IoT based solution revolutionizing Smart Buildings

A consistent challenge for owners and managers of multistory buildings, schools, or building complexes is to keep the operational expenses low. The infrastructure available for managing building energy is designed for massive systems and not for managers with less budgets. This results in high costs of adoption and integration. IoT based solutions can help in such scenarios to collect, analyze, and control data from a multitude of systems, including HVAC, power, and lighting.

Implementing Smart Buildings for Greener Planet

With multiple thermostats and sensors producing data, manually collecting the information and compiling it in spreadsheets become an overwhelming tasks. Creating an extensible, connected platform capable of integrating with building sensors would be effective.

Sensors send the data from equipment such as air conditioners and lighting, and also on the flow of building occupants to the cloud to further analyze. Respective actions associated with the sensors are then triggered. For eg, when rooms are not in use, choosing the right time to turn down the thermostat to prevent waste. This will reduce building management costs — both in utilities and in staff.

Smart Building Scenarios

Numerous building systems, currently lack the connectivity and interoperability to work in unison. There were no means of process automation for efficient energy consumption. How about the thermostats that intuitively adjust the temperature, humidity, and light based on residents’ preferences and climatic conditions? This is now possible with IoT based solutions.

With a solution for home automation, IoT is changing the way buildings will be automated to save energy. Building automation is currently undergoing an pioneering transformation, encouraging the owners and tenants to rethink the possibilities of building management.

A recent McKinsey report on IoT estimates that connectivity can reduce energy in buildings by 20 percent and can lead to a nearly 20 percent increase in productivity.

IoT based solutions improve building visibility and manageability, giving facilities management firms the tools they need to reduce operational costs and provide the best experiences for tenants. This automated solution ensure the best-in-class climate control, energy savings, and maintenance.

Smart schools

The survey of more than 600 IT leaders from Extreme Networks, recorded that the scope of smart schools extends beyond traditional interactive classroom technologies.

The adoption of wearables, sensors located throughout classrooms, eBooks and tablets, collaborative classrooms, and smart lighting and HVAC has transformed the schools to become smarter and serve smart education to the students.

Smart Offices

Smart offices offer the automated heating and cooling systems, lighting, elevators and security are connected by a centralized management solution. This results in potential increase in ROI, more efficient employees, and improved environmental impacts.

Smart factories

Manufacturing industry relies on precision control of equipment and their production environment. With IoT based solutions, the identification of a problem becomes easier giving a fair turn around time to solve and schedule the maintenance.

A recent survey from PwC on IoT in manufacturing found that 35 percent of firms have implemented smart sensors to collect detailed operational data.

5 companies inculcating IoT solutions for smart buildings

Honeywell

Honeywell’s IoT based solution already caters about 10 million smart buildings worldwide. Honeywell implement IoT based solution at that lets building occupants report issues with heating or cooling. People become “sensors” alongside digital counterparts such as sensor.

IBM

IBM is implementing its Watson artificial intelligence and data analysis software behind its projects that make buildings smarter.

ISS, a facilities management company that will use Watson in more than 25,000 buildings to assess readings from sensors on windows, doors, chairs, food dispensers, air conditioning systems and so on.

Legrand

Legrand, a French-based electrical component manufacturer, sees its technology as the glue tying together automation technologies from the likes of Samsung and Cisco. It launched its IoT initiative, ‘ELIOT’, in November 2016.

Schneider Electric

Schneider Electric is considered to be energy management specialist. It introduced smart building product line called EcoStruxure in late November 2016.

Siemens

In 2016, this German conglomerate announced separate partnerships with IBM and consulting firm Capgemini to build even more credibility. The pact with IBM accords on creating a cloud service to help corporate real estate managers gain access to energy efficiency metrics for their facility portfolios.

IoT solutions For Smart Buildings?

If you are looking to build a smarter buildings by implementing Iot Solutions, we can help you. Get in touch with us to know more about our IoT solutions.

Reference: https://www.letsnurture.com/blog/iot-based-solution-revolutionizing-smart-buildings.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=Nisha

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Who’s gonna lead voice enabled technology?

