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from the next-up-are-mcot-msofa-and-mrecliner dept.
Reported last week at the BBC, CNet and IEEE Spectrum is the news that ARM is launching a new OS targeting low power, low footprint devices.
The operating system, called mbed OS, is meant to resolve productivity problems that arise from fragmentation—where different devices in the so-called “Internet of things” (IoT) market run on a hodgepodge of different protocols. ARM is looking to consolidate those devices under a single software layer that's simple, secure, and free for all manufacturers to use.
(Although the IEEE article reports that "this is the first operating system ARM has ever developed", that slightly glosses over the history of RiscOS by Acorn, of which ARM was a subsidiary.)
The software comes as a free "mbed OS" and a licensable "Device server". Although parts of the OS will be open source:
ARM says it wants to retain control of other parts to ensure mbed remains unfragmented
More technical details at the mbed developer site. One oddity is the Online Toolchain, which provides the device IDE and version control online.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 07 2014, @05:59PM
The hodgepodge of protocols is referring to the high level control protocols that the device listens for or responds to. They will use HTTP or TCP/UDP but you still have to stuff those packets with something that actually tells the device what to do. The problem arises when you have 100 different money hungry, IoT buzzword pimping companies rolling out 100 different devices that speak 100 different protocols. And this is where IoT falls flat on its face. I dont trust it because every vendor will try to herd people into yet another walled garden complete with spyware added. *BUT* I am not saying networked devices is a bad idea. I can bring about a lot of convenience.
Turning a light bulb on and off over the internet sounds simple but how do you ensure 100 other manufactures speak the same protocol? If I wanted to control the lights in my home from the internet I should have the freedom to mix and use devices from ABC-Tech and XYZ-Pro. They should speak the same turn-stuff-on-and-off protocol so I can choose an IoT management app of MY CHOICE! I should not be forced to use ABC-Tech's app and server which will never have its security nightmare of a uPnP hole poking firmware blob upgraded to control their gadget. And then we have XYZ-Pro who won't release their protocol and uses the DMCA against the hacking community's reverse engineering attempts to squash free open source 3rd party control software. Or BigCorp gadgets which must be controlled through their proprietary cloud app that is vulnerable to the latest zero day because their admins are incompetent, under funded or apathetic. This will inevitably happen.
If the IoT buzzfest wants to succeed they all have to speak the same control protocol OR release the protocol to the public without NDA or any strings attached. PERIOD. And better yet, dont make interface software for your device. Let someone else do it. All you have to worry about is that your toaster speaks the right protocol to tell a server that my toast is ready. And that server can be open source running under linux or BSD, hardened and using strong encryption, like ssh or https to ensure no one hacks my house. Otherwise I have a slew of apps that can't talk to each other and worse yet, can't feed data to logging software for metrics. Lets not forget they may be vulnerable to hacking but the company stopped giving a damn about a 5 year old washer to care about patches.
I want a single app that controls, polls and listens to everything. Then let it log data and perhaps even run cron-like jobs so I can program my lights to turn on while I am on vacation. Maybe I also tie that to a power monitoring system that watches my usage and sends a message to my phone when I exceed a load limit or burn too many kW/hrs so I can open the same app and shut some things off or check to see where the juice is going. e.g. Phone: beep - Power draw is 680W, exceeding 600W limit. Me:Damn, left the kitchen lights on again, click, okay they're off now. I want this. But I know it wont work the way I want unless I build it myself which I don't have time for.
This isn't rocket science. It is very doable but getting all the money hungry idiots running these companies to cooperate is akin to establishing permanent peace in the middle east.