Ford is working with MIT, Stanford to build “common sense” into self-driving cars

Ford Motor Company is teaming up with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford University to research the future brains of its autonomous cars. Projects like Ford’s research vehicles are putting the sensors and computing power into cars that would allow them to read and analyze their surroundings, but these two universities are developing the technology that will allow them to make driving decisions from that data.
“Our goal is to provide the vehicle with common sense,” Ford Research global manager for driver assistance and active safety Greg Stevens said in a statement. “Drivers are good at using the cues around them to predict what will happen next, and they know that what you can’t see is often as important as what you can see. Our goal in working with MIT and Stanford is to bring a similar type of intuition to the vehicle.”
In December, Ford unveiled its latest research vehicle, a Ford Fusion Hybrid equipped with Lidar (laser-radar) rigs, cameras and other sensor arrays, all intended to generate a real-time representation of the world around the car. Such a car can “see” in all directions, allowing it not only to take in far more stimuli than even the most alert driver, but also to react to that information far more quickly. That’s where Stanford and MIT come in.

The Ford Fusion research vehicle from Lidar’s point of view

MIT is developing algorithms that will allow an autonomous driving system to predict the future locations of cars, pedestrians and other obstacles. It’s not good enough for a car to merely sense the location of nearby vehicles when it switches lanes or swerves to avoid an accident. It has to know where those vehicles will be a split-second later. Otherwise the car will avoid one accident only to cause another.
That means not only measuring other vehicles’ current speed and trajectory but anticipating how their drivers – or their autonomous vehicle systems – will react to the situation. Basically MIT is trying to create a vehicle brain smart enough to assess risks and outcomes and navigate its course accordingly.
Stanford is doing something a bit different. It’s trying to extend the sensory field of the car by helping it see around obstacles so it can react to dangers the driver can’t immediately see. Stanford and Ford didn’t offer any specifics on just how they would accomplish that feat, by my bet is it has to do with Ford and the automotive industry’s work on inter-vehicle networking.

Future autonomous cars won’t just be able to sense their surroundings, they’ll be able to communicate with other vehicles using a secure form of Wi-Fi. For instance, Australian startup Cohda Wireless is developing to vehicle-to-vehicle networking technology that would allow two cars to let each other know they’re approaching one another at a blind intersection.
Ford and other major automakers are working with the University of Michigan and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to build vehicle-to-infrastructure grids that would allow cars to tap into highway sensors, giving them a kind of omniscient view of the overall road. With such technology other cars could reveal their intentions before they even take action, making other connected vehicles much more responsive. They could also share their sensor data, so even if only one of the cars far ahead of you is connected to the vehicle grid, that lone vehicle could still tell you what the other cars around it are doing.
While every major automaker is working on autonomous driving technology, Ford has been particularly aggressive. In a recent interview, executive chairman Bill Ford told me how the automaker is trying to use connected vehicle technology to propel the company into a new golden age of automotive innovation.

source: http://gigaom.com/2014/01/22/ford-is-working-with-mit-stanford-to-build-common-sense-into-self-driving-cars/

The internet of things needs a new security model. Which one will win?

The Target data breach occurring over compromised point-of-sale terminals. The recent news that a botnet army which sent 750,000 spam emails included a refrigerator. The discovery of a Linux worm that could infect security cameras. In the last two months all of these headlines have served to stoke fear over the vulnerability of connected devices and current security practices. Much like the cloud has allowed denial of service attacks to grow in might, the array of relatively dumb and unsecured connected devices threatens to participate in botnets, leak data or act as a weak point for hackers to target.
And when it comes to securing the internet of things, it’s likely that the current methodologies will have to change, given the characteristic of how a connected and interconnected world works. Instead of keeping bad guys out, the zeitgeist is moving toward assuming everything is compromised and working out a way to prevent attacks from becoming a success or figuring out a way to establish and then re-establish a trusted environment.

This is hard. But first, let’s focus on some of the things that make the internet of things such a challenge to secure in the first place.

Why isn’t the internet of things secure yet?

• Promiscuity across networks. Because devices are not only expected to talk to the internet, but also with each other that means that every node on the network is a potential weak point — and depending on whose numbers you believe those devices will number in the 30 to 50 billion in the next five or six years. You aren’t only securing the internet of things from dangers that might attack it over the public internet, but because most connected device networks are mesh networks, you must secure a bad node from attacking or co-opting other devices on the same mesh.
• Connected devices are stupid. As this post from Gartner points out, not all connected devices are like smartphones or even packing the computational power of a 32-bit microcontroller. That means tasks like encrypting data are going to be impossible and any type of security must be lightweight.
• The owners of connected devices are stupid. Fine, they may not be stupid, but they certainly aren’t using password generators or even making sure their hardware is up to date or changing the admin password on the devices. Many consumer connected devices have to be dead simple and have security to match. And of course, if the trade-off is between security and convenience (two-factor authentication? No way!) security will lose.
• The great unknown. We haven’t figured out how we’re going to get devices to talk to each other and to automate our workplaces and lives yet. It’s really hard to secure an amorphous concept, which is pretty much what most implementations of the internet of things looks like today. Sure, there are closed systems that may feel more secure, but if we accept that the goal here is to build services on top of hardware and software that shares its data, then those closed systems are going to look like relics of a quaint and forgotten past. But so far, we don’t know what will evolve, what protocols it will use and what ways to build out the system will win.

Which framework wins out?