The market of voice enabled technology is dominating over the keyboard technology due to three biggest IT companies – Google, Amazon and Apple. The first was Amazon Alexa with it’s Amazon Echo smart AI software. Next was google home speaker powered by google assistant. These two companies were just gearing up with their respective voice enabled softwares. Meanwhile Apple came up with Apple HomePod with Siri engraved in it’s device.

Now question arises – who will lead the voice enabled technology? Or they all will run along with each other and electrify the future of AI and IoT based solutions and technology.

What makes a smart speaker “smart”? It needs to have the ability to control it with your voice, an integrated smart assistant and a streaming music provider. All of those, requirements are met by way of each Amazon alexa and Apple HomePod. But they have their own monopolies lying beside which make them friendly competitors.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Price

Initially HomePod is going to release in US, UK and Australia on 9 February which will cost $349 in US and £319 in the UK. At the same time Amazon Alexa which has already released costs £149.99 in UK. Apple is offering HomePod which is far expensive than Amazon’s device. 

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Audio Potentiality

It is true that apple has offered quality audio of all the time but Amazon is the one who is already offering the voice enabled technology since November 2014. Apple keeps Amazon behind in terms of multi room support. Though amazon supports multiple echos and Echo dot technology.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Design

Apple has always dominated over design of any devices launched by them. The HomePod has curious design with glossy top. Though full design is not revealed yet but the expectations are very high from the lovers of Apple.

While Amazon Alexa has simple cylindrical design though looks cool than regular speakers. It has blue Alexa rim with two buttons on top. At last it’s all about how smartly these devices work.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Conversational commands

Your conversation starts after spelling “Alexa” to Echo while it’s “Hey Siri” to start with HomePod. For Echo you are interacting with Amazon’s assistant Alexa and for HomePod interaction takes place with Apple’s Siri.

For now it is considered that Alexa will lead the HomePod as it has many third party app integrations already available and wide range of Alexa Skills development opportunities but nothing can be said until apple hits the board.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Smart home

Response towards voice commands by Alexa is just a blessing! Make a voice to Echo and it will control any of the Alexa enabled home devices like switching lights, thermostats, curtains etc. Some other ecosystem requires “middle-man” app to complete the command which will be eradicated in Echo plus.

Obviously, Apple will lack skills initially and won’t prove to be a good competitor as it is too late to enter the smart home speaker club. Everything can be revealed only after the shipping of HomePod.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Daily personal tasks

Amazon has more than thousand skills which takes over HomePod right now. All thanks to Amazon’s rich SDK which is used by third party developers.

For now, Alexa and HomePod both can add task to your calendar, create a shopping list, a to-do list, checking flight status and tracking a package. But right now only Echo can do things like order a pizza, call an Uber, play a game like Jeopardy.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Third party device integration

As for now, the Echo and HomePod are tied when it comes to smart home integration. Echo helps products from Nest, Ecobee, SmartThings, Wink, Insteon, Belkin WeMo, Philips Hue, Lifx, Big Ass Fans, IFTTT, other smart home gadgets through its skills. While HomePod additionally supports devices from most of those manufacturers through its HomeKit platform.

Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo : Conclusion

Who wins? Well, it’s quite crafty question.

Basically, Echo came with less attractive design but offered features which are great in both numbers and awesomeness. It has casted the widest net in terms of compatibility, with more ability, devices and skills.

While speaking of HomePod, you can go with it if you are audio concerned. But it is sure it will not provide you much skills as Alexa is doing right now. But then time is the player.

Right now, the title of the winner can be given to Amazon Alexa Echo and let us wait upto the launching of Apple HomePod and we will see how it works with Apple’s Siri!

Let's Nurture, a leading IT Outsourcing company in Ahmedabad, plied its trade in custom mobile app development, Chatbot development and much more. We at Let's Nurture have expertise in cool Alexa skills development and we already have launched our in-house Let’s Nurture news app. (You can download it from here: http://amzn.to/2noZflM)

If you wish to develop your custom Alexa skills then it’s not too late, share your idea  and get a quote after free consultation with us.

