Einstein was wrong and we’re happy about it – Part 1

How the genius’ mistake led to the quantum leap of humanity

Albert Einstein said: “God does not play dice with the Universe” – but he was wrong.
God does play dice with the Universe and now these dices are in our hands.

source: thequotes.in
We’re talking about quantum physics and its most relevant practical application:
quantum computing. To understand why Einstein hated quantum theory and why this
could bring humanity a bright future we have to go to the basics.

Quantum is a state where the only sure thing is Uncertainty. This means that we never
know the state of an object for sure we only have possibilities. And as soon as we try
to observe this object the uncertainty will turn into a solid outcome. Einstein actually
never wanted to accept this chaotic character of the micro-world…

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TQKELOE9eY4

The best example for that is the famous „Schrödinger’s cat” experiment, which is pretty
much complex but when we look at its basics it’s something like that: we have a box
and in the box, we have a cat and with a bomb and we want to know what happened
to it.

credit: podomatic.com
So we have the cat in the box but we can’t see inside; we have to assume that the
answer will only be sure when we open it. So until we open the box we don’t know
whether the cat is dead or alive, therefore we have to assume both states are
possible. In the quantum world, this means that the kitty is both dead and alive at the
same time. As soon as we open the box to check on it, this possibility will turn into a
certainty: you’ll see a dead or an alive cat.
Why is this important? Because this is the main principle quantum computing uses.
This state of uncertainty is called „superposition”. Normal computers on the basic level
use for their operation only two positions: „yes” or „no” in other words „1” or „o”.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhNyURBiJcU

The transistor – which is basically a switch - inside the processing unit will tell the
electrons if their flow is free, so it’s a „yes” or „1” or is it stopped, so it will be „no” or
„0”. With this very simple method, regular computers can build up amazing computing
capacity. But there are two problems: the physical limits of these transistors are almost
achieved; their size is close to the size of an atom now, so it’s kind of a technological
issue. The other problem is the way they work.

To choose the best answer to a question, regular computers have to try each and
every possible answer one after another to find the accurate answer. And when it
comes to complex questions like modeling the weather this queued „trial and error”
technique would require an amazing amount of capacity and even more time.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JhHMJCUmq28

This challenge could be answered by quantum computing. The principle is simple: if

we have a particle, in this particular case we call it a „qubit” which can have the value
of „1” and „0” at the same time, then it can use trial and error not by one another but at
the same time!
credit: IBM
This means in practice that if we have an encrypted code it could take our regular
computer millions of years to try all possible variations, whilst a quantum computer
would take to decrypt the same only minutes or less.
But this is just the basic logic itself. For the calculation to be complete a so-called
„entanglement" is used. This is a unique feature of particles in the quantum world. It
means that two qubits are connected and the effects on one qubit apply to another one
instantly, no matter how far they are from each other. (This actually contradicts
Einstein’s theory of relativity, for a detailed explanation see video LINK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbbWx2COU0E) This phenomenon can be turned
into a „quantum gate” and used like the logic gates in regular computers in order to
make the quantum computer programmable.

And this is huge. This is game changing. No wonder such big names like IBM, Google,
NASA, and Microsoft– along with many startups, institutes, and universities – are in
the race to create the first ever programmable, commercially available quantum
computer.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qcn4edJuag

But let’s put it in a more practical way; what actually quantum computing can give us?
They can deliver solutions to problems where patterns cannot be seen because no
data exists and the possibilities that you need to explore to get to the answer are just
simply too huge for a regular computer. This new approach can have such a
tremendous impact on our world that it’s hard to see where it would go. So we
gathered the first and probably most obvious applications. But who knows? The
outcome of this bursting new technology is so uncertain just like the quantum itself.
The only way to find it out if we try it out.
credit: IBM

The future application areas of quantum computing

Medicine and Materials

One of the first and most promising applications for quantum computing will be in the
area of chemistry. Even for simple molecules like caffeine, the number of quantum
states in the molecule can be astoundingly large – so large that all the conventional
computing memory and processing power scientists could ever build could not handle
the problem.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qarc7AA4-wM
Untangling the complexity of molecular and chemical interactions could lead to the
discovery of new medicines and materials.
Supply Chains & Logistics
Quantum computers could be used to find the best solutions for ultra-efficient delivery
routes from A to B and optimize fleet operations for deliveries during the holiday
season. They could take thousands of self-driving cars and organize them on the
highway so all the drivers get to their destination via the fastest route. They could
eliminate the risk of existing overloaded travel- and transport systems.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVv5OAR4Nik

