The Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction. Talking to Alexa is an example of the Internet of Things. Researchers at the Northeastern University are visualising it in the context of a much more interconnected world.
Tommaso Melodia is the William Lincoln Smith Chair Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the Northeastern University. He says that the interface allows people to connect the physical world with the cyber world, using autonomous wireless networks, systems, and devices that tackle some of the world’s most important problems. Thus, to seize the potential of the wireless spectrum, Northeastern has launched the Institute for the Wireless Internet of Things at the Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Complex. This new institute will drive advances to change the way people are connected worldwide. It will combine a diverse set of expertise in sensors, energy harvesting, communications and networking, data analytics, and artificial intelligence, from over 100 Northeastern researchers who study topics ranging from cyber security to marine science. They will also collaborate with other universities, industry, and government entities. The unique feature is that they are trying to bring all this expertise together and apply it to a number of technological challenges in different areas, which will include smart cities and communities, smart oceans, connected vehicles and drones, the internet of medical things, and industrial automation.
According to David Luzzi, the institute will drive innovation in system networks and artificial intelligence to transform the way society is connected. There is a tremendous amount of research to be done, even though the idea of digitising and connecting the world is still a work in progress. Luzzi is a senior vice provost for research and vice president at Northeastern’s Innovation Campus. The institute has received about $25 million in support from the National Science Foundation, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, and other agencies.
Shahjadi Jemim Rahman
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