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Standard platform in the works for 'Internet of Things'

Standard platform in the works for 'Internet of Things'
Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Arctis)
Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Arctis)
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Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Research Council of Norway)
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Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Research Council of Norway)
The Puzzle interface, which ISIS users would utilize to access the ICE Composition Engine (Image: Research Council of Norway)
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The Puzzle interface, which ISIS users would utilize to access the ICE Composition Engine (Image: Research Council of Norway)
Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Arctis)
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Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Arctis)
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Whether it's a washing machine that monitors the power grid, or a fridge that you can "look" in with your smartphone, more and more devices that aren't computers can now perform actions or be controlled via the internet. The phenomenon is known as The Internet of Things, and as technology advances, so will the number of "things" involved. In the same way that the regular internet has experienced some major growing pains, some people worry that the Internet of Things could also end up getting chaotic and disorganized. To that end, a group of Norwegian researchers are developing a standard platform for online devices, so that they're all on the same playing field.

Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Research Council of Norway)
Norwegian researchers are working on developing a standard platform for internet-linked devices, known as ISIS (Image: Research Council of Norway)

The project is known as Infrastructure for Integrated Services, or ISIS, and incorporates five partner organizations and institutions. The ISIS platform includes a programming tool for app developers, called Arctis. Developed by researchers at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Arctis is based around simply putting virtual building blocks together to form complete apps, although more complex arrangements are also possible.

When apps are complete, users can purchase and download them from the online ISIS app store, which is already up and running. Different apps could be combined in order to get various devices working together, which is where the ICE Composition Engine would come in. Installed on a modem, decoder or adapter in the home, it would be in charge of overseeing the relationships between devices, and making sure that they could all communicate effectively with one another.

The Puzzle interface, which ISIS users would utilize to access the ICE Composition Engine (Image: Research Council of Norway)
The Puzzle interface, which ISIS users would utilize to access the ICE Composition Engine (Image: Research Council of Norway)

Users would access ICE via the Puzzle interface program. As its name implies, Puzzle would allow users to link apps/devices together onscreen, with ICE figuring out how to make the arrangements work in the real world.

The project is being funded by the Research Council of Norway.

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3 comments
3 comments
Mr Stiffy
Uhhhhh scrap everything.....
Book, kerosene lantern, pencil and paper and a bicycle.
Jason C
I like your comment Mr Stiffy, too much dependence on net driven/controlled devices and we become less able to handle life when the grid goes down. Always good to stay up on technology but close to the basics.
Rick McConnell
The net or \'grid\' has nothing to do with this scenario... you wouldn\'t even have to be connected to the Internet. You\'d function like your own little terrorist cell, once you connected and grabbed the drivers on first hookup of an service appliance.
Peace iIIii