Artificial Intelligence

When it comes to artificial intelligence and machine learning the limitation of regular
computers will show clearly. The reason: many tasks in these areas rely on solving
hard optimization problems or performing efficient sampling Especially when data sets
are very large, such as in searching images or video. But optimization and efficient
sampling are the most powerful capabilities of a quantum computer, so creating an
effective learning AI, or a robot with a quantum computer brain can bring a new era.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJeNghZXtMo

Financial Services
Quantum computing could figure out the optimal way to balance portfolios in real time;
quantum computers could find new ways to model financial data and isolate key global
risk factors to make better investments and so to avoid „bubbles” and depression as a
result. Using quantum computing to create a program that figures out how to make
business operations faster, smarter and cheaper could revolutionize not just finance
but countless industries.

Cloud Security
Making cloud computing more secure by using the laws of quantum physics could
keep private data safe no matter where it is stored or processed. The emerging
security risks of the cloud and IoT could be solved by the advanced capabilities of
quantum computing.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-cC-JjYos0
When will this „Quantum-power" be unleashed?

In the next part of our article, we take a glimpse of the biggest, most state-of-the-art
projects, which already achieved break-through results in the field of quantum
computing and which flatter us to deliver the bright future, where you say „Beam me
up!” it won't be just a science-fiction phrase anymore...

GIF: StarTrek „Beam me up!”

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src="https://giphy.com/embed/YYjc7LQ56khS8" width="100%" height="100%"
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allowFullScreen></iframe></div><p><a
href="https://giphy.com/gifs/science-friday-YYjc7LQ56khS8">via GIPHY</a></p>
Einstein was wrong and we’re happy about it – Part 2

On the doorstep of humanity’s revelation: is really 42 the answer?

In the first part of our article, we gave a brief explanation of what actually the buzz with
this whole „quantum-thingy” is about. LINK! Yes, we went into quantum physics and
computer science, but no worries, just in a really basic way, in order to see, why is this
new technology soooo ground-breaking. We also gathered the first and most
promising ways of practical use; the seemingly limitless possibilities really turned our
heads...

We’re facing a paradigm shift in computing and the new technology can have a
tremendous impact on our lives. Several breakthroughs happened in the past few
years and the biggest projects have almost made that „quantum leap”. Let’s see some
of those.

D-Wave in cooperation with Google and NASA

A startup called D-Wave Systems sells 2,000-qubit systems, but its systems are
different from IBM’s and other forms of quantum computers, so many experts don’t
consider their development to have reached that quantum finish line. There is a
scientific debate about whether the so-called „quantum annealers” could eventually
outpace traditional supercomputers.
credit: IBM

However, in May 2013, Google announced that it was launching the Quantum Artificial
Intelligence Lab, hosted by NASA's Ames Research Center, with a 512-qubit D-Wave
computer.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cH-uoMPAkx4

In 2014, in an effort to take a lead in the field of artificial intelligence Google put a
bigger focus on D-Wave’s machines and developing its own quantum hardware. They
hired John Martinis, a professor of physics at the University of California, Santa
Barbara, and his team to build Google’s own quantum chips.
IBM
IBM is pioneering in quantum computing. From the 80’s the company took a leading
role in developing the new technology, like in 1984 the world's first quantum
cryptography protocol was published by IBM scientists Charles Bennett and Gilles
Brassard.

credit: IBM
In May 2016, IBM Research introduced the IBM Quantum Experience, the first ever
publicly available cloud solution, where members of the public can access to run
experiments on IBM’s five-qubit quantum processor. Almost a year later, in March
2017 IBM announced the breakthrough in quantum computing: the first commercially
available quantum computer called Q. “IBM Q” quantum systems and services will be
delivered via the IBM Cloud platform.

Embed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5faqB9YLS_8

The company also announced it hopes to get to 50 qubits in the next few years, and
revealed two important new services: a new API, and an upgraded simulator. The API
for the IBM Quantum Experience allows developers to build interfaces between the
existing five-qubit cloud-based quantum computer and a classical computer without
the need for a deeper knowledge of quantum physics.

Credit: Connie Zhou for IBM

In May 2017, IBM announced that it has successfully built and tested its most powerful
quantum computing processors. The first is a 16 qubit processor that will allow far
more complex experimentation than the previously available 5 qubit processor. The
second is IBM's first prototype commercial processor with 17 qubits and leverages
significant materials, device, and architecture improvements to make it the most
powerful quantum processor created to date by IBM.

