What Are the “Things” in The Internet of Things?

Wazzup Pilipinas!

User-based devices that communicate, consume content, and create and publish content for other people to consume have dominated our current version of the Internet. The developing Internet of Things is about to change that. While it will include the “old” Internet of user-based devices, it is very different for one simple reason: billions of new devices connected and tracked at the periphery of the network will not be operated by people. These devices may be semi- or even fully automated, and they will vastly outnumber the human-operated devices in a short period of time.

Like the old Internet, this Internet of Things (IoT) will continue to include data, voice, and video. But it will also contain new assets that will take the Internet from being a network of human-operated devices to a network containing many nonhuman-operated devices—the “things” of IoT.

The IoT contains a variety of technical systems and devices that go by different names, but all fall under the broader IoT umbrella because these systems all share common technology, and often common infrastructure. It’s helpful to review the terminology being used in order to better understand the relationship between these tools and the IoT.

Machine to Machine Communication (M2M)

Machine-to-machine (M2M) systems are part of the IoT, and M2M, like many of the terms to follow, can be seen as a catchall term. The current generation of M2M applications includes both fully automated and semi-automated systems. For example, some of today’s most commonly labeled M2M systems include point-of-sale (POS) and automated vehicle location (AVL) services. POS devices are semi-automated, in that people must initiate and authorize the transactions (ideally), while AVL is an automated system for reporting the geospatial coordinates of assets like trucks and delivery vehicles.

One notable characteristic of current M2M systems is that they are largely unidirectional in data flow or service requests. POS devices, for example, initiate a transaction with central transaction processing systems, but are usually not equipped or intended to support incoming commands. The advantage of the unidirectional nature of these early M2M systems is that exploitation opportunities are more limited: physical access to the remote endpoints is required, while network-based attacks are lower in probability.

Connected Devices

Connected devices is also a catchall term for things other than servers and PCs that are entering the network. Like M2M, they can be automated or semi-automated, but connected devices are more likely to communicate with each other bidrectionally, rather than transmitting but not receiving.

Connected devices tend to envision both a centralized management infrastructure and/or a situation where devices communicate on a peer-to-peer basis, without ever referencing back to any centralized system or server. This peer-to-peer communication offers big advantages in terms of speed of decision-making and reduced loads on networks, but limits potential for oversight and safety controls.
Smart-Everything

From smart appliances to smart houses to smart cities, so much of our world now is intelligent and interconnected, thanks to the IoT. Smart cities, for example, envision using IoT technology to improve the efficiency of services, from transportation systems to hospitals to energy and water supply. These systems will use unimagined combinations of peer-to-peer and client-server based decision-making, ubiquitous networking, and massive amounts of high-assurance bandwidth to move all this data back and forth.

Perhaps the distinguishing feature of the “smart” discussion versus M2M and connected devices is that it tends to be more conceptual and less technical in nature. “Smart” is part of the IoT and will evolve as a notion, with small smart systems joining other small smart systems to create larger smart systems.

Ubiquitous Computing

Ubiquitous Computing (UC) is the most abstract and conceptual term synonymous with the IoT. Devices and systems that use UC are completely connected, and constantly available. In order to realize this pervasive, ubiquitous computing paradigm, a wide range of technologies must be combined, such as industrial sensor networks, multi-medium networking, RFID, M2M, mobile computing, human-computer interaction, and wearable computers.

Though the UC concept involves a variety of technologies, the essence of UC involves the intelligence about, and knowledge of, our surroundings (also referred to as context awareness). By knowing their surroundings, including the dynamic geospatial relationships involving human users and their tools (cars, elevators, medical devices, and even each other), UC systems can offer useful customized services that drive increased personal and business efficiency.



Written By:

Tyson Macaulay, Chief Security Strategist and Vice President of Security Services at Fortinet

https://blog.fortinet.com/2016/07/28/riot-control-what-are-the-things-in-the-iot

More Riders Gathered at Suzuki Tambayan during MX Swerte sa Siete’s Anniversary

Wazzup Pilipinas!

 A close to 9,000 riders convened once again at the Tagaytay International Convention Center (TICC) in celebration Motorsiklo Xklusibo’s (MX) 7 th anniversary aptly called MX Swerte sa Siete. 

Living by its theme for the year, MX gave away lots of items with of course its statement grand draw of not only one, two or three but nine and a half (one is a pocket bike) motorcycle units for the lucky riders! 

Included in this draw is the well-coveted Suzuki Gixxer which excited the motorcycle community even more. And the lucky man is Mr. Archie de Guzman of Sta. Maria Bulacan who went home with his brand new Gixxer. 

The fun and excitement doubled as a bunch of riders spent their day at the Suzuki Tambayan where they saw the best of the best Raider R150 Custom Bike finalists. They are the monthly winners of the recently concluded Raider R150 Online Custom Bike Contest and were gathered then for one final judging. 

The participants were Tonchi Catindig of Tarlac, Jonathan Canoza of Antipolo, Dan Mark Briones of Cavite and Jay-Ar Tulod of Tagum went all their way to Tagaytay to showcase their much loved and intricately modified Raider R150. 

It was a close battle among the participants but Catindig’s entry in blue, silver and white stood out and claimed the Best Custom Bike title as unanimously agreed on by the judges – Mr. Al Camba of Inside Racing Magazine, The Turban Rider himself – Mr. Telly Buhay and Suzuki Philippines Service Head – Mr. Vic Nanasca, and the crowd. 

