Category: IoT News

The Internet of Things is big news – with a profusion of views and articles published on the web every day. Here at About the Internet of Things we’ll wade through that news each week to bring you regular updates on all that is IoT – finding, in our opinion, the most interesting items making the IoT news headlines.

Posted on by

World’s first Smart Guitar wins at Cannes

Sensus Smart Guitar

The Sensus Smart Guitar by Mind Music Labs of Sweden was the clear winner in the Hardware/Internet of Things category at the recent Midemlab startup contest in Cannes. It looks like a traditional electric guitar, but with motion, touch and pressure sensors all built into the instrument, the music that can be created is not your typical rock and roll.

The Sensus basically packs all the audio equipment a guitarist needs into the guitar itself. It’s a wireless instrument that lets players add modulations and effects without the need for an array of pedals.

See for yourself in this awesome demo video…

Read the full article on VentureBeat

Posted on by

IoT gets fit in the Internet Of Gyms

The Internet of Gyms (IoG)

From monitoring services for gym owners, to virtual running courses for gym goers, or the ability to pick up Netflix right where you left off at home on your running machine screen – it’s all part of the Internet of Gyms…

Imagine a world where you’re at the gym walking by a piece of equipment. As you walk by, an alert pops up on your phone telling you to use that equipment and exactly what to do on it, all based on your personal fitness goals. Now stop imagining and realize that this is all a possibility right now.

Read the full article on Sport Techie

Posted on by

Do IoT virtual assistants violate child privacy?

The Amazon Alexa and child privacy laws

Virtual assistants like the Amazon Echo are increasingly becoming an integral part of the family household in the US. But does the recording and storage of children’s voices contravene the US child privacy laws? Karen Turner at the Washington Post investigates.

Companies with virtual assistants, such as Amazon, could be fined millions of dollars for the collection of children’s data without explicit parental consent, The Guardian reported recently. Specifically, these AI devices store audio files of children’s voice commands, but don’t provide any information on how long these files are stored or how they are being used.

Read the full article on The Washington Post

Posted on by

What’s behind Microsoft’s IoT magic mirror?

Microsoft's IoT Magic Mirror

The idea of a smart mirror has been around for a while, but now Microsoft have revealed details of how you can build your very own ‘Magic Mirror’, relatively cheaply, to display information like the time, date, weather, stocks and traffic using Microsoft services – while you’re shaving. ZDNet show you how to get reflective, with a Raspberry Pi, Windows 10 IoT and Microsoft Azure…

Microsoft wants you to tap Azure and its artificial intelligence to create your own networked magic mirror… Instead of reaching for the phone when you’re rushing to prepare for work in the morning, Microsoft would have you simply look into the magic mirror for key details to help get the day started, such as stock prices, weather and traffic information.

Read the full article on ZDNet

Posted on by

The ‘Smart Skin’ that can monitor your health or even control your home

IoT Smart Skin

Scientists at University of Wisconsin-Madison have created the world’s fastest stretchable, wearable circuit. The Huffington Post takes a look and tells us how it could become the foundation for the next generation of wearable gadgets.

This ‘smart skin’ could do everything from monitor your vitals, control your music, track your runs or even let you control your own home – all wirelessly.

Read the full article on The Huffington Post

Posted on by

Should we fear the Internet of Things?

Should we fear the IoT?

Are we heading for an Orwellian future? Deborah Cobing reports on the recent Connected Conference that took place in Paris and asks the question – Should we fear the IoT?

Those who have read the works of Margaret Atwood, Gorge Orwell, and Adolf Huxley are familiar with the idea of constant surveillance and a higher authority “in-touch” with our everyday lives. Unfortunately, all of the mentioned writers used the concept to create fascinating dystopias that are currently inflicting fear in the hearts of those who are put face to face with the notion of the Internet of Things.

Read the full article on States Chronicle

Posted on by

The Internet of Toys: How young is too young to bombard our children with the IoT?

Internet of Toys

Infosecurity Magazine assesses the benefits and risks associated with the growing presence of IoT in our children’s lives.

The IoT no longer refers to only home security and smart appliances. Everything from the cars we drive to the clothes we wear are becoming part of the IoT. This means the shirt your child wears to school or the stuffed animal they sleep with may soon communicate with each other, the internet, and other people.

Read the full article on Infosecurity Magazine

Posted on by

The 5 biggest markets the IoT is poised to disrupt

IoT Battlegrounds Infographic

Consulting firm Bain & Company recently published a new report that focuses on “the major emerging battlegrounds” in the IoT that enterprises need to be aware of. Mike Wheatley at SiliconANGLE takes a look at these battlegrounds;

  • Consumer IoT
  • The Industrial Internet
  • Networking
  • Real-time Analytics
  • Self-driving Cars & Robots

Read the full article on SiliconANGLE

Posted on by

One chip to rule them all? The Internet of Things and the next great era of hardware

IoT chip - the new era of hardware

The focus for chip makers is moving from the smart phone to IoT. TechCrunch takes a look back at the history of the circuit board and how the IoT will reshape the technology hardware industry.

But there’s a new game in town. The smartphone era is not over, but the growth rate is slowing. The key growth driver in hardware could soon be the Internet of Things. Over the next decade, this industry will churn out tens of billions of connected sensor devices. These will be used in every corner of the world — from highways to arteries — to gather new insights to help us live and work better.

Read the full article on TechCrunch

Posted on by

BMW’s vision for a world of connected cars

BMW’s vision for the IoT car

Although the connected car in the IoT space is still in its infancy, Brandon Butler at Network World, imagines what life will be like in the not too distant future according to car giant BMW’s vision.

The conversion of the Internet of Things with the automotive industry will create a world of cars that integrate with a connected home, drive themselves and are at your beck and call. This is the future, as outlined by BMW.

Read the full article on Network World