IoT Embedded Blog Review – Week of May 18, 2015

IoT Benefits Manufacturing, Qualcomm Billions, Samsung’s New Push, Ubuntu Gets Together, Cisco Supply Chain, a New Bosch, Love&IoT?
By Sally Bixby, Web Editor
Thank you Ryan Begley posting on IBM Hub with ‘How new Internet of Things business models will benefit manufacturing’. “Consider this scenario: My company manufactures multimillion dollar robotic surgical equipment which is sold globally to hospitals, universities, clinics and so on. These high-priced devices are fully IoT enabled, so… “
“Qualcomm: The Internet of Things is Already a Billion Dollar Business”, so writes Aaron Tilley on Forbes. Qualcomm just introduced new chips intended for IoT devices: a WiFi chip with processing power built in that can connect up to the internet without the assistance of a separate processor; and another WiFi chip to power hub that can act as a central point for routing devices together. Check this post out for things you may not have heard about yet.
WSJ article from Don Clark – Samsung Unveils ‘Internet of Things’ Push revealing a set of technologies to spur more companies to add computing power to everyday devices. The effort, called ‘Artik’, centers on tiny circuit boards that come packed with new processors, communication chips, sensors and more.

Ubuntu jumps into Internet of Things with Acer, GE, and Microsoft, from Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols on ZDNet.  Good moves or just what’s expected, with “old enemies are becoming new allies as technology shifts from the PC/desktop model to first mobile computing and now the Internet of Things (IoT). Canonical, Ubuntu Linux’s parent company, is partnering with Acer, DataArt, and Microsoft. Find out who is at the technology demonstration stage and beyond.
On an IoT roll (via WSJ news) sharing this post: Cisco Tests ‘Internet of Things’ in its Supply Chain, from Loretta Chao. In one of the latest initiatives, Cisco has been installing thousands of sensors in a plant in Malaysia to monitor and reduce energy consumption. Read about their considerable (%) expectations forecast in reducing energy consumption that would translate into tens of millions of dollars in cost savings.
Bosch CEO Remakes Company Around ‘Internet of Things’, envisioning smart everything writes Christopher Alessi.  Mr. Denner, at Bosch for nearly 30 years and CEO since 2012, is making the company as equal parts information-technology group and manufacturer.  Seems quite a start for the new year, i.e. in February Bosch disclosed it would acquire ProSyst Software GmbH, a 110-person producer of software for smart devices. In March it would recruit some 12,000 new employees, a “growing number” of them for its software business. The company now has 3,000 software engineers working on the Internet of Things.  Quite informative with Bosch one to watch.

And from the more I (personal side) of things ‘The Internet of Things Can Automate Romance. Is that Bad?” asks WIRED’s Molly McHugh. “Many of us would prefer a more attentive significant other, one who texts us every day at lunch just because, or one who never forgets an anniversary. The very act of setting some sort of reminder system is endearing in itself. But the negative is that we might be programming ourselves to need digital prompts to participate in our relationships.” It’s coming to this, eh?!?   Perhaps…