There are many, many more issues some of which are subsets of these and others that are just crazy, like the idea of denial of power attacks by which an attacker sucks an essential sensor battery dry. So how will we secure this?
One idea gaining ground is that we will accept that the system is insecure and then develop software and procedures to determine what we can trust on the fly. I have no idea what it might look like, although my friend Jason Hoffman at Ericsson likened it to a Turing test for security that devices might perform. It has the same underlying assumption that influences Netflix’s Chaos Monkey concept, which is to assume systems will break and prepare for it in all manner of ways.
In a related concept, perhaps instead of stopping data breaches we’ll stop those who profit from them, from actually making money. This week, Shape Security, a startup founded by some ex-Googlers, launched a product that tries to prevent people from mass-charging goods at online retailers. Shape’s magic is that it can generate a dynamic and ever-changing version of the HTML, CSS and Java on a web page while still keeping the front-end looking the same.
The benefit of this is the hackers who have stolen credit card information can’t write scripts that automatically fill out the order forms on web sites like Amazon or Wal-Mart. When you’re trying to monetize 30 million stolen credit cards, you aren’t entering that data by hand.

And finally there’s the concept of designing with security in mind, which is of course a lot harder than it might seem. But this is the approach most security researchers are advocating, with some even encouraging government agencies to impose fines of CE companies if their products are hacked. This might involve using chips that have trusted zones to store sensitive data or rewriting the firmware for these devices with far more secure code. Many attacks on security cameras and routers are hacked via the firmware.
It’s not an area that gets much investment because, until now, it was something the user doesn’t see. It’s like not dressing up for a conference call taken from the home office — it doesn’t matter until suddenly the conference call becomes a Google Hangout or video conference. Once these embedded devices started connecting to the internet they were switched from voice to video and everyone could see their flaws.
Other elements of designing for security might be limiting access, or securing how the device talks back to the cloud and making sure the servers it talks to are secured. It might be the locked-down version of security we’re familiar with today, or it might mean implementing that type of Turing test to ensure it’s secure before transmitting information.
Basically, security models change over time in the IT realms and, as we enter a new realm with more nodes, differing interconnections, normal users and dumb devices, we’re going to have to adapt. Let’s talk about how.
 source: http://gigaom.com/2014/01/22/the-internet-of-things-needs-a-new-security-model-which-one-will-win/

Apps let the 'confinement' of tablets and smartpthones

The mobile application will reign among the tools of computing in 2017. The expectation is that Gartner will be downloaded over 268 billion applications in five years, which will generate revenue of more than $ 77 billion. Also according to the consultancy, mobile users provide custom streams to over 100 applications and data services everyday.

While Facebook and Twitter have had a great influence on the willingness of users to share personal information with others, companies in emerging areas such as health screening, "smart" technology for residential applications and cars will drive a new world of apps that can take our data and analyze them in depth, "argued the consultancy study.

"In the next three or four years, the apps will not simply confined to smartphones and tablets, but will impact a larger group of devices, from residential applications to cars and wearable gadgets (wearables)," says research director at Gartner, Brian Blau. "By 2017, Gartner predicts that wearable gadgets will drive 50% of all interactions of apps."

Since appliances such as refrigerators and thermostats, or bracelets do not have a screen or central interface in them, apps and other programs are needed as drivers for exchanging data between users and the company or the product, pointing to Gartner. "As users continue to adopt and interact with applications, their data is - what they say, what they do, where they go - that are transforming the paradigm of interaction with apps," adds Blau.

Google wants to run your home with Nest

Google is knocking at your front door. It wants to come inside, make itself at home, and quietly turn all of your boring home devices into "smart" connected gadgets that learn about your patterns and preferences, talk to each other, collect data about your habits and make life easier by assisting with daily tasks.

On Monday, Google announced it was buying smart-device company Nest Labs for $3.2 billion in cash. This is Google's first major foray into connected homes, and news of the deal ignited a flurry of speculation about what the Silicon Valley giant really wants from Nest, as well as some privacy concerns.

Nest currently only sells two products: a smart thermostat that learns your habits over time and adjusts the temperature accordingly, and a personable smoke and carbon monoxide detector that doesn't panic when you burn toast.

While the devices have been popular, on the surface they don't seem like they move enough units to be worth such a hefty investment, even at $130 to $250 each. It's what's behind the scenes and inside the gadgets that makes Nest a coveted get for Google.

Nest makes impeccably designed hardware powered by clever algorithms. Its staff comes from major companies like Apple, Sling and Logitech and is experienced in machine learning, product design, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Nest is a standout in the increasingly crowded connected-home market. It may only have two products, but those devices are considered some of the best in the field.

Test-driving a $3.2B thermostat

Does Google know too much about us?

The house that Google and Nest built

For now, Nest is expected to continue operating as its own brand headed by co-founders Tony Fadell and Matt Rogers, but down the line Google could tap the team's expertise to help with its own hit-and-miss attempts at creating and selling devices (remember the Nexus Q?).

The Nest thermostat uses motion, light, temperature and humidity sensors to collect information about what's going on in the home and uses that information to control heating and cooling and predict patterns. The end result is a customized, more energy efficient home. Like any good smart device, it can be controlled from a smartphone or tablet so your house can be prewarmed before you get out of bed or return from work.

"It's amazing to see how they have taken important but unloved devices and made them beautifully simple and useful," said Google CEO Larry Page in a brief post announcing the deal.

Aside from the financial windfall, there's a lot Nest could gain from having Google as its parent company. Nest has been slow with product releases so far. The first thermostat came out in the fall of 2011, and the company didn't release a new product for another two years, when it announced the Nest Protect smoke and CO detector.

With Google resources, Nest can ramp up its design process and develop more projects. New products will come faster and roll out in more locations globally.

Google also wants to be a player in the connected home. The trend of connecting previously "dumb" devices to each other and the Internet is sometimes referred to as the "Internet of things." As regular objects get connected, they gain the ability to collect information about mundane happenings around them. That data can be used to learn about a person over time and offer a customized, automated experience.

At home, that can mean a refrigerator that knows what food is inside and when it expires, or security systems that send your smartphone a push notification when they detect anything unusual.

