Internet of Things

Edge computing gets real

As millions of devices become connected – from cars to medical equipment to wearables – edge computing will transform devices into data processing and storage centers capable of handling many of their own computing tasks. For edge computing to work, the devices must be able to communicate without relying on WiFi or cellular connectivity. A team of IBM researchers are exploring the use of peer-to-peer mesh networking technology to tackle this challenge, allowing devices to communicate directly with each other. The team is working with The Weather Company, an IBM Business, to make mesh network technology available through The Weather Channel app, ensuring no one misses potentially life-saving weather alerts.

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Using the IoT for accessibility

IBM Research – Tokyo is working with general contracting firm Shimizu Corporation and real estate developer Mitsui Fudosanto on a new voice navigation system. The system uses the IoT to help people overcome difficulties with exploring the world around them -- whether because of visual impairment, wheelchair use or lack of familiarity with their location or the local language.

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Environmental forecasting

Building on IBM's global Green Horizons initiative, researchers at IBM Research - Africa are working closely with experts from South Africa's Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to analyze historical and real-time data from environmental monitoring stations. Using machine learning and cognitive models, the data collected in the City of Johannesburg, the City of Tshwane and the Vaal Industrial Triangle will help provide more insight about air pollution and model the effectiveness of intervention strategies. The project has recently been extended to predict ground-level ozone and air-quality forecasting.

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The Internet of the body

Researchers from IBM Research – Zurich are creating a health companion called the cognitive hypervisor. Tiny computers in smart watches or even rings will unobtrusively collect and analyze vast data flows from our bodies and send them to trained medical staff. The goal is to enable patients to recover from surgery or illness in the comfort of their own home, while receiving quality care remotely.

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Enjoy the ride with IoT

The Cognitive In-Car Companion from IBM Research – Ireland uses real-time data from in and outside the car to help drivers avoid risks. The system combines contextual information from the IoT such as information about congestion and the weather with data about the driver’s habits and preferences, then gives the driver timely advice to keep their journey safe and stress-free.

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Wearables for worker safety

The IBM Employee Wellness and Safety Solution from IBM Research-Haifa gathers data from a variety of wearable and environmental sensors, alerting workers and safety officers when danger is imminent. The focus is on reducing the number of accidents and safety incidents for individual workers. It’s essentially an on-the-job, real-time warning system.

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