Categories
3D Printing Blockchain Education Innovation IoT Network Reading Technology

Latest Read: The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things By Samuel Greengard. Samuel is a business and technology writer whose work has appeared in Wired, Entrepreneur, and other publications. He holds a degree in journalism from California State University-Northridge and is a past president of the American Society of Journalists and Authors.

The Internet of Things by Samuel Greengard

This book is a very lightweight, suitable for a complete novice to technology. However, this content is outside previous MIT Press titles by select content experts. However, every book has an audience and this is perfect for anyone seeking to understand IoT

In fact, beginning with the example when a lamp was merely a lamp. This provides the backdrop to the integration of modern wifi and bluetooth technologies into devices like a lamp, providing lighting controls via a mobile app.

For this reason, Samuel provides how IoT is changing everything in modern society. He helps define the concepts and key terms with mobility as the baseline for all these technologies. However it is the area where he communicates the recent emerging digital technology has now defined IoT. This products now tie services, data, and people. Those models are outlined as Automation, Computer Vision, Natural Language Processing, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, Edge AI, Analytics, Robotics, 3D Printing, Augmented Reality, Virtual Reality, and Blockchain.

Categories
Education Flat World Globalization IoT Network OpenSource Reading Technology

Latest Read: Thank You for Being Late

Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations by Tom Friedman. This is just one of his many books that I have read. And from time to time he reflects upon his best sellers: Lexus and the Olive Tree, The World is Flat and Hot, Flat and Crowded. All focus on the impact of globalization.

thank you for being late

Looking back it can be confusing to see why Tom stopped writing books at exactly the precise moment the world changed. The year was 2007 and some very significant events developed. Call it The World is Flat v4.0, when behavior capitalism began.

Consider the introductions of the iPhone, Hadoop and GitHub. Add the launch of Twitter and Facebook. Then Google’s purchase of YouTube should provide the clearest indication of how rapidly technology changed the internet.

Don’t forget Amazon released the Kindle while Airbnb was launched. IBM also launched Watson and Intel launched new non-silicon microchips.

As Tom suggests in his last example, DNA sequencing may have been the most overlooked. The price dropped from $100 million in 2001 to only $1,000 in that magic year of 2007.

So how is anyone supposed to know what all that meant to them 13 years ago? I think many family and friends would say Hadoop and GitHub are names of their pets.

This book is perfect for many, including my family and friends who do not see technology changes coming so quickly. Nor are they used to the fast pace of change. This is where Tom explains very well, for a wide audience where the world is at today. He gives you in this book the permission to slow down and reflect…

Categories
Education Innovation IoT Maker OpenSource Technology

Raspberry Pi Imager

Recently the Raspberry Pi group has released a new installer for all Pi devices called The Raspberry Pi Imager. This is a step in the right direction for the platform. Yes, believe it or not the Raspberry Pi is a platform.

raspberry pi installer
raspberry pi installer

When downloading new versions of Raspbian or Noobs the process for many users was cumbersome at best. This removes the need for new users to learn Etcher. By itself Etcher is a fine utility. I do not plan on deleting Etcher from my machine.

Imager is just a more polished version that pulls all latest releases in the background. I believe this utility helps enhance the Pi platform. Just look at how we pull Windows updates and deploy across organizations.

The new Imager makes life simple when crossing multiple computers: Windows, Mac, or Linux. Presto!

Categories
Blockchain Cloud Cyberinfrastructure Design Education Globalization Innovation IoT Network OpenSource Reading Technology

Latest Read: Decentralized Applications Harnessing Bitcoin’s Blockchain Technology

Decentralized Applications Harnessing Bitcoin’s Blockchain Technology by Siraj Raval is my follow up to three previous blockchain books. This kinda forks hard left after chapter two and drifts.
Decentralized Applications Harnessing Bitcoin's Blockchain TechnologyMy first book Don Tapscott’s The Blockchain Revolution was interesting in broad strokes. William Mougayar’s The Business Blockchain was better.

Melanie Swan wrote an even better overview to in her book Blockchain: A blueprint for a new economy. Melanie provides a great overview (looking back from 2015) to address decentralized apps (Dapps), decentralized autonomous organization (DAOs), decentralized autonomous corporations (DACs) and decentralized autonomous societies (DASs). There is such a deeper dive required to wrap your arms around decentralized autonomous blockchains.

Categories
Cyberinfrastructure IoT Network Technology

Tesla Patch Wednesday

Microsoft and Adobe own Tuesdays. Tesla may take over the Wednesday rev cycle as Chinese hackers were able to turn on the model S wipers, open the car doors and even apply the brakes while in motion.
Hackers shut down a moving Tesla Model STencent’s Keen Security Lab posted a video that has gone viral on September 19. Tesla updated an over-the-air software update to their Model S. The Tesla Model S is now running v7.1 2.36.31.

This is not a new issue. Chris Valasek and Charlie Miller hacked a 2014 Jeep Cherokee while on a California highway.  Its a sign of thing to come as the Internet of Things continues.