L. to R: Wenn-Hang Wang, VP & Managing Director, Intel Labs, Doug Fisher, VP & GM, Intel Software and Services Group, Mike Bell, VP & GM, Intel New Devices Group, DDiane Bryant, SVP & GM, Intel Data Center Group, Doug Davis, VP & GM, Intel IoT Group
Intel announced its new IoT (Internet of Things) platform during an event in San Francisco yesterday. Dubbed one of the world’s top 10 most innovative companies in IoT by Fast Company, Intel is pushing the technology hard since the creation of its dedicated IoT group last year. The idea is to deliver a simplified and secure end-to-end solution that will help more companies deploy it.
The platform includes new integrated hardware and software products and unifies gateway, connectivity and security components to provide all the building blocks to non-tech companies to enter the IoT era.
“With this platform we are continuing to expand our IoT product family beyond silicon with enhancements to our pre-integrated solutions that make IoT more accessible to solution providers,” said Doug Davis, vice president and general manager, Internet of Things Group, Intel.
The series of new products included in the announcement are:
Wind River edge management system
Wind River edge management system delivers cloud connectivity to simplify device configuration, file transfers, data capture and data analysis. This technology enables companies to integrate various enterprise IT systems into an IoT solution, using API management. To understand better what it means, check the two pictures below taken from the presentation by Intel.
Legend: Photos taken at the APIs and Edge Management presentation by Intel on Dec 9, 2014
Intel API and Traffic Management
Intel’s API and Traffic Management solution make it easier for developers to build new applications. Customers of the IoT platform can access Intel Mashery API management tools to create data APIs that can be shared internally, externally with partners. You can see an example of the architecture that includes Intel API solution in the slide below.
Legend: Photos taken at the APIs and Edge Management presentation by Intel on Dec 9, 2014
New Intel IoT Gateway – Smart City Demo
The Intel IoT Gateway will integrate the Wind River Edge management System and it includes performance improvements, lower cost memory options and more communications options. The Intel gateway can be purchased from seven ODMs.
The Intel gateway and the IoT platform were part of the Smart City demo I checked during the event. In the photo below you see the gateway above connected to the sensors in the box below. Intel partnered with the cities of Dublin, London and San Jose to experiment its new platform.
Intel gateway controls the sensors in the box below it
The mobile app developped by Catapult for the city of London shows the number of vistors counted in a park
Intel is experimenting with new cases that would encloses sensors to make them easy to plug in any IoT deployemnt by cities
The interesting innovation lies also in the next-generation sensors cases that are shown in the photo above. Basically Intel’s goal is to encase sensors for multiple vendors in those cases to make them easy to plug and install them in their IoT system, just like consumer do with printer ink cartridges. This technology is still under development.
I can imagine how easier it would be to deploy a complex sensor mesh in a city if Intel finds a reliable way to deliver such a solution in addition to its horizontal platform. So far it looks good on the paper, we need to wait until cities roll out their IoT services.
Intel expand support of its Cloud Analytics for Developers
As usual, there is no IoT without Big Data analytics in the cloud. Intel is expanding its cloud analytics support to IoT Developer kits to include IoT Gateway series, in addition to Intel Galileo boards and Intel Edison Modules.
Intel announced its tiny wearable SoC Edison at CES 2014 and a second version was introduced to the market at $50 at IDF 2014.
During his keynote yesterday, Mike Bell, Intel New Devices Group, explained how wearable tech developers that uses Edison can leverage Intel new platform to deliver better products faster (see the picture and video below)
I was able to briefly get my hands on the wearable devices that Intel has developed in partnership with other companies such as the MICA, a $495 smart bracelet designed by Opening Ceremony that provides communication capabilities via a SIM card and a small display hidden on the back of the wrist. Mike Bell showed the biometric headphones made in collaboration with SMS Audio, a brand from Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson, and of course, the Basis Peak Smartwatch that continuously monitor your heart rate, Intel acquired the company back in March 2014.
MICA display is hidden so it does not interfere with the jewelry side of the bracelet
SMS Audio headphones that monitor your heart rate – the ear is one the most accurate spots to monitor your heart
Security and Privacy: McAfee Enhanced Security and Intel Enhanced Privacy Identity (EPID)
Security and privacy are the two most difficult challenges that the IoT industry is facing, and Intel could not release its platform without addressing the problem. I am not a security expert, so I will leave what Intel stated to your appreciation in addition to the key slides that the company spokesperson showed on stage yesterday.
MCAfee Enhanced Security provides improved security at the gateway level while EPID provides security at the hardware level and will be promoted to other silicon vendors. According to Intel, “EPID has anonymity properties, in addition to hardware-enforced integrity, and is included in ISO and TCG standards. The EPID technology provides an on-ramp for other devices to securely connect to the Intel IoT Platform.”
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