Microsoft
Microsoft is creating proprietary software and hardware for quantum computers.
Microsoft’s QuArC group, which was established in December 2011 focused on
designing software architectures and algorithms for use on a quantum computer. The
group collaborates with universities around the world, including quantum computing
teams at TU Delft, Nils Bohr Institute, ETH Zurich, and the University of California
Santa Barbara (UCSB).
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7__vKLECrnk

In 2014, Microsoft revealed the results within a group called Station Q, located on the
UCSB campus. Station Q is Microsoft’s global effort to bring together the world’s
mathematicians, computer scientists, quantum physicists, and engineers with the
ultimate goal of creating a universal quantum computer.

Hewlett-Packard

HP focus on selling small-scale quantum computers, or simulators. The Quantum

Information Processing Group is based in HP Laboratories and is part of the
Information and Quantum Systems Laboratory. The lab's main focus areas include
computation, cryptography, and communications.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ_rbeBy-ms
HP Labs is currently developing what they call „The Machine”. This is the company's
attempt to build a quantum "Memory-Driven Computing" processor, and currently, this
is Hewlett-Packard Labs' biggest project.

The future is bright

As Richard Feynman, the father of quantum computing said in 1981: „…if you want to
make a simulation of nature, you'd better make it quantum mechanical, and by golly,
it's a wonderful problem, because it doesn’t look so easy.” This breakthrough
technology has the potential to achieve transformational advancements in basic
science, materials development, environmental and energy research.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ebPaz6XGdA
You don't have to say goodbye to your good old fashioned laptop but the global issues
and the big questions of humanity may get an answer with the help of quantum
computers. Who knows? Maybe one day we'll get to know if the answer is really 42.
Cricket powder and Algae-bacon: what do we eat in 2050?

Here’s a degustation of the future of food – how does it taste?

The world’s population exceeded 7 billion in 2011 and it’s growing. According to studies by 2056, it will
hit the 10 billion mark. 10 billion people need safe fresh water and food every day, meanwhile the land
suitable for agricultural purposes is strongly limited.

According to UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) calculations, 0,5 hectare land is needed to
feed one person. At the moment 1,5 billion ha is used in crop production, so if we pushed it to its
theoretical limit and use all the 4,2 billion ha we still would have a few billion people who’d go to bed
hungry.

source: hijauku.com
So people need food but for what price? Traditional agriculture is one of the biggest consumer of gas,
freshwater and is solely responsible for 24% of the total greenhouse gas emissions. This profit-driven
industry not just polluting the environment but with deforestation, monocultures, and chemicals it is
also responsible for ecological catastrophe: the collapse of the food chain, dissolution of biodiversity
and disintegration of traditional local communities.

The challenge is huge and time is running up: companies, startups, scientists, engineers, and artists are
racing with time to find sustainable, clean solutions, which can replace industrialized agriculture and
food production.

Growing up

55% of the World’s population lives in cities today and urbanization is on the rise: by 2050, over 6
billion people will live in megacities, where going vertical is the only option not just for people but for
veggies too. For this seemingly impossible challenge, vertical farming offers a solution. Nothing shows
the efficiency of this technology better than the estimation of Columbia University’s microbiologist
professor Dickson Despommier, the father of vertical farming: „If every city on earth were to grow 10
percent of its produce indoors, it would allow us to take 340,000 square miles of farmland back to the
forest.”

source:powerhousehydroponics.com
This technology lets people grow vegetables and herbs in small spaces with no soil, way less water in a
sustainable, cost-effective, and environment-friendly way. The plants are stacked in units or placed
onto flat surfaces, where all components, like moisture, light, temperature, and nutrients are
monitored and controlled.

Vertical farms mostly use hydroponic systems to nurture the plants. The technology is improving with
an amazing speed so it’s getting more and more affordable, versatile and mobile (link:
http://www.freightfarms.com/#leafygreenmachine).

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i58LCLlfzjM

According to Freightfarms the startup behind the idea, with one re-used container about one ton of
fresh greens can be produced yearly. The closed system doesn't require pesticides or other chemicals,
is independent of weather conditions so production is continuous on 365 days a year.