Google has cultivated a diverse and seemingly random set of interests since starting out as a search engine and advertising company. It dabbles in e-mail, smartphones, self-driving cars, social networking, smart glasses, television and robots. Nest is the latest in a string of intriguing acquisitions, following a handful of robotics companies.

In the near future, these interests may not seem so disconnected. Today's emerging technologies will eventually blend together. The divisions between smartphones, home automation, cars, smart glasses and watches and fitness trackers will fall away, and our gadgets and data will work together for a seamless experience.

All of your devices will communicate with each other. Where one drops off another will pick up. Your self-driving car will share push notifications from your smartphone, turn it over to your Google Glass when you park and start walking, and then a smart home can take over when you walk through your front door. (Thanks to GPS on your phone and car, the house knew exactly when you were arriving and turned on your favorite TV show.) Streams of data from all these devices will be collected in one place where a company like Google will analyze it and learn about you over time, programming hardware and software to meet your unique needs.

The Nest Protect is a smart smoke and CO detector.

A few years from now, you might even connect your smart devices to your brain. Dean Aslam, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan State University and a senior member of IEEE, is working on miniaturizing single electrode devices that can be placed in your hair and read electrical activity from the brain through a technology called electroencephalography, or EEG.

"It can read the brainwaves which determine the state of our minds, like whether we're healthy or unhealthy. A lot of information can be obtained [from EEG]," Aslam said.

He says in the future, smart homes will pick up on cues from the body and brain to adjust things like temperature. It if detects you're in a deep REM sleep, a home might increase the level of security. The technology wouldn't be limited to smart homes and could expand to include personal heath care systems.

If this is the future, it's no mystery why Google would want to get into the business now.

Google owning another tool that would allow it to gather more data immediately triggered privacy concerns. Fresh off of an unpopular decision to allow Google+ contacts to contact people in their circles through Gmail, Google already has users who are unsettled by the vast amounts of data the company can collect. Google has access to a person's data through the Chrome browser, Gmail accounts, Google search terms and the many advanced sensors on an Android smartphone.

That wide reach is actually a good reason not to worry about a smart thermostat. Google can collect most of the same information through an Android phone. It already knows your location and your daily schedule. Samsung's Galaxy S4 Android smartphone even has a built-in temperature sensor.

Google has access to much of your data. Now it wants to put it to use connecting your home, work and mobile life.

source:http://edition.cnn.com/2014/01/15/tech/innovation/google-connect-home-nest/?hpt=ibu_mid&goback=.nmp_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1_*1.gmp_73311.gde_73311_member_5831003847744585731#!

Wi-Fi Alliance survey says consumers will embrace the ‘internet of everything’

By connecting ordinary devices to the internet, the tech world is creating the “internet of everything.” And the Wi-Fi Alliance, a collection of companies that make wireless networking devices, believes that Wi-Fi will be the way to make it all happen.

WiFi Alliance

WiFi will connect the internet of everything, says the WiFi alliance.

Wi-Fi will connect the internet of everything, says the Wi-Fi Alliance. The alliance said that it conducted show that 93 percent of smartphone and tablet users think the “internet of things” (which the alliance wants to rename the internet of everything) will positively impact their lives. 72 percent think it will make their lives better. That pretty much means that consumers are poised to embrace big changes in the way they use technology.
One out of four males want to have on-demand video and gaming in the next car they buy. To make this happen, we’ll need a sea change in connectivity, according to Wi-Fi Alliance president and chief executive Edgar Figueroa.
“The internet of everything is not just a discussion for insiders,” said Greg Ennis, technical director of the alliance, in an interview with VentureBeat. “Consumers are well aware that it is coming and they see it as a positive thing.”
While Wi-Fi consumes a lot of power, Ennis believes it can evolve to the point where it will be easy to install in connected devices without draining the device’s battery life.
“That was an issue when it was first put into smartphones, but it has been successful as the technology has moved forward,” he said. “Wi-Fi has demonstrated that it is flexible and expandable.”
The survey found that 77 percent of smartphone and tablet users think Wi-Fi connectivity will be an important purchase consideration for at least one item in their home when they next have to replace it. 90 percent of consumers are more likely to buy products for their household if they can sync everything to their existing WiFi network.
They also expressed concern about products that aren’t compatible with their current Wi-Fi networks.
“These devices will be used for five to 15 years, so it’s important they be compatible,” Ennis said.
They also want connected products to be easy to use. About 84 percent listed these issues as concerns about smart technologies in their homes. Ennis said that users are also concerned about privacy, as they don’t want their smart devices to be used to spy on their habits.
“You don’t want your neighbors to control your devices or find things out about you by monitoring your devices,” Ennis said.
Among the applications people want are smart appliances, home security, smart energy, and in-car entertainment. They want smart lighting, thermostats, irrigation devices, personal health devices and appliances. 63 percent of respondents said that within ten years, the majority of devices they buy will have smart technology.
Wakefield Research conducted the survey for the alliance by interviewing 1,000 smartphone and tablet users via online means between Nov. 25 and Dec. 4. The Wi-Fi industry has sold more than one device for every person on Earth.

source: http://venturebeat.com/2014/01/07/wifi-alliance-survey-says-consumers-will-embrace-the-internet-of-everything/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer&utm_content=buffer88ebc#!

Deloitte Prediction: Wearable Technologies to Rise

NEW YORK, Jan. 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ – Deloitte predicts smart glasses, fitness bands and watches, should sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating $3 billion according to its Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) Predictions 2014 report released today. Deloitte also predicts that the total global sales of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TV sets and gaming consoles will exceed $750 billion in 2014 and then plateau as consumer usage will continue to converge.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120803/MM52028LOGO-a )

“Our predictions for 2014 touch on a wide variety of topics, but there is some commonality among them. This can be seen specifically with mobile devices including tablets, wearables, phablets and also rugged devices,” said Eric Openshaw, vice chairman, Deloitte LLP and U.S. technology, media and telecommunications leader. “These newer technologies allow enterprises and consumers to become more connected, while opening a wealth of new business and communication opportunities. Enterprises that can capitalize on these new market segments will be well positioned for success in 2014 and beyond.”