Reference: https://www.letsnurture.com/blog/apple-homepod-vs-amazon-echo-voice-enabled-technology.html?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=Nisha 

Hurdles in Large Scale Adoption of IoT Technology

As you all are aware Internet of Things or IoT lets you connect multiple devices within a network. All the connected device are either wireless transmitters or receivers of low-frequency energy. As a subset of internet it lets you connect two or more devices for data transmission and communication.

By operating with one smart device(usually smartphone), you could remotely control any other connected device. Often IoT app solution in smartphones and tablets are used for pairing with other devices.

Why organizations restrict themselves from adopting IoT technology

Despite, IoT led solutions depict a rosy picture, there are several roadblocks that pull away organizations from large scale adoption of IoT technology. Listed below are some of them.

• Once installed, mobile applications used for IoT technology are difficult to update. As the IoT led app solutions integrate multiple products, any alteration to the app is akin to change in the IoT device in itself.
• Any change to the IoT mobile app will require changes at the design level of the app. This means any change will have a rippling effect on the entire IoT network system.
• Developing complex IoT apps call for highly qualified and skilled software developers either in-house or outsourced. It means you need to set up a learning center to train and produce class engineers.
• As IoT technology constitutes many interconnected devices, any component upgradation needs to be reflected in multiple components. Often changes are incorporated in the mobile application, in remote cloud storage and in other IoT components plus subsystems.

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Applications and use cases of 5G for IoT solutions, AR and VR

4G LTE is already getting a hype. We can estimate that cellular operators will keep on developing this technology for next 3-4 years.  On the other hand, development of 5G is in talks. Moreover, estimation states that the year 2020 will mark as the rolling out of 5G technology.

The smartphone companies engaging in building phones that are 4G compatible. While, we expect 5G to be in the market soon, these manufacturers are now trying to embed the compatibility for 5G in the new generation of smartphones. There are several applications and industries that will be benefited by this technology including mobile broadband providers, ultra-reliable and low-latency communications; and massive machine-type communications providers.

Applications of 5G

Compared with the current 4G LTE technology, 5G is targeting to reach both High speed (1 Gbps) and low latency (1ms or less).

What drives the necessity of this emerging technology? The answer is ‘need for speed’ and ‘internet of things popularly know as IoT’. A generation has evolved demanding faster, higher-capacity networks that can deliver video and other content-rich services.

There are few of the applications that won’t be able to survive with the current LTE technology like industrial automation and utility services, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-infrastructure transportation, home automation, AR/VR and many more. The rise of 5G is inevitable. It will be a heterogeneous technology that ensures the latency, throughput and capacity requirements. Moreover, network slicing would be the major feature of 5G technology.

By 2025, Huawei forecasts that there will be over 270 networks worldwide where there are local or regional areas with full 5G capability.

Mobile broadband

The broadband evolution has allowed the users to experience faster data speeds and lower latency. However, this has increased the demand of services and mobile applications that are data-heavy. Nevertheless, the transfer of the massive data by the user has revolutionized the ‘cloud’ technology. The speed and latency to transfer the data, however, still needs development. Many other data intensive applications both consumer-oriented and business to business are also on the verge of emerging. Moreover,  illustrations include virtual and augmented reality, 3D and ultra-HD video and haptic feedback applications.

Internet of Things

The wireless industry has significantly identified IoT-based solutions in the recent times. Vodafone’s project to develop a “Cellular IoT” (CIoT) open standard is one example. However, there are two types of IoT solutions and  applications that would revolutionize the 5G technology.]

• Massive machine-type communications

The attributes of  M-MTC type of applications are massive volume of connections, low cost devices for wireless sensor networks, connected home, smart metering, smart agriculture and many more. These type of application, however, would be feasible even through the 4G networking. But when it comes to huge number of connections with relatively efficient connectivity, we definitely would like to think beyond the existing technology.

• Task critical applications

This is mainly a machine-to-machine connection where high reliability and low latency are essential factors. Moreover, examples of such applications are connected cars, home automation and remote surgeries (healthcare).

How 5G will revolutionize way of communication.?

Smart Cities

Smart cities will have huge demand of data communication in multiple domains like public transportation, emergency services, water management, etc,.  However, integration of these data simulation with IT system leads to  better planning and real-time. This results in the automated responses to changing situations.

