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AllSeen Alliance Wants To Open-Source the 'Internet of Things'
Nerval's Lobster writes "The so-called "Internet of Things" has rapidly become a buzzword du jour, with everyone from tech-giant CEOs to analysts rhapsodizing about the benefits of connecting everyday objects and appliances to the Web. Despite all the hype, some significant obstacles remain to fulfilling that vision of a massively interconnected world. For starters, all the players involved need to agree on shared frameworks for building compatible software—something that seems well on its way with the just-announced AllSeen Alliance, which includes Sharp, Cisco, LG Electronics, Qualcomm, Panasonic, D-Link, and the Linux Foundation (among many others). In theory, the AllSeen Alliance's combined software and engineering resources will result in open-source systems capable of seamless communication with one another. The Alliance will base its initial framework on AllJoyn, an open-source framework first developed by Qualcomm and subsequently elaborated upon by other firms. Applications and services that support AllJoyn can communicate "regardless of manufacturer or operating system and without the need for Internet access," according to the Alliance, whose Website offers the initial codebase. "Open source is the ideal, neutral staging area for collaboration that can provide the interoperability layer needed to make the Internet of Everything a reality," read a Dec. 10 note on the Linux Foundation's official blog. "When everyone jointly develops and uses the same freely available code, companies can develop innovative services on top of it and get them to market faster." However, not all companies interested in exploring the Internet of Things have joined the AllSeen Alliance. For example, Intel isn't a partner, despite having recently created a new division, the Internet of Things Solutions Group, to explore how to best make devices and networks more connected and aware."
Who wins with the Internet of Things? Corporations and Governments. If you're not a hobbyist, why do you need a *BSD-powered toaster?
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
Wow, what could possibly go wrong with that? Devices which will communicate whether you want them to or not, and with all of that information in the hands of greedy assholes.
This internet of things is a bloody stupid idea to me, and I see precisely zero benefit in having it. Especially if it means everything now becomes a tool for the marketing bastards.
This isn't enhancing our experience with these things, just making them tools for someone else to exploit.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
wow, talk about bad timing.
I don't see how they can sell this in our post-Snowden world.
Who wants some creepy NSA intern SEXINT'ing all over your pharmacy purchases?
Much like "the cloud", the NSA's killed this idea deader than a doornail.
So much for American innovation creating new industries to lead us out this great recession.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Funny, I can remember when the big thing about the internet was that it was an internet of PEOPLE. Guess we all learned that people are dicks, quickly gave up on that naive, hippy idea of "but if we only connect people more, we'll spread UNDERSTANDING!!!1!", and decided things are more important than people, and putting THEM on the internet will help make each individual "us" feel better in our own little bubbles. And thus we further dive headlong into a culture of shiny gadgetlust and self-centered attitudes.
Quite frankly, why would anyone? There are places where automation and real time data feeds make sense, like an ICU for example. I have to honestly ask myself, what would this bring me? Happiness? Peace of Mind? Not really. I'm already connected enough. I don't want my appliances, car, whatever... jacked in. I see no real benefit, but a lot of risk.
When I upgraded my phone the decision not to get a smart phone was easy. What is the payoff? I give easier access to corporations and/or government easier ways to keeps tabs on me. What would the benefit be? More access to email? Woohoo! That is exactly what I'm striving for. I've long accepted the fact that I'm really not that important and perpetual access is not something that I really need or want. I have a gps in my car. It gets me in the ballpark without being a transmitter. I'm not scanning UPCs to see what a better deal I can find at the spot. If it's that important, I will do the research and make a decision. Plus, I also like brick and mortar stores. I knowingly pay extra in the hopes that I can help keep them around. In particular, I fear the demise of bookstores. I've found some real gems going into a local book store and perusing.
That is not to say that the internet doesn't have its place either. This last weekend I was able to replace the stepper motors in the instrument cluster of my truck thanks to youtube and finding the parts on the internet.
Either give it away or get top dollar, but never sell yourself cheap.
"The so-called "Internet of Things" has rapidly become a buzzword du jour, with everyone from tech-giant CEOs to analysts rhapsodizing about the benefits of connecting everyday objects and appliances to the Web.