For more than a decade, Deloitte’s TMT Predictions have forecasted many of the most influential trends in technology, media and telecommunications — making them a key source of market intelligence for businesses in all sectors.

The most significant TMT predictions to impact the marketplace in 2014:

1.       Wearables: the eyes have it — Smart glasses, fitness bands and watches, should sell about 10 million units in 2014, generating $3 billion. Of these wearable computer form factors, smart glasses should generate most revenues, from sales of about four million units at an average selling price (ASP) of $500. Smart fitness bands should sell four million units, at an ASP of$140; smart watches should sell about two million units at an ASP of $200.

2.      The Converged Living Room: a plateau approaches — Global sales of smartphones, tablets, PCs, TV sets and videogame consoles will exceed $750 billion in 2014, up $50 billion from 2013 and almost double the 2010 total. However, a plateau appears likely: sales are expected to continue growing, but at a slower rate than over the past 10 years, with an estimated ceiling of about $800 billion per year.

3.       Massive Open Online Courses: the future is bright — Student registrations in Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) will be double compared to 2012 to over 10 million courses, but the low completion rates mean that less than 0.2 percent of all courses completed in 2014 will be MOOCs. The growing awareness of online education will force educational institutions to increase investment in this area, drive more acceptance of online education as it becomes accredited and increase adoption by corporate training groups.

4.       eVisits: the 21st century housecall — There will be 100 million eVisits globally, potentially saving over $5 billion when compared to the cost of in-person doctor visits  and representing growth of 400 percent from 2012 levels.

5.       Television measurement: for better and worse — Measurement of the viewing of domestic television programs is increasingly reflecting the growth of online viewing thanks to the introduction of hybrid measurement, which enables the inclusion of viewing taking place on PCs, tablets and smartphones into overall viewing numbers, and also includes other data sets, such as set-top box channel selections and video-on-demand server logs.

6.       Phablets are not a Phad, but they may be peaking — Shipments of phablets, smartphones with 5.0-6.9 inch screens, will represent a quarter of smartphones sold, or 300 million units. That is double the 2013 volume, and 10 times 2012 sales. But after initial rapid consumer success, 2014 may mark a ‘peak phablet’ year, as only a (sizeable) minority of smartphones users will want to handle such a large device.

7.       The smartphone generation gap: Over 55? There’s no app for that — Those over 55 years of age will be the age group experiencing the fastest year-on-year rises in smartphone penetration across developed markets. Ownership should rise between 45 to 50 percent by year-end, lower than the approximately 70 percent penetration rate for 18-54 year olds, but a 25 percent increase from 2013.  

8.       Rugged devices at $250: reinventing the business case for mobile field force — The entry price for a ruggedized, connected data device that can be used by some field force workers, as well as to undertake tasks such as car rental check-in inspections, inspecting highways or delivering packages, will fall to $250

BT trials new network tech for ‘Internet of Things’

BT has begun trialling a new technology from tech company Neul on machine-to-machine (M2M) communications using ‘white space’ technology.

These tests involve sending traffic information to and from moving vehicles via gaps – or ‘white spaces’ – in the frequencies bands used for digital TV broadcasting.

White space networking could enable up to 50 billion devices to be connected wirelessly to the internet by 2020, say BT.

“The internet of things market has huge potential, but existing short-range and cellular networking technologies are unable to meet the requirements of many applications we see,” Mark Harrop, director of mobile strategy at BT, said. “A networking technology that can provide deep indoor coverage, last for many years from a single battery, is simple to use, and comes at the right price point is essential for realizing the true potential of the internet of things.”

Bins that ask to be emptied

BT has been conducting these trials since late last year, but now they are using the new NeulNET system. The NeulNET system provides two-way, wide area M2M networking that Neul claims “far outreaches today’s GPRS, 3G, CDMA and LTE WAN solutions”.

The NeulNET system uses an antenna-equipped base station that can provide wireless coverage in a radius of up to five kilometers, along with terminal modules that can run for up to 15 years on two AA batteries and can communicate from deep within buildings or underground.

The system, delivered by Neul as a cloud-based managed communication service, can operate in either licensed or unlicensed spectrum, and across a wide range of frequency bands.

Neul adds that it expects to announce further deployments of its NeulNET technology throughout 2014. It says the system could enable smart-city applications ranging from waste-disposal bins that “ask to be emptied” to green-belt areas and farms that are monitored and watered efficiently.

Source: http://www.machinetomachinemagazine.com/2014/01/17/bt-trials-new-network-tech-for-internet-of-things/?goback=.gde_73311_member_5830952359269793796#!

