The Internet of Things (IoT) has grown rapidly in just a few years from simply PCs connected to the Internet to one of the key technology trends of the future. After a burst of rapid growth, networked devices exceeded one million units in 2000, and in the years following, increasing demand saw the number of smartphones, 3G-connected tablets, notebooks and other Internet-capable devices causes a paradigm shift to the mobile computing era. By 2010, networked devices had exceeded 10 billion, and by 2014, the vision of the Internet of Things (IoT) evolved and gained further recognition. It is predicted that growth will continue to flourish over the coming years.
The Internet of Things (IoT) market size will reach US$2.9 trillion by 2016, according to various market analysts, and will surpass traditional embedded systems and intelligent devices. By 2020, estimates of global IoT devices range from 25 billion to as high as 50 billion.
"Will the Internet of Things change everything?", "How should we prepare for this major transition?" and "What is the role of IoT in our Lives?" These questions are all coming together to mark a technological revolution.
On January 29, DIGITIMES organized the Embedded Technology Forum focusing on IOT applications with embedded technology, and to discuss how to stay at the forefront of this rapidly evolving sector.
AMD has led the development of advanced technology for decades as a provider of innovative graphics and processors. The company envisions its embedded solutions for compute innovation in terms of growth in compute with a complimentary 64-bit ARM and x86 portfolio, graphics acceleration and the merging of ecosystems.
Dr K Khouri, director of marketing for AMD's Embedded Solutions Group and responsible for worldwide product marketing as well as market development for AMD's embedded gaming vertical, provided a forward-looking glimpse into AMD's view of new customer paths to innovation for the embedded, server and client markets as well as semi-custom solutions.
Cameron Swen, segment marketing manager for Medical Applications in AMD's Embedded Solutions Division, and Colin Cureton, Senior Manager of AMD's Embedded Product Management team, shared a session to introduce AMD's 20-years longevity embedded solutions, which offer with low-power, technical support, and reliable embedded features based on the industry's only 64-bit ARM and x86 portfolio.
The emergence of almost instant, easy information sharing greatly increases security concerns. During the forum, AMD explored some of these trends in domains such as interactive digital signage, and also discussed how today's (and tomorrow's) powerful processors are helping Thin Client and medical applications stay on top of these needs.
Demand for automated machines is growing at a rapid pace, but market-related systems are far more complex and difficult to operate. IntervalZero, developer of the world's leading real-time operating system (RTOS), provides Windows Embedded solutions to reach a global customer base. IntervalZero Taiwan's APAC senior software development engineer Yves de la Broise gave an induction on how developing a simple, inexpensive but powerful real-time automated control system is achievable.
Tony Tsao, CEO of Global Channel Resources, gave an opening speech at the seminar offering an overview of how to realize the future vision of the Internet of Things. Tsao additionally identified market development opportunities for IoT, and trends in IoT applications. Tsao explored how IoT is driving new business opportunities, and the evolving field of industrial ecology, for instance, Cloud Enabled Business Transformation.
Charles Lee of Innodisk Corporation's Lead Flash BU discussed how the company's Storage Networking Solutions (SNS) enhance the value of smart devices storage technology.
Robert Lee from Apacer offered a few tips for using SSD applications in storage and embedded systems. Lee discussed the trend of replacing traditional HDDs with SSD solutions, as well as the challenges and opportunities these trends offer the SSD industry.
Advantech's Aaron Su, an experienced computer and information systems manager, gave a lecture of how while facing great opportunities and big challenges, critical design and innovative development (IoT WISE-Cloud Platform) hold the keys to embedded products.
Mouser's Mr Su gave guidance on how optimal design and accelerated innovation are eye-catching, but stressed that the bottom line is design tools. Mouser's powerful MultiSIM BLUE tool is an indispensable tool for circuit simulations; allowing designers to scheme, simulate, layout PCBs, and manage BOM and purchasing all in one integrated tool.
Dr Ebony Huang, CEO of Brickcom Corporation, highlighted the benefits of building out a smart home leveraging technologies such as HD video, storage, wireless, smart devices and the cloud.
Finally, Jiang Yihua, Tze Chiang of the Foundation of Science and Technology (TCFST), a future technology evangelist discussed key trends in the home automation market, and identified environmental transformation, versatility, and ease-of-use as core values to target when designing solutions for this market.