Putting stuff on the internet besides computers is a popular idea today among people selling things you can put on the internet. They say those things will be good for you.
"The internet of things" is such a fucking stupid phrase, but what's worse is that people seem to be talking more about the idea in vague terms. The summary doesn't list one single actual thing that will go on the internet. Are we talking tracking chips for people's kids? Coffee makers that you can turn on remotely so that you don't have to waste minutes upon getting to the office in the morning pressing a button and waiting?
I realize that the specific summary here is focusing on a group that wants to open source the software, but in any article, when "internet of things" is used, there are no examples. The plan always seems to be
1. Say you will put more things on the internet
2.???
3.???
4. PROFIT!!!!
I work in IT and follow the news pretty regularly and I've never heard of "the internet of things".
The "internet of things" was one of the old buzzwords of Sun Microsystems (R.I.P.), along with "the network is the computer" and "write once, run everywhere".
10 PRINT CHR$(205.5+RND(1)); : GOTO 10
It's never going to be the year of Linux on the desktop, because the desktop is dying. Last week was about laptops, yesterday was about phones and today is about tablets.
Get free satoshi (Bitcoin) and Dogecoins
FTFA: 'communicate "regardless of manufacturer or operating system and without the need for Internet access,"'
can anyone explain how AllJoyn differs from the TCP/IP stack?
Most homes today don't come with "smart" appliances unless someone specifically requests them during the building phase. That means if you want to have sensors and wifi in all your appliances, you'll have to install and replace them one by one. I might do that if a specific appliance breaks, but I'm not going to do it wholesale as long as any given appliance is still working.
Occasionally living proof of the Ballmer peak.
One of the earliest devices connected to the internet (actually ARPANET in those days) was a coke machine in the Carnegie Mellon University Comp Sci department. It's still online today
I saw a talk by Bill Joy of Sun (Author of Vi) several years back where they were pushing Jini (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/J/Jini.html) as a driver-less standard for interconnected devices. This linked blurb talks about printers and storage, but Bill's speech was focused on more general household appliances and the like. It could obviously be convenient for automation of the home allowing standards based apps to manage a variety of devices, but we know our corporate overloards wouldn't stop there and would have to have devices reporting all kinds of behaviors back to central servers with various trivial to serious impacts on privacy.
Bad idea then, ... bad idea now?
"Write (Hopefully) Once, Run Everywhere" just did not make a good acronym.
It's already open source, and a draft implementation is available on github. (https://github.com/OGC-IoT/ogc-iot-api)
Arguments against the Internet of Things seem to be based on the idea that you'll lose privacy and only big money / governments will reap the rewards from your privacy loss. However, if you look at it from a different perspective, that is, not implementing the Internet of things as household items but as automated sensors for safety and analytics in the workplace, then many of the complaints no longer exist. I think the Internet of things as a buzzword has been stretched top far, but I don't outright oppose adding sensing capabilities and easier information exchange to some machines and devices.
Seriously, this is 2013 already, how much longer do we have to wait for our ISPs and biggest websites to make the switch?
And reporting you to the NSA!
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
The first one of this 'alliance' to gain significant market share will start tinkering with the standards and taking those changes private to try and lock their customers in.
If Slashdot were chemistry it would look like this:Cadaverine
then so can someone else.
Here's to hot beer, cold women, and Glaswegian kisses for all.
Next week is going to be all about embedded Linux devices but since they are embedded devices, you don't actually have any control over them. So they will run amok and remote exploits will remain unpatched due to corporate neglect.
A Pirate and a Puritan look the same on a balance sheet.
AllSeen Alliance sounds really creepy. Will our future generations know what privacy really is? Do we even know now?
Why do you need IPV6? It's useless crap and only good for 3 letter agency to track your fat ass.
Fuck "Internet of Things" and assholes who think every appliance must me under third party control.
I understand, it super nerdy and what not. Still, fuck you all for promoting this nightmare.
aka how to remotely exploit everything that was never previously exploitable — and how your toaster now spies on you.
With the current state of security I'd think twice before connecting something, thus giving a free uncontrollable access. If something like NSA or local police accidentally sets your home on fire you even wouldn't to know.