Internet of Things creating new challenges for cyber-security

The hackers who got into your computer or smartphone are now taking aim at the Internet of Things.
The connected toothbrush, sports gear with embedded sensors and smart refrigerators are just a few of the objects showcasing innovations at the Consumer Electronics Show.
They are all impressive but "they're all breachable" said Kevin Haley, director of Symantec Security Response, while attending the huge high-tech trade show.
"If the object is connected to the Internet, you will find it, and if it has an OS (operating system) you can hack it," he told AFP at the Las Vegas expo.
Haley said the pace of innovation could outstrip the security protecting the devices.
"As we start to bring all this new stuff in our houses, we're going have to take some responsibility," he said.
The devices displayed the CES show included an array of gear from a connected basketball to baby clothing which monitors an infant's breathing and positioning.
And security researchers have shown the possibility, at least in theory, of hacking into automobile electronics or medical devices like pacemakers.
Catalin Cosoi, chief security strategist at the firm Bitdefender, said the threat remains mostly theoretical for now.
"I don't think the bad guys have understood the benefits for them of making use of such things yet," he said.
But Cosoi said some new hack in inevitable which could cause people to take notice.
"We're definitely going to see something happening this year we might see the first collateral victim, a person being physically harmed," he added.
The introduction of Internet-enabled door locks at CES poses the obvious question of whether the devices can be compromised by hackers.
Alex Colcernian, director of product development at Unikey, which powers Kwikset remote-control locks, said the technology includes "military grade encryption" to stay secure.
Leo Herlin of French-based Medissimo, which introduced a smart pill box, said the system is "extremely secure" to prevent unwanted intrusions.
One factor that mitigates the risk is that with billions of objects likely to be connected, the value to hackers could be limited in most cases: would a hacker penetrate a refrigerator to steal someone's grocery list?
"You've got to be smart consumers when you're using a smart device," said Randy Overton, national product trainer for South Korean giant LG, which showed off its smart appliances that can communicate by text message with the owner.
To allay potential concerns, computer chip giant Intel announced at CES that it would offer its McAfee security service for connected devices free of charge,.
Intel chief executive Brian Krzanich told a CES keynote that offering this level of security would "allow this ecosystem to flourish."
Equipment maker Cisco estimates that 50 billion objects worldwide will be connected by 2020.
"It is impossible to put security software on every object," said Cisco's David Orain.
The answer is to look and address "abnormal activity" linked to the connected devices, said Orain, noting that this is part of what Cisco offers clients.
One of the areas where security concerns are paramount are in industrial applications.
Andreas Haegele of the France-based digital security firm Gemalto said electronic tracking has been done for decades for things like shipping containers and petroleum platforms, and that the security of these objects is now in focus.
US cybersecurity officials have also stepped up warnings for hacking into so-called critical infrastructure like pipelines and power grids.
Symantec's Haley said that last month's publicized hacking into a nanny cam drew headlines but that no real damage was done.
But the same technique could be used for industrial espionage.
"If I can break into the security cameras of my competitor's factory, I can see exactly how the factory works," Haley said.

source: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/internet/features/internet-of-things-creating-new-challenges-for-cyber-security-470666?goback=.gde_73311_member_5830728366566711298#!

The 10 Smartest Cities In Europe

When it comes to smart cities, Europe is the model for the rest of the world to learn from. European cities tend to be denser, have better public transit, larger commitment to cycling and walking, a stronger focus on sustainability and low-carbon solutions, and perhaps most important, a culture and citizenry more engaged in the journey towards more sustainable and smarter cities. Of course this is a generalization: this series of regional ranking reports has demonstrated leadership from cities across the globe.
But, as I wrote in our rankings of North America's smartest cities, our urban centers "demand 21st-century solutions to accommodate their growing populations in ways that not only maintain the quality of life, but also improve it. In short, smart cities are innovative cities."
Without further ado, here is the top 10 smart cities for Europe in 2013 (and here's more about how we ranked them).

1: Copenhagen

Notching top spot for the second year in a row Copenhagen has established a reputation as the leading green city across the globe. Copenhagen led the Siemens Green City Index for Europe and has also been selected as the European Green Capital for 2014. And with good reason. Copenhagen has one of the lowest carbon footprints/capita in the world (less than two tons/capita). Copenhagen also has the most ambitious carbon reduction plan of any major city in the world. They aspire to achieve carbon neutrality by 2025. That may sound a ways away but that is only 12 years from now.
In order to achieve such an ambitious goal, the city has established hardcore targets including energy efficiency and renewable objectives, green building standards (all new buildings to be carbon neutral by 2020), and increased transit access to name a few.
Of course, our readers are well aware of the impressive cycling rates in the city-approximately 40% of all commutes are conducted by bike. The city also recently collaborated with MIT to develop a smart bike equipped with sensors to deliver to provide real-time info to not only the rider but also to administrators for open data aggregation on issues of air contamination and traffic congestion.

2: Amsterdam

Like Copenhagen the cycling rates here are off the charts. In fact, Amsterdam may be the only city in the world that has more problems with pedestrian and cycling traffic congestion than vehicle congestion. 67% of all trips are done by cycling or walking. In fact, on a daily basis there are 10,000 bikes parked anywhere a space can be found adjacent to the central train station.

But Amsterdam is much more than just bikes. In fact, in speaking with the founder of this first bikesharing project in the world, which occurred in Amsterdam decades ago, Luud Schimmelpennick, showed me videos of their first experiment in electric vehicle sharing in the early 1990s.
In recent years, Amsterdam has stepped up its pace to be a leading smart city. Amsterdam Smart City is a public private partnership focused on using the city as an urban laboratory for the use of open data, new mobility solutions and ultimately improved quality of life for all residents and visitors. The collaboration has already supported more than 40 smart city projects ranging from smart parking to the development of home energy storage for integration with a smart grid.

3: Vienna

Vienna has long been known as having a very high quality of life, but it is a city that hasn’t rested on its quality reputation. Vienna has a sizable range of smart cities activities and a planning department, led by Thomas Madreiter, that gets it.
In fact Vienna recently created a public private entity, TINA Vienna which is tasked with co-developing smart city strategies and solutions for the city. They gave me a document which summarizes more than 100 smart cities projects being developed throughout the city. One cool project is the so-called “Citizen Solar Power Plant." With a goal of obtaining 50% of their energy from renewables by 2030, the city partnered with the local energy provider, Wien Energy, they developed a crowd-funding model whereby individual citizens can buy half or whole panels and receive a guaranteed return of 3.1% annually.
Vienna is also testing out a range of electric mobility solutions from expanding their charging network from 103 to 440 stations by 2015 to testing EV carsharing and electric bike rentals. Another important innovation has been in rezoning dense neighborhoods allowing for zero-parking residential buildings. Residents in these communities commit to not owning a personal vehicle.
Finally, Vienna is renovating a 40 hectare former slaughterhouse district and turning it into a much smarter use: an innovation district focused on media science and technology. By 2016, the city expects 15,000 people to working on startups in the Neu Marx Quarter district.

