The Consumer electronics industry has experienced major changes in the past few decades and continues to progress rapidly progress with new engineering technology. Consumer electronic devices are becoming more complex by the day and manufactures are constantly striving trying to find ways to increase functionality and improve end-users experience.
The inclusion of embedded systems into consumer electronics industry has enabled the evolution of a completely new breed of electronic products. These products have the capability to unite a wide range of technologies to store, transfer and process multiple forms of digital data more efficiently and to provide a radical user experience. Consumer electronics is evolving into a new class of feature-rich, complex, upgradable, network-connected devices that are changing the way we communicate and interact with the world around us.
Embedded Systems are ubiquitous. They appear in cell phones, microwave ovens, refrigerators, automobiles and a veritable array of consumer products. The core characteristics of an embedded system is that it can be designed to provide a friendly and intuitive user interface that presents a virtual control model of the embedded system, while the complexity, including all its configuration and control components, remain hidden from the user. Every time a user carries out a simple operation such as making a mobile phone call or changing channel with the TV remote, the user is unknowingly reaping the benefits of these “hidden” embedded systems.
Early embedded systems were mostly single-application or single-processor systems and targeted for a simple discrete operation. In contrast, embedded systems are now being developed to include more than one application domain to support a myriad of tasks, which can also be upgraded and additional functionality can be added on-the-go.
A great deal of technology improvements such as the availability of practical Real-Time Operating Systems (RTOS), ’novel’ devices such as Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGA) or hyper-threading processors, Systems on Chip (SoC), Network on Chip (NoC), middleware etc. are enabling this transformation in embedded systems. The true potential of embedded system lies in its ability to easily interface and integrate with other applications in its vicinity to give that excellent usability and astounding user experience.
The day when people can switch on the TV, control the washing machine, increase the fan speed of the AC or switch on the porch lights - all from a single Interactive hand-held device is far closer than ever imagined. Embedded systems have this capability to enable complete wireless automation of devices to achieve what we humans have always dreamed of –“The Power to control the World around us!”
How do we achieve this?
Now let’s just touch the ground and analyse how this can be achieved. To interact with all these remotely controlled devices, they have to be put under a single standardised control interface that can interconnect into a network, specifically a home-area network (HAN). There are a lot different technologies available today that can be put to use to realise this “dream”.
ZigBee: One of the most promising HAN protocols is ZigBee, a software layer based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard. ZigBee was created to satisfy the market's need for a cost-effective, standards-based wireless network that supports low data rates, low power consumption, security, and reliability. ZigBee devices are designed to interact wirelessly with other devices in the network and to even act as nodes to transfer data between other devices. This enables excellent networking without the need for wireless routers or other wireless networks.
The ultra-low power consumption in ZigBee technology promotes long life for devices with non-rechargeable batteries. For most of the time, the ZigBee device is in deep-sleep mode and wakes up only for a fraction of a second to confirm its presence in the network or transfer data.
Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi technology builds on IEEE 802.11 standards and was established to enforce standards for interoperability and backward compatibility, and to promote wireless local-area-network (LAN) technology. Wi-Fi allows the deployment LANs without wires for client devices, reducing the costs of network deployment and expansion. Wi-Fi also provides for high data transfer rates between devices and can easily support broadband internet access. Wi-Fi becomes an excellent choice for high-bandwidth devices such as security cameras and Ethernet-enabled TVs.
Internet: The functionality of being able to connect to the internet and lending itself to be controlled and monitored remotely from anywhere in the world would be an ultimate capability feature that any future device could offer. The use of Integrated Chips (IC) that can enable connectivity to internet can make this happen. To make home devices controllable via the Internet, each device needs to have its own internet address, which can be based on the Internet Protocol version (IPv6- the next-generation Internet Protocol version designated as the successor to IPv4) to be “future ready”. As the devices become part of the Internet, its vital operational statistics and control could be available to all authorised users across the globe. In effect, someone could switch on the heater or cooling system just as one leaves their office, so that the temperature of the house is just perfect to give them a “warm” welcome.
The Control Gateway
To control all the devices and to support interactivity, a home automation gateway needs to be deployed. The gateway software can be designed to receive sensor data and to pass commands along to the devices. It will also enable identification of new devices as they arrive. The gateway can also support the display device status on another device in the network; for example the status of the wash cycle in the washing machine could be monitored using the internet enabled TV in the drawing room!
Essential Characteristics of Futuristic Consumer Electronics
• Connectivity
The systems need to provide different means of connectivity to enable remote access and interoperability among different appliances.
• Future-proof
The technology for home automation has to be both well-proven and future-proof. Once installed, the systems have to be easily upgraded.
• User interaction
Appealing and easily accessible interface attracts users’ attention and encourages engagement
• Moderate cost
Since there will be numerous devices installed throughout the user’s home, communication must be realised with inexpensive technology.
• Ease of installation and configuration
Home automation systems should be easier to install with Plug-and-Play capability and to support modifications according to the building.
• Security
The systems must provide security concepts for possible threats, e.g. invasion of privacy, or unauthorised access.
Conclusion
Embedded systems are undergoing huge transformations. Breakthrough in IC technology is aiding the performance potential of embedded applications permitting them to deliver more performance-per-watt of energy consumed. In addition to this, the advancements in networking and effortlessness connectivity with the Internet is paving the way for new, intelligent and connected consumer electronics applications. These applications will create a transformative atmosphere of innovation and opportunity as it gets woven in to the fabric of our business and daily life. The ecosystem of connected applications will be able to identify individual users and “intelligently” adapt to their comfort, safety, entertainment and educational requisites. This moment of truth is not far away in the future but is getting shaped right now. Embedded system is the answer to our long cherished dream of having a seamlessly interconnected world around us.
LX Group has proved its expertise in providing complex and critical embedded systems based applications for its customers across the world. Get in touch with us to explore more on how embedded systems can change your business.
LX Group is an award winning electronics design company based in Sydney, Australia. LX Group Services include full turnkey design, electronics, LX Group Hardware Development, software and firmware design. They specialise in embedded systems and wireless technologies design.
LX Group offers clients a range of professional solutions designed to take a new product idea from concept through to production and beyond. LX focuses on fully understanding all aspects of a client’s requirements (both technical and business) and works on creating custom-made solutions. LX Group’ expertise in developing electronic products enables a quicker design process and reduces cost in bringing a concept to reality. LX Group in part of LX Group.
Published by LX Group for itself and the LX Group of companies, including LX Design House, LX Solutions and LX Consulting, LX Innovations.
Published by LX Group for itself and the LX Group of companies, including LX Design House, LX Solutions and LX Consulting, LX Innovations.
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