Smart City applications needs an integration with deep network sensors. Though, for effective data flow and communication through this sensor networks, it is necessary to have a ubiquitous connectivity through a network capable of supporting multiple data flows with varying performance requirements, as efficiently and reliably as possible.

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Go Global with IoT based solutions – Smart SIMs

IoT is amending almost every physical object that is surrounded by us in an ecosystem of connected things. From home to parking spaces, IoT based solutions are connecting more and more everyday things, simplifying our lives, saving us time and money.

A survey from Analyst firm IHS forecasts that IoT market will from an  installed base of 15.4 billion devices in 2015 to 30.7 billion devices in 2020 and 75.4 billion in 2025.

Though smart homes, parking, plants, smart driving have gained a lot of media attention, now the growth drivers behind these statistics is expected to come from the business models based on M2M (Machine-to-Machine) IoT. IoT ecosystem has got a significant boost when the GSMA announced about its embedded SIM specification. It allows remote, over-the-air provisioning of machine-to-machine (M2M) devices, enabling mobile networks, with more robust SLAs to become networks for IoT delivery – cellular IoT.

The main aim of IoT based solutions is to gather data remotely from the physical devices. The range of applications for smart SIM cards spans the entire physical world. Any physical device that needs attention and study can be easily tracked with the Smart SIM card. Let’s go through some common uses of IoT Smart SIMs.

1. Smart IoT SIMs and GPS

One of the most common uses of SIM cards in IoT is for tracking objects, people, and pets using GPS. Knowing the physical location is vital for both commercial and personal purposes.

Let’s take for an instance, businesses that regularly accept shipments across state or country can use products that are embedded with the Smart IoT SIMs to keep a track on the location of their goods and shipments.

Moreover, IoT SIMs can also be useful for finding lost pets, tracking children,  items like bicycles or a kid’s backpack, or even family members having any diseases like Alzheimer.

2. Payment processing with Smart SIMs

Smart SIM cards help businesses to process credit cards with wireless Point-of-Sale (POS) systems. This makes an ease for the people in both brick-and-mortar locations and open markets. Moreover, it lowers the upfront costs for the retailers while establishing secure connectivity to banking and credit card institutions.

IoT connected card readers, however,  are separate machines that make use of Smart SIMs, for rapid processing demand along with highest customer confidence.

3. Resource Management with Smart SIMs

Smart SIM cards when integrated with meters helps to manage the resources with systems. Municipalities and utility companies are able to track water wastage and water with the Smart SIMs. This leverages the water managers to keep track the miles of distant pipes. Moreover, it also helps them to make sure there are no blockages that could lead to flooding or unsafe work conditions. These IoT based solutions can also help communities conserve water during droughts.

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8 widely used captcha examples

Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart. (Blinks several times).
Famously known CAPTCHA is a type of challenge test used in computing to identify whether the user is human or not. CAPTCHA comes in several sizes and of different types.  These all works quite well against spam some are harder to solve, some are fun and some will benefit you monetarily on your website.

There are many CAPTCHA examples but the most widely used are mentioned below:

• Word solving
• Audio
• Branded 
• 3D Math solution
• Drag and Drop
• JQuery Slider
• Tic Tac Toe

1. The standard word captcha with an audio option

This is the standard captcha available whenever a security check-in is required, where you need to write the word which has been displayed. But some of the distorted word images are hard to solve. To get this pass through it allows you to use the option of “Recaptcha”, in order to receive a new one.  There is also an audio option if you are unable to visually make out the word. These are the most commonly used while preparing a form in website development or app development.

2. Picture identification of captcha

This captcha provides users for selecting the elementary choice of selecting the correct image that they are asked to identify. This type of captcha usually never gets harder than the basic images, so you do not have to worry about your users not being able to depict them.

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Rise of the Sensorized World: You Can’t Opt Out of IoT based solutions

IoT spending will reach US$1.29 trillion in 2020 - predicts IDC.

Internet of things is a buzzword everywhere you look these days, from personal utility to industrial technology. It has been estimated that there will be billions of data-spouting devices that are connected to the Internet. And they are actually changing the way we live and work. Even the people who are not tech savvy are getting on the bandwagon of this sensorized and smart world.

