How IoT intersects with everyday life, and the not-so everyday

22 Nov 2016

Noel Murphy, IoT and wearable design leader at Intel, speaking on stage at Inspirefest 2016. Image: Conor McCabe Photography

The internet of things (IoT) is being introduced into everyday objects like wearables at a rapid pace, but also in the extraordinary, as Intel’s Noel Murphy explained at Inspirefest 2016.

As Intel’s IoT and wearable design leader, Noel Murphy and his team is at the forefront of developing some of the IoT technologies that help makers and the tech industry connect to the world at large.

In fact, Intel has taken the corporate decision to rotate its focus towards developing the hardware behind these estimated 20bn sensors by 2020, whether that be with the Curie chip being used in wearables, or its new Atom chips for connected vehicles.

On stage at Inspirefest 2016, Murphy took a more humble approach to showcasing some of these technologies from the small to the grand.

Perhaps most impressive was a video of the display of Drone 100, a display of 100 connected drones that not only light up the night sky like a futuristic fireworks display, but also set a world record at the time for the largest choreographed drone performance.

He also showed how Intel’s IoT technology is helping extreme sports stars such as those in the world of snowboarding gather important data on how their own performance could be improved.

Yet Intel is still calling on groups or individuals to partner with the company to help use its technology in totally new ways.

Having fun with IoT technology

“I’m here to reach out to some more collaborators, who will help us define what this technology looks like in a wearable world because, frankly, no one has a clue,” Murphy said.

To cap off the show, Murphy called out his two assistants – who also happen to be his daughters Aisling and Orla – to demonstrate a real DIY approach to IoT and what can be done with a little simple programming.

As they demonstrated, both Aisling and Orla were able to create sounds through movement using Intel chips’ embedded sensors and gyroscopes.

“That’s taking technology, embedding it in shoes, playing a game with it and creating live music,” Murphy concluded.

“I need your help to allow us take this technology and have some fun with it.”

Inspirefest is Silicon Republic’s international event connecting sci-tech professionals passionate about the future of STEM. Book now to get half-price Super Early Bird tickets before prices go up on 15 December.

Colm Gorey was a senior journalist with Silicon Republic

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