4: Barcelona

Barcelona is a cosmopolitan city known for its sun, architecture, and lively streets. Yet, Barcelona has been building a rather impressive portfolio of smart city initiatives over recent years. The city has taken a unique position of not only advancing its own initiatives, but trying to provide support for the global smart cities movement. This has been manifested in a few key initiatives. One, Barcelona holds the premier global event for smart cities stakeholders, the Smart Cities Expo World Congress. Pilar Conesa, the city’s former chief technology officer, is the director of the congress, and with her support, Barcelona has actually expanded this initiative to other parts of the world. This year, they co-hosted a smart cities expo in Bogota to serve the Latin American region. Barcelona is the driver behind the City Protocol initiative which seeks to connect global cities in pilot projects to address common challenges.
But for those living in Barcelona (or visiting) there is a lot going on in this space. Barcelona was an early player in testing e-mobility. They have an excellent bike-sharing project with more than 6,000 bikes, although last I visited, only residents could use them. Barcelona has also been testing all kinds of sensors on everything from noise and air contamination to traffic congestion and even waste management. Barcelona’s 22@ innovation district is also an impressive mix of smart urban planning and entrepreneurial innovation. This sector of the city has been transformed into an innovation home attracting local and international entrepreneurs to set up shop. The district has been so successful that it has inspired cities like Boston and Buenos Aires to follow suit. With all of their innovations and strong quality of life, perhaps it is no surprise that the life expectancy in Barcelona is among the highest of cities I have studied (83 years).

5: Paris

Paris, most known for its fantastic museums and of course the Eiffel Tower, Paris has become a pioneer in the smart cities arena. Their most impressive initiatives have been in their complete embrace of shared mobility. Paris has led the world in their expansive and widely used bikesharing network, Vélib'. Currently, the system has more than 20,000 bikes and 1,800 bikes throughout the city. Evidence suggests that Velib has led to a 5% reduction in vehicle congestion in the city. Not to be outdone, the city partnered with Bolloré to create one of the world’s first and most expansive EV carsharing programs. Launched in 2011, Autolib will soon have 3,000 EVs in its carsharing fleet.

Paris has also managed to foster a thriving entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Startup Genome project recently measured city-based entrepreneurial ecosystems around the globe, taking into account variables such as access to capital, volume of startups each year and innovations generated. Paris’ ecosystem was rated 11th best in the world.

6: Stockholm

Stockholm has a deservedly green reputation. In fact, about 40% of its land mass is dedicated to green space. Stockholm was rated #2 in Siemens Green City Index. In 2010, Stockholm was the first city to be awarded the EU Green Capital status. Stockholm residents are also amongst the highest per capita users of the Stockholm Metro system. Like its Scandinavian peer, Copenhagen, Stockholm also aspires to become carbon neutral, by 2050 instead of 2025. Due to congestion management including urban tolling and pollution controls, Stockholm is the only global city to meet stringent the World Health Organization’s recommended air contaminant standards. Stockholm also can boast about its 800 kilometers of cycling paths.
It’s not all about being green. Stockholm has also received top marks for its commitment to digital governance. Out of 100 global capitals surveyed by Rutgers University, Stockholm was rated 7th and scored 1st amongst cities for its commitment to data privacy and security for citizens. The Stockholm Royal Seaside (SRS) urban regeneration project has also become a test bed for new information and communication technologies (ICTs) designed to improve the quality of life, grow the local economy and help Stockholm remain a green leader in the region.

7: London

Not surprisingly, London earned first place in the smart economy category. It has long been considered the financial capital of Europe, but it has also emerged as a leader in entrepreneurship. The Startup Genome project rated London the 7th best entrepreneurial ecosystem, number one in Europe.

Of course London made waves with its congestion zone which generates additional income for the city while reducing traffic in the urban core. London also took strategic use of the Olympics (like Vancouver before them) to help make the city greener while also focusing on economic development. London’s Royal Docks emerged from the Olympics planning as a regenerated, sustainable commercial and residential area. This area is already home to one of the greenest and smartest buildings in Europe, the Crystal, built by Siemens to showcase smart city technologies.

8: Hamburg

Hamburg is the second largest city in Germany and the first of two to make the top 10 ranking this year. Like a few others on this list, Hamburg also was awarded the European Green Capital designation in 2011. Hamburg also offers a high standard of living having been ranked 17th globally by Mercer in 2012 and eighth globally by Numbeo.
In recent years, Hamburg has embarked on widescale transformation. At 157 hectares, HafenCity (Harbor City) is Europe’s largest urban regeneration project. When completed in 2025, this roughly $14 billion project will house a university, a port, and lots of mixed-use residential and commercial development connected with excellent, green transit.

9: Berlin

Berlin has a lot going for it as well. A concept closely tied to smart cities is the creative class work led by famed researcher Richard Florida. The evidence suggests that successful cities of the future will be those that are able to attract and retain the creative class who will lead urban renewal and economic growth through innovation and entrepreneurship and by supporting a vibrant cultural scene. Berlin has that in spades.
Enrique Moretti said it better than I can, in his recent book, The New Geography of Jobs: “Berlin’s well-established progressive attitudes, gritty but interesting architecture, and tormented history inspire a feeling of experimentation ... two zoos, three major opera houses, seven symphony orchestras, and scores of museums ... Walking along the beautiful streets of the historic downtown, you cannot escape the impression that this unique mix of creativity and high quality of life is hard to surpass ...”

