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Microsoft, Intel, Samsung, Other Tech Companies Form New IoT Alliance (techtimes.com)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the next step toward technological advancement but it requires a huge effort on manufacturers' and developers' part to make different devices and operating systems to function seamlessly with one another. Now, many of the big names in the industry are banding together to form the Open Connectivity Foundation or OCF to set standards for IoT devices. The lineup includes ARRIS, CableLabs, Cisco, Electrolux, GE Digital, Intel, Microsoft, Qualcomm, and Samsung, which will all work closely with one another to set rules and specifications to guarantee a singular advancement in the field.
Does this consortium plan to set standards for security? I'm not convinced that the biggest issue facing IoT is interoperability but rather the security (or lack of it) in many devices. Many of the ideas are very cool, but unless they're secured, IoT devices are backdoors into otherwise secure networks. I'm hoping that the result is an industry standard for IoT security.
Gotta make sure those backdoors have compatible interoperability.
Pi Zero [raspberrypi.org] is small enough to do most IoT jobs, but there are actually lots of larger IoT jobs where there's lots of room for something like Pi, like major appliances.
It's still just a development board, it's a computer, a non-profit product, a hobby device. Don't get me wrong I have 5 of them at home, but you won't find me sticking them in any IoT device. Companies don't like other people dictating form factor, companies don't like spending money on designs when they can simply roll it all in one, and companies definitely don't base products on boards which have incredible supply issues. They are not an IoT player in the market any more than my home built PC is.
Sigh. What it comes with doesn't matter if you can trivially download what you need.
So what you're saying is there some other group who are maintaining a library for interconnection? I have the perfect alliance they could join.
If R-Pi isn't IoT, nor is Intel. But they both are. ARM is relevant because their cores will be used far and wide, and maybe they should be involved in talks on security.
- The R-Pi foundation makes one product set, a small computer.
- ARM make a microcontroller core. They can be replaced by any vendor. Nothing in their hardware makes them IoT. Integrators like Qualcomm provide the additional bolt on hardware. Security on the hardware level is hardly an issue. Actually it's an anti-issue. Security on hardware typically means locking out users, let the software vendors and integrators discuss the security.
- Intel provide processors. Oh wait... we've already said that's got nothing to do with IoT. Intel provide wireless technology, gateway products, they license technologies for sensing, data transmission, and security, they provide development platforms, cloud database platforms, network platforms, they offer consulting services, and integration services for vendors.