IoT Group Updates Spec, Adds Members
The membership roster of an Internet of Things standards group continues to expand with the addition of IBM, National Instruments and six other global institutions and manufacturers that promises to speed the deployment of an industrial IoT.
The Open Interconnect Consortium (OIC), based on Portland, Ore., said Monday (July 20) that eight new companies have joined the IoT standards group on top of 25 new members who signed up in May. Along with IBM and National Instruments, new members include: Inside Secure, Kookmin University, Micosa Inc., TA-I Technology, TeLHoc and VU Security.
Mike Richmond, OIC's executive director, said the expanded membership would "further extend our expertise in the industrial sector as we look to drive standards for the Internet of Things."
The group also released its latest specification, OIC 0.9.1, along with a corresponding IoTivity code release. IoTivity is the open source software framework that enables wireless connections between devices.
The new specification is intended to allow OIC members and industry partners to develop and certify interoperable products designed using any implementation of the spec. The framework allows different technologies to connect wirelessly while managing the flow of information among devices, regardless of operating system or service provider.
In one recent example of the emerging IoT, LED lighting used to illuminate shopping mall parking lots was combined with big data capabilities to create the backbone of a potential sensor network. Proponents said the network could be used to monitor traffic flows—even customer preferences—in mall parking lots.
As industry standards like the OIC specification are refined, such applications are moving closer to reality as more connected devices emerge. Companies like Cisco Systems and General Electric are beginning to invest in startups like Sensity Systems, which is deploying the smart-lighting networks.
Cisco and GE Software are both "diamond" members of OIC along with Intel Corp., Taiwanese fabless chipmaker Mediatek and Samsung.
Among the eight new OIC members, Kookmin University of Seoul, South Korea, emphasizes computer science and "global entrepreneurship."
Inside Secure focuses on embedded security technologies with an emphasis on mobile payment chips and software.
Micosa Inc. is a Chicago-area frozen food wholesaler.
TA-I Technology of Taiwan manufactures chip components like resistors along with LED parts.
TelHoc provides secure data services for cloud computing and mobile devices.
VU Security, based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, develops technologies designed to prevent online fraud and phishing.
National Instruments is among the leading developers of technologies for an industrial and manufacturing IoT, including integrated hardware and software platforms that target "intelligent systems" that will be key components of the future sensor networks.
IBM has leveraged National Instruments' LabView platform in its Internet of Things Foundation Service hosted on its Bluemix application development platform.