10: Helsinki

Helsinki barely edged out Oslo for the 10th and final spot in this year’s rankings. Helsinki really shines in the Smart Government arena. They have more than 1,000 open datasets and have been actively promoting engagement with developers through hackathons. They also played host to the first global Open Knowledge Festival in 2012. Berlin by the way is the host in 2014. Helsinki also launched their Forum Virium Smart City Project to provide ubiquitous data to their citizens in hopes of improving quality of life.
Oslo, Brussels, and Frankfurt earned honorable mention for 2013.


source: http://www.fastcoexist.com/3024721/the-10-smartest-cities-in-europe?goback=.gde_73311_member_5830952359269793796#2

Fourth wave of the Internet

Companies providing various technologies they see the opportunities that are created from the Internet of Things ( IoT ) . " There is a potential market that is growing at a rate of 30 % per year and is estimated to reach 6 billion euros in 2015," said Fabian Valverde , director of SAP's mobility during the 2013 FUTURECOM panel.
What is SAP sees also glimpsed by companies such as Ericsson , Cisco , Qualcomm , among others . Everyone wants to grab a slice - still incipient - Business IoT . Oren Pinsky , Qualcomm , emphasizes the connection machine to machine will be within almost all business processes within the short to medium term. " About 70 % of cars in 2017 will be connected in one way or another. "
Observing this scenario, Marcelo Ehalt , director of engineering at Cisco , explains that the IoT is the fourth wave of the internet . " The first wave was the web browser and e- mail , then e-commerce emerged . The third wave was the immersive Internet , with social networks , mobility , collaboration.

In foundation of everything, the network

One fact is certain: the Internet of Things deeply impacts the architecture of telecommunications networks. As explained by Jesper Rhode, director of innovation at Ericsson, many devices will be connected by wireless networks, but not necessarily for cellular networks, even though the latter may also play a key role, for example, sensors street or transportation, where cable is expensive pass.

"In the future, networks will have to connect wireless devices without mobility profiles, ie, will not require a review of BTSs in real time." And Ericsson is eyeing the market that forms from the adaptation of mobile networks -fixed.

For Cisco, the Internet of Everythings - IOE, as the provider has decided to appoint the concept - it also represents an opportunity to sell network equipment. "Connectivity is basic principle," says Ehalt. "You must use technologies for optimization and improvement."

If Cisco and Ericsson look to network components that will be affected by the explosion of connected objects for the SAP of the big issues is to enter the market of tools that analyze the huge amount of data from the Internet of Things and turn them into information . And how to make a predictive analysis to give companies tools so they take decisions in advance. Other opportunities also arise from segments such as security, privacy and control of the devices. 

Entrevista de Kevin Ashton ao portal Convergência Digital

A Internet das Coisas ainda está em fase inicial, mas seu potencial é imenso. Em entrevista ao Convergência Digital, Kevin Ashton, que cunhou o termo, fala sobre o papel das diversas tecnologias para alcançar a tão sonhada conexão entre máquinas sem interferência humana. Ashton ficou bastante conhecido pela sua defesa da tecnologia de identificação por radiofrequência (RFID). “A Internet das Coisas tem o potencial de mudar o mundo, assim como a Internet o fez. Talvez até mais”, pontuou.

Convergência Digital — O termo Internet das Coisas foi cunhado por você. Como se deu isto?
Kevin Ashton — O termo Internet das Coisas ganhou vida como título de uma apresentação que fiz para a Procter & Gamble em 1999. O que eu quis dizer naquela época, e que ainda digo, é o seguinte: hoje, computadores — e, portanto, a Internet — são quase totalmente dependentes de seres humanos para obter informações. Quase todos os cerca de 50 petabytes (um petabyte equivale a 1024 terabytes) de dados disponíveis na Internet foram capturados e criados por seres humanos, seja digitando, apertando um botão de gravação, tirando uma foto digital ou digitalizando código de barras. Diagramas convencionais da Internet incluem servidores e roteadores e assim por diante, mas deixam de fora os mais numerosos e importantes roteadores de todos os tempos: as pessoas. O problema é que as pessoas têm tempo, atenção e precisão limitados em tudo, o que significa que elas não são muito boas em captar dados sobre as coisas do mundo real.

CD — O que isto quer dizer?
Ashton — Isto é de grande relevância. Nós somos físicos e assim também é o nosso ambiente. Nossa economia, sociedade e sobrevivência não são baseadas em ideias ou informações, mas sim em coisas. Você não pode comer bits ou queimá-los para se aquecer ou transformá-los em seu tanque de gasolina. Ideias e informações são importantes, mas as coisas importam muito mais. No entanto, a tecnologia da informação de hoje é tão dependente de dados originados por pessoas que os nossos computadores sabem mais sobre ideias do que sobre coisas.
Se tivéssemos computadores que soubessem tudo o que haveria para saber sobre as coisas, usando dados coletados, sem qualquer ajuda nossa, seríamos capazes de monitorar e contar tudo, além de reduzir muito o desperdício, a perda e o custo. Assim, nós saberíamos quando as coisas precisariam de substituição, reparo ou tivessem recall. E ainda saberíamos quando as frutas estariam frescas ou passadas.
Precisamos capacitar os computadores com os seus próprios meios de capturar informação para que eles possam ver, ouvir e sentir o mundo por si mesmos, em toda a sua glória aleatória. A [identificação por radiofrequência] RFID e tecnologias de sensor permitem que os computadores observem, identifiquem e compreendam o mundo, sem as limitações dos dados inseridos por humanos.

CD — Há bastante tempo você fala sobre sensores que ligam tudo. O que mudou desde que começou a levantar a questão?
Ashton — Em dez anos, fizemos um grande progresso, mas a comunidade RFID precisa entender o que é tão importante sobre o que a nossa tecnologia faz, e manter-se advogando para ela. A Internet das Coisas tem o potencial de mudar o mundo, assim como a Internet o fez. Talvez até mais.