Thanks to the developments, vertical farming is capable of delivering high yield by saving on resources,
like 95% of freshwater compared to traditional field farming! The variety of new solutions allow
companies to produce chemical-free fresh greens on an industrial level (link:
http://aerofarms.com/farms/) or keep it to a more human scale, like the german startup INFARM (link:
https://infarm.de/), which teamed up with Ideo design company to create a compact, user-friendly yet
extremely effective modular system. (link:
https://www.ideo.com/eu/case-study/designing-the-future-of-urban-farming)

source: elmich.com

Vertical farming is on the rise, the demand for fresh, pesticide-free, local veggies is huge and thanks to
the many startups and new concepts this technology is now available for almost everyone, even for
at-home use, where next to its main function of producing own crops it also sneaks a touch of nature’s
beauty into your city flat. (link: https://grovegrown.com/products/the-garden)
source: grovegrown.com

Guerilla Gardens

Vertical farming is a technology intensive, state of the art solution but there are other less complicated
ways to grow your own food in the city. The march of urban gardening utilizes the dead squares in
town. No matter if it’s an abandoned playground, an empty plot or even a rooftop – the urban
gardeners occupy them, find the way to make the small parcels fertile again and ensure steady income
and community life for the locals. Although it seems diasporic, the effect of the urban gardeners should
not be underestimated: according to FAO (link: http://www.fao.org/urban-agriculture/en/ ) 800 million
people worldwide grow vegetables or fruits or raise animals in cities, producing an astonishing 15 to 20
percent of the world’s food.
source: urbanorganicgardener.com

As a prospering example, it's notable to mention Grundkert (Grund Garden) the first urban farming
community in Budapest’s 8th district, founded in 2012 (link: https://www.facebook.com/Grundkert).
The group provides city residents plots of land to grow crops, offered by a Hungarian seed bank. Their
mission is to utilize abandoned land in the district and give the opportunity to learn about urban
agriculture, grow food, and be part of a community.

High tech or low tech?

Thanks to the infrastructure of a city producing food with simple tools and methods can be surprisingly
productive. But farmers of the developing and third world countries have no urban backup and
hardship of basic information make field farming way less efficient.

While precision farming is booming in western countries allowing farmers to maximize their yields
using sensors and software for data-based decisions on irrigation or fertilizing, this complex and pricey
solution is something, farmers of the developing countries can only dream of.

Cross promo, link az IoT nagy cikkre: SENSORING THE USER: WILL IOT BRING A BRAVE NEW WORLD?

Precision farming is basically an IoT solution where different sensors continuously monitor every
possible feature of the plant and its environment and with the use of all these data, it can help with an
optimum decision how to preserve resources. Increasing the efficiency of field farming in developing
countries is a step further on the way to future food.

video: https://vimeo.com/134141241

Now thanks to Ideo.org, (link: http://www.ideo.org/project/sensor-sensibility) the non-profit wing of

the design company, cheap low-tech solutions can replace expensive industrial IoT farming systems and
help to increase yields of poor farmers. The project took place in Myanmar, where GPS mapping was
used with a mobile app, which can give total acreage, divide up land by crop type, and give advice
about the amount of inputs to use. When farmers know exactly how big their land is, they won’t ask a
salesperson for advice, and they won’t use more products, like fertilizer, than needed.

video: https://vimeo.com/133793619

Ideo.org also developed a cheap and simple soil-moisture sensor to give farmers a quick feedback
about their water levels.The solar-powered stick gives information using LED lights. Optimizing
irrigation is important to preserve water and also to maximize yields. On a longer run, it can give an
accurate map of soil type, drainage rate, and weather patterns. This can reduce the risks, faced by
farmers when it comes to taking a farm loan.

Luxury of the future: Meat

Considering the fact, that producing one kg of beef requires more than 10 kg of grains, over 15,000 kg
of water and responsible for the emission of 27 kg greenhouse gasses, calling meat „luxury" isn’t an
exaggeration. Compared to grains and greens meat and other animal products represent luxury,
however, the future of food can’t be separated from animal protein production. Vegetarian and vegan
diet gains popularity but the vast majority of people is still a meat-eater.

source: omahasteakes.com

To ensure daily essential amino acid intake and the taste and texture of meat, many startups and
projects try to find a sustainable answer to this question. The exciting world of meat-substitutes just
started booming so it would be too early to say, which solution will be the future of meat, so we picked
some interesting projects.

Bacon of the sea

The latest trend among meat-substitutes is algae. Spirulina, the wonder-seaplant has amazing features:
according to FAO research, it has a protein content of 59-65% and only 36 kilocalories per 10 grams. (By
comparison, raw beef has around 20% protein content.) Spirulina is also a complete source of amino
acids and Omega-3, has a high concentration of essential minerals, and contains vitamins B1, B2, B3,
B6, B9, B12, C, D and E. This is the ultimate superfood. But can seaweed really taste like bacon?

videó: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khx8PahIQ6w

The Netherland-based Seamorefood (link: https://seamorefood.com/) gained popularity with their

super-healthy algae-noodle so it seemed a logic next step to create the seaweed that tastes like bacon.
It can be used to add a smoky flavor to meals or can be soaked and then fried in strips.

