This has nothing to do with genealogy but I found it to be interesting.
Our world is becoming more and more connected online every day. Not only are computers and cell phones connected to the Internet, but so are burglar alarms, video cameras, refrigerators, vending machines, and even automobiles. Many futurists tell us that every device will eventually be connected to the net.
One problem is the lack of available addresses. When connected to the Internet, each device needs a unique address so that other computers can find it. In fact, the world has already exhausted the supply of Internet addresses.
Most of today's Internet-connected devices use the IPV4 (Internet Protocol Version 4) addressing scheme. That was invented in the 1980s when people dreamed that someday each person might have one computer. Nobody in the 1980s ever envisioned placing refrigerators online. The IPV4 addresses are four numbers, separated by periods, such as: 172.41.200.119.
The problem with IPV4 is two-fold: using only four numbers limits the address space to a bit more than 4 billion possible address. That sounds like a lot, but the Internet is already approaching that number. Next, some IPV4 addresses are reserved for special purposes, such as private networks or multicast addresses. This reduces the number of addresses that can potentially be allocated for routing on the public Internet.
The solution is available today but hasn't been used much: IPV6. Internet Protocol Version 6 uses 128-bit addresses, so the new address space supports 2128 (approximately 340 undecillion or 3.4×1038) addresses. That means that every light bulb in the world could have its own IP address and even that would use only a tiny percentage of the available addresses. In short, that's enough for quite a few years.
The problem is that most Internet providers have not switched to IPV6. In fact, there is a "chicken-and-egg" problem here. Switching from IPV4 to IPV6 will cost millions, perhaps billions, of dollars in new hardware for networking equipment. The Internet providers will not switch to IPV6 until there is some demonstrated need. Nobody can demonstrate the need until the IPV6 networking infrastructure is already in place.
Luckily, there are two factors at work: (1.) the world is running out of IPV4 addresses; so, users and owners of web servers will soon be clamoring for more addresses. Also, (2.) prices for the hardware keep dropping.
In the very near future, low-cost smart chips will be added to every device with an electrical connection and also to many devices that are powered by batteries. These chips will provide an IPV6 address to each device. Everything in your life will become part of your private secure network to be monitored and controlled (and hence become smart) via a smartphone, tablet or PC. You will be able to use your smartphone to check the temperature and thermostat reading in your home, even if you are thousands of miles away. You will be able to water the lawn, give the dog some food, turn off the lights, check the burglar alarm, record a television program on the digital video recorder at home, pay bills, plow a field with a driver-less farm tractor, find traffic jams on your planned route, check the location of your package on board a FedEx truck, and more, all from your handheld cell phone, tablet computer, or laptop. Those who do not wish to use a cell phone or a computer could use a personal "key fob" that will be similar today's remote control for the television, except that it will work many miles away from home.
In fact, you can do all of those things today. The only difference is that those tasks will become more common in the near future. Someday, you should even be able to find your misplaced car keys.
Connecting all sorts of non-computer devices to the 'net is referred to as the Internet of Things. In other words, every thing is connected.
Earlier this week, Dutch-based NXP Semiconductors announced its GreenChip, which will cost about US$1.00. It is an Internet interface designed for non-computer devices. It will even enable every light bulb to have its own wireless IP address, if anyone wishes to network the light bulbs. The technology is now becoming available at very low prices. The power consumed by the new electronics is tiny, much less than that of a night light. By use of networked devices, we can reduce energy consumption significantly by remotely dimming or turning off lights, adjusting thermostats, and taking other energy-saving actions.
NXP also announced it will make its JenNet-IP, ultra-low-power, IEEE 802.15.4-based, wireless network layer software available under an Open Source license in the fourth quarter of this year. This could be monumental as JenNet-IP reduces the cost and greatly simplifies the task of adding “smart” connectivity and two-way communication into a wide range of devices, even light bulbs. It may establish a cross-application standard for wireless connectivity in both residential and industrial environments.
You can read more in GizMag at http://goo.gl/19hIS, http://www.theinternetofthings.eu/, and at http://goo.gl/jiOQa.
The problem with IPV4 is two-fold: using only four numbers limits the address space to a bit more than 4 billion possible address. That sounds like a lot, but the Internet is already approaching that number. Next, some IPV4 addresses are reserved for special purposes, such as private networks or multicast addresses. This reduces the number of addresses that can potentially be allocated for routing on the public Internet.
The solution is available today but hasn't been used much: IPV6. Internet Protocol Version 6 uses 128-bit addresses, so the new address space supports 2128 (approximately 340 undecillion or 3.4×1038) addresses. That means that every light bulb in the world could have its own IP address and even that would use only a tiny percentage of the available addresses. In short, that's enough for quite a few years.
The problem is that most Internet providers have not switched to IPV6. In fact, there is a "chicken-and-egg" problem here. Switching from IPV4 to IPV6 will cost millions, perhaps billions, of dollars in new hardware for networking equipment. The Internet providers will not switch to IPV6 until there is some demonstrated need. Nobody can demonstrate the need until the IPV6 networking infrastructure is already in place.
Luckily, there are two factors at work: (1.) the world is running out of IPV4 addresses; so, users and owners of web servers will soon be clamoring for more addresses. Also, (2.) prices for the hardware keep dropping.
In the very near future, low-cost smart chips will be added to every device with an electrical connection and also to many devices that are powered by batteries. These chips will provide an IPV6 address to each device. Everything in your life will become part of your private secure network to be monitored and controlled (and hence become smart) via a smartphone, tablet or PC. You will be able to use your smartphone to check the temperature and thermostat reading in your home, even if you are thousands of miles away. You will be able to water the lawn, give the dog some food, turn off the lights, check the burglar alarm, record a television program on the digital video recorder at home, pay bills, plow a field with a driver-less farm tractor, find traffic jams on your planned route, check the location of your package on board a FedEx truck, and more, all from your handheld cell phone, tablet computer, or laptop. Those who do not wish to use a cell phone or a computer could use a personal "key fob" that will be similar today's remote control for the television, except that it will work many miles away from home.
In fact, you can do all of those things today. The only difference is that those tasks will become more common in the near future. Someday, you should even be able to find your misplaced car keys.
Connecting all sorts of non-computer devices to the 'net is referred to as the Internet of Things. In other words, every thing is connected.
Earlier this week, Dutch-based NXP Semiconductors announced its GreenChip, which will cost about US$1.00. It is an Internet interface designed for non-computer devices. It will even enable every light bulb to have its own wireless IP address, if anyone wishes to network the light bulbs. The technology is now becoming available at very low prices. The power consumed by the new electronics is tiny, much less than that of a night light. By use of networked devices, we can reduce energy consumption significantly by remotely dimming or turning off lights, adjusting thermostats, and taking other energy-saving actions.
NXP also announced it will make its JenNet-IP, ultra-low-power, IEEE 802.15.4-based, wireless network layer software available under an Open Source license in the fourth quarter of this year. This could be monumental as JenNet-IP reduces the cost and greatly simplifies the task of adding “smart” connectivity and two-way communication into a wide range of devices, even light bulbs. It may establish a cross-application standard for wireless connectivity in both residential and industrial environments.
You can read more in GizMag at http://goo.gl/19hIS, http://www.theinternetofthings.eu/, and at http://goo.gl/jiOQa.
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