Finally got cloud computing figured out? Hold on to your hat, as edge computing has arrived. What is it, and where do they come up with these names?
With the Internet of Things, many devices out there are desperate to connect quickly. So, computing power needs to be nearer to the device. Hence, the edge of the network but not to the point of floating off into the cloud.
Sending data into and out of the cloud sucks up time. Time is a precious commodity. If your business devices collected, shared and processed data on site, there’s theoretically no waiting time.
What’s driving this trend? The Internet of Things and all those devices, including sensors and mobile. All that yummy data which a business wants to analyze or use now.
What enables this trend? AI or artificial intelligence. AI allows devices, including sensors, to be smarter and process more on board.
How can your small business use this technology? In retail, it runs the AR or augmented reality to give your customer an immersive experience with your products. In the warehouse or out in the field, it improves worker safety. It promotes plant growth in the greenhouse by dispensing water or fertilizer at the correct times.
Is cloud computing going to dissipate soon? No, it’s great for storing data, vast amounts of it you don’t need right away. Edge computing is an advantage when you need access to generated data quickly, or your data must stay local due to regulatory issues.
Author: Kris Keppeler, a writer who finds technology fascinating and loves humor. She writes for Crossing Genres on Medium.com and Does This Happen to You? on Channillo. Award-winning podcast producer who enjoys telling stories. Follow her @KrisKKAria on Twitter or on LinkedIn.
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