Look Sharp: The IoT is Watching

Ron Wilson, Intel FPGA

The Internet of Things (IoT) is about to change profoundly the design of embedded systems—but probably not in the way you are thinking. The change will begin not in silicon or in algorithms but in business models. Yet it will quickly permeate every aspect of embedded design.

Early warnings of the shift began several years ago, when IBM—the quintessential hardware company—began to divest its hardware operations to focus on services. Today, we see the CEO of Apple saying he is focused on doubling the company’s services business—including the App Store and Apple Music—from last year’s $25 billion, which already exceeded Mac sales.

But what do IBM or Apple corporate strategies have to do with embedded design? The answer is illustrated in a recent product announcement from a very different kind of company.

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