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Civil Infrastructure Platform releases Linux system for management of critical systems

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The Civil Infrastructure Platform project has released CIP Core, a reference minimal file system that offers a customizable environment that developers can use to test the CIP kernel and core packages.

CIP aims to provide a base layer of industrial grade open source software components, tools and methods to enable long-term management of critical systems.

The new CIP Core platform will be on display at Embedded Linux Conference Europe with planned workshops, demos and Q&A sessions.  [Read more…] about Civil Infrastructure Platform releases Linux system for management of critical systems

Power brokers: An update on the electric vehicle market

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Less than a decade ago, electric cars were generally seen – at best – as average vehicles which neither had the power nor the range to be considered seriously as a viable, mass-market alternative to petrol-driven cars. 

But now, with ongoing and accelerating technological advances in battery power, combined with big investments in the pipeline to construct charging networks, attitudes are changing. 

Public perceptions have also been influenced by the battery-powered supercars that have been on the roads for many years now, alongside the ordinary-looking electric vehicles.  [Read more…] about Power brokers: An update on the electric vehicle market

Semiconductor sales reach $35 billion a month for the first time

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The global semiconductor industry has grown to a level where sales have reached beyond $35 billion in one month, according to the leading industry association in the US.  

The Semiconductor Industry Association, says worldwide sales of semiconductors reached $35 billion for the month of August 2017, an increase of 23.9 percent compared to the August 2016 total of $28.2 billion and 4 percent more than the July 2017 total of $33.6 billion.

All major regional markets posted both year-to-year and month-to-month increases in August, and the Americas market led the way with growth of 39 percent year-to-year and 8.8 percent month-to-month.  [Read more…] about Semiconductor sales reach $35 billion a month for the first time

Fujitsu claims its automated platform saves KLM 40 per cent in energy costs

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Fujitsu claims a new, “low-maintenance, highly automated” storage platform it has provided is helping airline KLM to use 40 percent less energy than the previous system. 

KLM Equipment Services has deployed a “unified, high-availability” Fujitsu Eternus storage cluster which it says has doubled the speed and performance of its critical enterprise applications. 

This is enabling the airline to ensure a more efficient and reliable ground support service at Schiphol, Amsterdam’s main airport, ultimately helping flights to operate on schedule.  [Read more…] about Fujitsu claims its automated platform saves KLM 40 per cent in energy costs

NTT Data and Automation Anywhere partner to offer digital workforce platform

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NTT Data Services has expanded agreement with Automation Anywhere to include its robotic process automation, cognitive and analytics solutions in NTT Data’s end-to-end automation ecosystem, Solutions for Intelligent Automation.

By leveraging advanced analytics and machine learning, NTT Data delivers and maintains automation solutions to allow humans, autonomics, and virtual assistants to automate repetitive tasks and fuel enterprise innovation and business growth. 

Dan Thomas, vice president of automation, integration and alliances, NTT Data Services, says: “Our expanded collaboration with Automation Anywhere adds to our robust portfolio of robotic process automation related services and outcome-driven solutions for our clients.  [Read more…] about NTT Data and Automation Anywhere partner to offer digital workforce platform

Six new trends in home automation

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Amazon Echo Dot
Amazon’s Echo Dot, the voice-controlled Alexa-enabled device, can connect to a wide range of your smart home gadgets

By Megan Wild, editor of YourWildHome.com

It’s an exciting time to be a homeowner, but it can also be overwhelming. It seems every week there is a new smart home product on the market that can automate various aspects of your life, and it can be tough to decide which direction to go.

Like all new technology, there is a certain amount of risk involved. You don’t want to jump on something too early, only for it to be outdated and forgotten about a year later.

On the flip side, there is also that natural feeling of wanting to keep up with the trends in order to maximize your home value — not to mention take advantage of all of the cool features many of these devices have.

Here are six trends in smart home automation that are relatively safe bets for the foreseeable future.  [Read more…] about Six new trends in home automation

How Burger King’s OK Google ad exposed flaws in home automation

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Burger King recently decided to try something different to promote its classic Whopper. The fast food giant aired a commercial in which a Burger King employee who says he doesn’t have time to talk about all of the ingredients in a Whopper comes up with another way for customers to learn about its ingredients.

The employee leans into the camera and says “OK Google, what is the Whopper burger?” This activated Google’s smart speakers — Google Home, and that’s when people started having fun. The actual ingredient list, as published on Wikipedia, was edited with some items replaced with things like children, toe-nail clippings and rat — among other creative ingredients.

Google wasn’t in on the plan, which led to an interesting chain of events that exposed some of the weaknesses of virtual assistants and home automation.  [Read more…] about How Burger King’s OK Google ad exposed flaws in home automation