CD — Você sempre focou muito em RFID, mas agora, quando falamos de Internet das Coisas, aborda-se mais a conexão por chips de celular. O que aconteceu?
Ashton — RFID (que contém um chip) é um caminho para os computadores perceberem identidade. Isto é essencial antes mesmo de outros tipos de sensores (por exemplo, de temperatura) que são realmente úteis. Como já se resolveu o problema de identidade, temos sido capazes de avançar para outros tipos de sensores.

CD — Como a Internet das Coisas vai evoluir?
Ashton — É difícil prever, mas esperamos mais sensores, mais ubiquidade e mais e mais dados. E mais consequências inesperadas.

CD — Em que estágio de adoção de IoT estamos?
Ashton — Estamos apenas começando. Nós ainda temos muito que aprender. Minhas previsões são sempre erradas; e há muita coisa que não sabemos. É um grande sistema e vai levar um longo tempo ainda. Eu prevejo que vai demorar mais do que esperamos.

CD — Quais indústrias estão na frente, liderando este movimento?
Ashton — A indústria automotiva é uma delas, e o varejo é outra. A primeira beneficia-se da rápida identificação em estradas e dos sistemas de sensores em veículos. Já os varejistas estão fazendo o gerenciamento da cadeia de abastecimento, que tem escala e complexidade sem precedentes. E fazer a captura de dados de forma automatizada dá a eles uma eficiência essencial.

CD — Como você avalia os fornecedores de TI preparando-se para prover soluções para IoT? Qual é o impacto para as empresas de telecom?
Ashton — Os vencedores serão provavelmente empresas das quais nunca ouvimos falar, as start-ups que, provavelmente, vivem seus estágios iniciais hoje. É assim que sempre acontece. Eu não sei o papel que as telcos irão desempenhar. Existe o perigo de ser tarde demais. Quando você está fazendo bilhões de dólares a partir de algo como telefonia, pode ser difícil ficar animado sobre fazer milhões de algo como a Internet das Coisas. Então, um dia, IoT valerá bilhões, e pode ser que elas tenham perdido a oportunidade. A indústria de tecnologia geralmente “troca sua pele” a cada vez que há uma grande mudança como esta.

fonte: Convergência Digital

High-risk applications for Android will reach 3 million

By publicizing the annual report forecasts safety - "Mixing Barriers: Forecast Trend Micro security for 2014 onwards" - the company's information security indicates that a large data breach will occur each month and advanced attacks of banking on mobile devices and targeted attacks have accelerated pace. Threats to critical infrastructure and security challenges derived from the Internet of Things and the Deep Web are also highlights.

The forecasts for 2014 in the area of Information Security also highlight:

• Malicious applications and high risk for Android will reach 3 million;  
• Banking through mobile devices will be compromised by increased attacks via an intermediary, making verification inadequate in two steps;
• Cybercriminals increasingly use methods of targeted attacks, such as the research of open source and highly personalized spear phishing;  
• Mobile devices are increasingly targeted by advanced threats, including clickjacking and "watering hole" attacks;  
• Lack of support for popular software such as Java 6 and Windows XP will expose millions of PCs to attack;
• The public trust, compromised by the revelations monitoring ordered by the United States will result in a variety of efforts to restore privacy;
• The Deep Web will continue to explore the lack of capacity of law enforcement to deal with the spread of cybercrime.

The report also focuses on the rise of the Internet of Things, which promises to be the notorious watershed related to personal technology. With increased being delivered by utilitarian and usable technology as watches and sunglasses, the possibility of cyber crime on a large scale deriving from identity theft, reality is a very real possibility as technology continues its proliferation. 

Health, storage, logistics, transport and energy are among the most advanced in IoT

A wide network created from the connection objects that contain embedded that make them able to communicate and interact with each other without human interference technologies - - can be applied to various industries Internet of Things concept . Vary , however , the goal of each and pace of adoption.
To Elia San Miguel , principal research analyst at Gartner , there are areas where it is easier to drive the growth of the Internet of Things , such as m -health , storage ( warehouse ) , logistics and transportation , primarily in the communications vehicle to vehicle. " These are areas that are more mature and that , within our circle hype , are more advanced ," he said in an interview with Digital Convergence .
Jesper Rhode , director of innovation at Ericsson, ranks among the areas that are flagships for the Internet of Things boost the energy sector , the financial system , automating supermarket ( self-service , where goods and people register online payment) traffic management and the health sector , which has devoted considerable investments to this.
Elia cites applications ranging from flags wave ( that green or red signal ) communicating with the GPS to direct where the car is parked in a mall to fleet control and warehouse management .

 "We think there will be plenty on the Internet of Things in less than two years, except in the health sector. Within two to five years, we will start seeing more of the conditions of adoption and implementation, "said Elia. Health, with an aging population, it makes more sense for the government coffers monitor the patient for a preventive treatment to afford higher costs later.

For the next five years, the analyst expects greater adoption by the energy companies, deploying smart grid solutions. At present, the bottleneck is in discussions on the regulatory framework, business model and ecosystem. "The timing depends on the whole system, who will pay, how will work box. These are issues that still need to be defined, "says Elia.

 Rhode believes the business model in the area of ​​utilities is already beginning to materialize. "There were doubts about who would fund it. What is happening is that energy companies are offering cheaper rates depending on the time, but the consumer has to buy the device that makes this measurement. It is an investment that pays for itself with the economy, "he says.

Besides these, there are great expectations for the segment of housing within the concept of smart homes, with widespread adoption of automation solutions for homes and so-called smart cities.

"We deal as a management platform chips, but our strategy goes beyond. We have a pilot fleet management and a platform for utilities, "said Eduardo Tadeu Takeshi Ohmachi, Telefonica Vivo in the last FUTURECOM panel.

"The areas that will further advance this time are those with the greatest financial return to connect the devices," ponders Rhode. Some examples he mentions the monitoring and control of energy with smart grid and consumption points controlled by the internet.