The Future is Smart…!!

Just imagine that IoT solutions we know today are just the beginning of a new technological revolution and we have just scratched the surface of what Internet of Things can actually do for us.  More than a third of the consumers have never heard the term “Internet of Things’; are you amongst them?  Then, let’s dive into few IoT based solutions and idea that are ready to impact our lives in near future.

Things getting Sensorized

IoT based solutions benefits the end users by connecting smart devices to perform tasks to deliver additional information, value or functionality.

Using Smartphones, you can now connect directly to your living room and turn off/on the lights, can check if your house is locked, even go to shopping on the way home and almost everything in between. This is not the future, many of these IoT solutions are already available.

For example, think about a personal virtual assistant like Alexa providing a truly personalized experience. Since all the personal IoT devices will be able to communicate with each other, they will not only help our decisions on the fly but they will understand what we need within seconds.

Connected Car Platform

Think of sensors that diagnose problems in your car or that automatically alert you with nearby service station when a breakdown occurs. These IoT advancements are already here.

Another car-related topic where the IoT solutions are changing the status quo is the emerging industry of fleet management. Location tracking, smart routing, apps monitoring a driver’s hour of service, and the automatic adjustment of tire pressure are the advances.

Take for example, an OBD II device that connects to your car to get handy metric data about your driving habits, helping people to understand vehicle’s fuel efficiency and providing location tracking. This IoT based solution is much  more than just a gadget for your vehicle.

Advancement of  Smart City Concepts

The smart city concept is still a work in progress, both when it comes to defining exactly what we mean by the term, as well as its implementation.

Considering the smart city, there are already some applications available in the market:

• Smart Parking: Used for automatically handling the parking barrier in a parking zone with a digital transaction of parking amount as per the requirement.
• Smart Plants: Used for live tracking of plant’s health. Know what supplements your crop/plant needs sitting at your remote location, on your smartphone.
• Smart Museum: Helps visitor to know the stories behind their favorite art piece, provides detailed information about the Artist and let them find art venues in nearby areas.
• Traffic management: Monitoring of vehicles and pedestrian levels to optimize the walking and driving routes
• Structural Health tracking: Monitoring the vibrations and material condition of the buildings, bridges and historical places
• Smart Lights: smart lights will sense your mood and analyse it with your activity patterns through sensors to get the right light.

We are expecting to come out with more and more innovations in this field as everyone is eager to reduce the operational costs.

Tracks Your Health

People will obviously like to visualize the data about their physical activities and the users of wearable technology are really excited to access the data about their daily activities and exercise patterns. Moreover, with the rise in the wearable technology, we are also able to visualize the gamification of the fitness activities. IoT solutions are paving the way to the healthier nation.

Moreover, the wearable technology is taking away the medical field as well about how doctors are using technology to assist their patients. Even, the patients having abnormal conditions can now be reminded about their treatment with the help of their sensorized wristbands. We can imagine that the autism can be diagnosed at the earlier stage, and even the warning alerts about the potential sugar crashes before they actually happen.

Wearable technologies are designed to take the IoT solutions beyond notifying users. They have already become automated tools to track our physical bodies, whenever there is an issue that needs attention.

Simplifies Your Work

Consider factories or metal plants that are benefiting from sensors that are installed in their facilities that provides preventive actions avoiding malfunctions. Moreover you can also consider technologies that ensures the overall health and safety conditions of miners. There are endless opportunities.

Every company is heading to reduce the operational costs that runs a business. There are many methods in the companies both large and small that can improve operational efficiencies with IoT solutions.

Let’s build an IoT based world together

Summing up all, we can challenge on two things: these sensorized devices will make our lives a whole lot better and our smartphone will witness the central hub connecting all. Even, the researchers predict that by 2020, there will be more than 35 billion IoT solutions out there or possibly more.

There are endless opportunities and many exciting things in this field. It is amazing to realize that we have marked an entry in the new technological advancement world. If you are looking to discuss from one of the best IoT company,  get a free quote from us.

Ref: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/rise-sensorized-world-you-cant-opt-out-iot-based-solutions-veluri