Recently, BBC published an article written by Leo
Kelion titled “ARM creates operating system for ‘internet things’”. Article is
devoted to a new project of the well-known British computer chip designer ARM.
At the moment technology companies are creating and using different code
for each of their products. ARM aims to create free operating system (mbed OS)
that will make the development of internet-connected devices easier. OS will
combine already existing Internet Protocols, various technologies like Bluetooth,
2G, 3G, Wi-Fi, etc. and create one solution that can be used on a big range of
devices. Designers expect the first devices with their operating system to be
launched in the second half of 2015.
This news is very important as it can change our usual lifestyle. To clarify
it, we should understand the concepts of operating system and ‘Internet of
Things’.
Internet of Things
Today not only computers
can access Internet. Everyday objects like some cars or even light bulbs are now connected to World Web. IoT concept refers to technology that allows connecting these
objects to the Internet and to each other with controlling and monitoring their
later status.
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| source |
Smart houses are
good example of how things can be web controlled. Temperature,
lightning and security system control by the means of the Internet are popular functions
used in smart houses at present. IoT technology’s target is to expand these
available functions. Imagine that all household items at your house are
connected with each other and, for example, with your smart phone via Internet.
You then will be able to manage and secure your house from any place with
sufficient Internet connection. As the map provided by World Bank illustrates, currently little places are remained without Internet access, so it is
practically possible to implement the idea into the real life.
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| Data from WorldBank |
However, there is another problem rises. According to the forecast
from ABI Research posted on their official site, “the installed base of
active wireless connected devices will exceed 16 billion in 2014, about 20%
more than in 2013.” They forecast 40.9 billion devices to be a part of IoT by
2020 and yet there is no straight way to connect things that are so different
from each other. How to design system that can deal with fridge and garden
sprinklers at the same time? ARM offers their operating system as a solution.
Operating System.
Operating system is the
most important program installed on the computer. Think about it as a big project's chief manager.
He gives tasks to other workers, monitors that everything is going in a right
way and in a right time, works as a channel between client and people working
on the project. Operating system works in the same way. It gives base for other
programs to be installed, manages these programs and provides the interface for
user to give commands to computer and see the outcome.
ARM is creating such “manager”
for the devices of IoT. The main principles that company used are represented
in the figure below.
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| source |
The first principle is connectivity. As it was written in the article this operating system “is no longer a differentiating
technology. It’s enabling one”. Many unlike devices could be connected together
by the means of the OS. System will be efficient as very little memory is
needed to use it (few hundred kilobytes) and productive as producers will not
spend much time on creating new codes for each product anymore. Developers also include security tools that are necessary in the global network with many participants and a lot of information in it.
ARM are those who actually started the project, but other companies like IBM and Ericsson are now their partners in the IoT area. According to article more than 3 million developers will be involved in the IoT activities by 2019. With an assumption that all the stated ideas will be implemented into the real life, we can expect that soon our lifestyle will greatly change and technology actually will surround us everywhere.
References and useful links
- Kelion, Leo. "ARM Creates New Operating System." BBC News. N.p., 1 Oct. 2014. Web. 03 Oct. 2014.
- Internet of Things - Cisco article, Forbes article
- ARM official site
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