically middleware for embedded devices.

We are getting there. Fortunately, the cloud is ready with Service Oriented Architecture. The internet of things is huge. You probably have two or three computers. You have dozens of ‘things’ that could/should/will connect. Each of these ‘things’ could have vital data, but the data is vital only at certain moments. Devices need to ‘publish’ events and cloud services need to ‘subscribe’ as needed.

Here are some quotes about the Internet of things
L.V.Gerstner – IBM
"...a billion people interacting with a million e-businesses with a trillion intelligent devices interconnected ..."

Paul Otellini- CEO Intel
“The pervasive internet will bring us the tools we need when we need them by proactively anticipating what we need”

Roberto Siagri-CEO Eurotech
“ An embedded computer system is typically any microprocessor-based device that encapsulates a basic process knowledge. Consequence: IT integration is at best an effort in hindsight and at worst ignored altogether. Pervasive Computing provides technology and infrastructure to enable the process knowledge and associated parameters to be distributed within the enterprise. Consequence: IT integration becomes native capability of the system.”

Kevin Dallas, general manager of Windows Embedded
“Smart, connected, service oriented devices”

In in the end, it was said in the beginning by the inventor of the concept-
Mark Weiser, chief scientist at Xerox PARC
Principles describing ubiquitous computing:

• The purpose of a computer is to help you do something else.
• The best computer is a quiet, invisible servant.
• The more you can do by intuition the smarter you are; the computer should extend your unconscious.
• Technology should create calm- "that which informs but doesn't demand our focus or attention."
  

Lawrence Ricci
www.EmbeddedInsider.com

Eurotech Awareness Day today- we have mission focused on three words:

Disappearing, connecting, augmenting.

• Disappearing- think not just small, but almost passive in interaction, think RESTful interface.
• Connecting- nuf said. IPV6 sooner or later
• augmenting- supporting our presence in our environment.

Lawrence Ricci

Intel to buy Wind River!

This is big news.

http://seekingalpha.com/article/141400-intel-wind-river-another-player-throwing-its-hat-into-the-ring

I suspect this will cement support for Moblin on the Atom SBC.

My guess is the Intel deal will go through, with Intel. People with software IP, for example IBM, Google and Microsoft, might be slow to co-mingle their IP with all the versions of the GPL. With control of software, Intel will be in the catbird seat for the two big "Bill of Material" items in the sub $400 notebook market- which seems to be the only market that counts right now.

Also, the sub $400 device is a product where 'quick to market' counts, and where the hardware integration of (cameras, voice, inertial sensors) has just begun. The situation is simple for the ODM. Buy an Intel Atom CPU chip with good software support, or buy some other chip and get a hobbyists software kit.

Lawrence Ricci

The Internet of Things will happen, and will be different

The technology to build the pervasive interent is falling into place as we speak. These technologies are real and becoming part of devices today.

I like the Intel Atom CPU , the Nokia NoTA , Websphere and Microsoft .NET framework for example. With these tools, expect the "things" to become "platforms" for content.

The format of the "things" (e.g. small screen and touch) , ther network connect (e.g. costly and poor) the places they are used (e.g. cars and Starbucks) will change the content, in the same way the Internet of 17 inch color screens and broadband changed to content from the Internet of CGA and dial up.

Content will change, new media will emerge on new platforms. This has happened before.

Let us not forget the Olsen Twins got rich not from the TV show, but from the "Direct to DVD" movie industry and a distribution deal with WalMart. The Olsen's may be a small niche of the entertainment industry, but a niche with three commas in its commercial value is pretty nice.

Considering the media of things, I think the content will skew to short segments, suitable for bus rides or waiting in line. My bet is something like the old SNL "Mr. Bill" series, "Celebrity Death Match" or some YouTube favorites like "Two Hot Girls in a Shower" or "Gorgeous Tiny Chicken Machines Show" and of course, "RocketBoom" None of these will get the third comma, but they might well get two commas in their net worth.

Lawrence Ricci
www.EmbeddedInsider.om

Will it Still be MODBUS?

Technology, to stay in sync, may have to move slowly. Perhaps it will move most slowly in the geographically distributed infrastructure.

I just saw this posting in Energy Business:

Evaluating Pipeline Projects - Dominion Resources is about to make a major investment in its pipeline infrastructure. Its Ohio subsidiary has filed an application with Ohio regulators to replace nearly 20 percent of its 21,000-mile pipeline system over 25 years at a current cost of $2.6 billion. Once approved, modernization will begin next year.

Here is a 25 year plan to a major technology upgrade. What do you bet the the electronics/Controls are based on the 'de jure' Modbus protocol, now perhaps 35 years old? Protocols between things- especially things made by different companies- tend to change very slowly.

Can you name a protocol, still in use today, from the end of the century before last?

Lawrence Ricci

http://www.embeddedinsider.com/