Source is MissionCritical Magazine
I can still see myself in 2011, so far into a pregnancy that I should not have been travelling, but with an important press conference to hold. Working for a company that specialized in “smart” shipping platforms, we were still trying to sell the benefits of sustainability and durability compared to wooden shipping platforms, and yet, the connected world beckoned as a much-needed value prop.
You see, these platforms were going to connect to the Internet of Things. In 2011, that wasn’t exactly a term you heard in the pallet world. There were many questions from the media and even from the internal executive team that went something like, “Things? Internet? Huh? How would that … ? What does it even mean?” But there it was in black and white, defined in a press release. How could I do it more justice — to explain the concept, much less the benefits, for a term that no one was really using yet?
Just look where we are now. Most of us don’t realize that what is now a common term across all industries actually originated in logistics and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), because no one cares to digitally track their things more than someone waiting on a shipment, except for how we now track people by the things they carry in their pockets that store all their most important data.
And this is how it has all converged: with 5G, IoT, edge networks, sensored inputs, and even AI coming together to weave every aspect of our lives into a fabric of connectivity. The rollout of 5G networks is poised to be a game-changer for edge computing. The ultralow latency and high bandwidth capabilities of 5G open new horizons for real-time data processing at the edge. Edge data centers strategically positioned closer to end users leverage 5G connectivity to deliver faster response times and improved user experiences, unlocking the full potential of applications that demand instantaneous data processing.
Looking forward, the convergence of these technologies is a defining trend. Edge data centers will increasingly become hubs of intelligence, seamlessly integrating 5G connectivity, AI capabilities, and IoT applications. This convergence will not only redefine the architecture of data centers but also reshape how we perceive and harness the power of computing at the edge.
IoT devices
I love watching where sensored data will take us. I think smart cities and the intelligence in architecting their design is one of the most impressive socio-economic undertakings. I also still make a side hobby out of studying smart grid responses. This is all still the worldwide web of IoT, or I should say, the Internet of Everything (IoE).
The true beauty of the edge lies in its role as the IoE — transforming the IoT from a network of devices into a new era, where very aspect of our lives, from homes to industries, is seamlessly connected and responsive. It’s the realization of the initial IoT vision, where every device, sensor, and application contributes to a holistic and interconnected digital ecosystem. The edge becomes the nerve center, orchestrating the symphony of data generated by the myriad of connected devices, offering a level of granularity and responsiveness that was once deemed futuristic.
The edge at scale
IoT devices, especially at the industrial level, are bigger than just a single connected item, but are deployed in mass quantities, requiring immediate scale. Mass deployments are why we find it so hard to conceptualize where the edge resides, because we tend to look at these large-scale deployments in aggregate and forget about the network nodes that support them.
We all know it — data center usage rates are at an all-time high. Power and space can be hard to come by. Because of this, edge infrastructure is scaling globally, since only smaller, regionally edge data centers can meet this demand, as well as process the large volumes of data, especially those that require low latency or real-time processing.
Today, the edge has to bring workload-heavy resources much closer to the end user, reduce latency, and ensure reliability and continuity. This isn’t exactly a new concept, but what is continually awe-inspiring is the amount of data that is transmitted around the world. While about power, but nonetheless relatable, a Microsoft headline recently declared it’s “Everything Everywhere, All at Once.”
Collaboration among industry stakeholders becomes paramount as this evolution unfolds. Telecom providers, cloud service providers, and technology innovators must work hand in hand to create a cohesive ecosystem that maximizes the potential of edge computing. Standards and interoperability will play a crucial role in ensuring a seamless and scalable transition into this new era.
As these technologies continue to advance, the edge will not only become more intelligent and efficient but will also empower a new wave of applications that were once constrained by latency and bandwidth limitations. Buckle up! The journey into the future of edge computing and the Internet of Everything is just beginning.