Aside from the contest, riders had a meet and greet and photo opportunity with the Suzuki ladies and the very popular bikes of Suzuki now the Gixxer and the Address. Free burgers were also given away to the first 500 Suzuki Riders who registered and voted for their R150 custom-bike bet. Suzuki freebies (drawstring bags, lanyards and stickers), surprises and lots of games were given away as well for all the riders. 

Simultaneously happening at the event was the Free Service Campaign at Suzuki’s Work on Wheels Mobile for the first 50 riders with just a purchase of a Suzuki Oil Filter. Suzuki Spare Parts and Apparel were also on sale for the Suzuki riders and fans. 

It was another record breaking event for MX as they surpassed last year’s number of attendees. The thousands of attendees this year are looking forward for the next MX’s Anniversary with the theme of Doing Great at Eight and surely the Suzuki Tambayan will be there again.

PH Scores High Among Starters Category of Global Connectivity Index

Wazzup Pilipinas!

Despite the absence of public investments in enhancing broadband access and speed, the Philippines scored high among Starters category of the Global Connectivity Index (GCI), published by Huawei Technologies, which measures how 50 nations are progressing with digital transformation using information and communications technology. Starters are countries in the early stage of ICT infrastructure build-out.

The Philippines garnered a score of 33, the highest score given among countries classified as Starters, which are economies with an average GDP of US$3,000 and have GCI range of 20-34. The country advanced two notches from its previous score in 2015 at 31. According to GCI, countries classified as Starters focus on increasing ICT supply to give more people access to the digital world.

According to the GCI report, economies classified as Starters show the following characteristics: ICT investment is less than 2 percent of GDP; E-commerce is low at US$5,000 per capita per year; and about 40% of the population uses the Internet. “Starters are not fully benefiting from the digital economy and its potential to raise incomes and overall quality of life. Policy makers need to ensure ICT maturity enters the second stage, Internet Innovation, so e-commerce can create economic growth. Faster broadband expansion is necessary to increase supply scores so that most businesses and citizens have affordable broadband access,” the report said.

To enter the next category called Adopters, Starters should adopt several strategies that include increase in ICT investment as a percentage of GDP to accelerate nationwide broadband coverage; reduce tariffs and provide subsidies for smartphones to get more smart devices into homes; start planning for high-speed broadband with 4G and fiber-to-the-home rollout.

Globe has been at the forefront of providing the digital lifestyle for Filipinos. The company persistently called on the government to help develop broadband access by investing in internet infrastructure in rural and far-flung areas. Globe President & CEO Ernest Cu has emphasized that broadband development is particularly relevant in communities where even basic infrastructure services such as roads and bridges are lacking, pointing out that broadband access creates significant impact on the development of marginal areas as this allows the community to conduct business with people all over the world, get information on education, health and government services. According to Cu, mobile operators like Globe are unable to deploy infrastructure in rural areas due to business viability issues. He said the government should build infrastructure, such as submarine cables, and then rent these facilities out to telco operators instead.

He stressed the entire country would not be able to optimize the benefits of broadband connectivity unless the government is willing to invest in developing internet infrastructure in “missionary routes”. Globe itself launched early this year a nationwide infrastructure program that would enhance the country's internet experience within homes and across businesses.

The company has already invested $2.2 billion since 2011 to build a modern network and IT infrastructure. For 2016, bulk of its $750 million capital expenditure will be devoted in expanding network capacities with the additional frequencies that it gained access to from the sellout of San Miguel’s telco assets. The company is also aggressively investing in the deployment of a nationwide fiber optic cable system.

In the GCI report, Adopters are rated higher. These are economies with average GDP of US$15,000 and with GCI score ranging between35-55. Countries in this group see the biggest GDP growth from GCI. Their focus is on increasing ICT demand to facilitate industry digitization and high-quality economic growth. Asian countries under the Adopters category include China and Malaysia both with a GCI score of 44 and Thailand with 37.

Meanwhile, Frontrunners are countries with average GDP of US$50,000 and GCI score ranging from 56-85. These nations are mainly developed economies and they continually boost user experience, and use big data analytics and IoT to develop a smarter, more efficient society. United States lead the Frontrunners with a GCI score of 74, followed by Singapore with a GCI score 72 and Sweden at 70.

To improve their GCI scores, all governments should lead by example in digital transformation for enterprises and citizens, and increase spending on ICT infrastructure to benefit the public. Also, countries need to introduce and train a skilled ICT workforce to unleash the full potential of a digital economy and should partner with more stakeholders to lay a solid digital foundation, encourage cross-domain cooperation, and collaborate with the private sector and financial institutions like the World Bank to create an ecosystem for digital transformation. “Starters need to worry about broadening access. Adopters need to raise the quality of that access, and Frontrunners need to increase the business value created by access,” the report said.

According to the GCI report, the global digital economy has emerged as an unstoppable giant that’s growing at 10% or more than triple the rate of overall global economic growth. The worldwide digital economy generated US$24 trillion in e-commerce in 2015 and accounted for 30 percent of all global transactions. Such transactions were on 2.5 billion smart devices spread among the world’s 7.4 billion people. (To view complete report, please see http://www.huawei.com/minisite/gci/en/index.html).