Founder Willem Sodderland believes his product addresses a major health concern of eating bacon by
removing saturated fat while minimizing the consumption of pigs, “one of the most eco-unfriendly
foods that we have.” The ultimate dish is then probably the seaweed pasta sprinkled with seaweed
bacon strips.
Cross promo link Beyond Meat: THE VEGGIE BURGER THAT SMELLS, TASTES AND EVEN BLEEDS LIKE
BEEF – CHECK OUT HERE!

An unorthodox alternative

When you, as a real carnivore feel like the whole seaweed and plant-based substitute is just fake, then
there’s a solution: an animal protein that is so healthy, rich in nutrients and so efficient and eco-friendly
to produce that can be a true alternative. Sounds too good to be true? Well, it is, but a little bit, let’s
say unusual. It’s insects. Crickets, more precisely.

source: exo.com

Crickets look like the land version of seaweed. The six-legged superfood is about 60% protein, packed
with vitamin B12, has more calcium than milk and more iron than spinach, and provide all the essential
amino acids you need.

Brown University students, Greg Sewitz and his friend Gabi Lewis founded the Exo in 2013. Since then
they raised over four million dollars to create the perfect cricket-bar. The secret is the process, where
Exo freezes and dehydrates the bugs, resulting a neutral-tasting powder. It is this powder, that has
changed the attitude towards this protein source. Customers can enjoy the benefits of eating insects
without seeing the critters themselves.

video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwsRAns_2s0

Beyond beneficial nutrient compound, crickets are also one of the most sustainable forms of animal
protein. According to FAO's report, edible insects may be the key to stabilize global food supply. If they
could become a part of the mainstream western diet, we could reduce greenhouse gas emission by
18% as they produce a hundred times less greenhouse gasses than cows and require far less water: it
takes 378 kg of water to produce 72 grams of crickets, while only 6 grams of beef.
video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BwC4WRKi5QY

Bitty Food’s mission is pretty clear: „We make delicious foods with cricket flour.” So unlike Exo, Bitty
Food focuses on the cricket-flour itself, leaving customers the freedom of experimenting with
cricket-flour recipes. Co-founder Megan Miller believes insects are the solution to the problem how to
feed the future generations. Miller is the evangelist of the topic and tries to change the perspective
about eating insects. She will be one of the guest speakers at Brain Bar Budapest, „Europe’s festival of
future thinking” in June. (Link: http://brainbarbudapest.hu/) Don’t miss out to listen live to her
thoughts on the topic!

We need you!

When you’re concerned about the future and all the issues we’re facing, just relax: food is not just fuel
for the body to survive (well, except for Bear Grylls maybe) but a source of pleasure and joy, and your
best childhood memories, a key element of every social activity a representative of cultures and
nations, so it just means too much for us to let the future of food be like:

http://makeagif.com/i/PJXsth

sources:

http://www.worldometers.info/

http://www.fao.org

www.greenbiz.com

https://foodtank.com

http://www.techradar.com

http://waterfootprint.org

http://www.greeneatz.com

http://www.peta.org

www.theguardian.com

http://fortune.com
IOT: THE RISE OF THE MACHINE
INTERVIEW: “COMPREHENSIVE SOCIAL CHANGES” ARE EXPECTED

When the world was first introduced to IoT, it was "enough" to fantasize about controlling objects
around you, like programming your home's thermostat from your phone. But control only scratches the
surface. Since then every year IoT brings new things to biotechnology, manufacturing, home living and
every aspect of our daily lives. We’ve seen it disrupt traditional industries, transform our cities and
contribute to the autonomous transport of the future. The future is even more interesting…

As more and more questions arise regarding security issues, Budapest Makers asked Technology
Evangelist Bálint Farkas (Microsoft Hungary) in a quick interview to give us a peak on the present and
future of IoT industry global and CEE-wise.

But before that here’s some juicy data for your inner geek to put it into perspective.

Although the IoT market in CEE is in an early phase of development(compared to China and the US),
with around 7 percent of all IoT devices connected to cellular networks the interest rate is already
worth mentioning: In CEE, people show high interest in connecting home alarms, cameras, cars and
home electricity meters.

According to Ericsson's latest Mobility Report connecting the TV to the internet for access to
on-demand services is top of people´s wish lists. For example, two out of three users in Romania
perceive the internet as a natural part of TV/video consumption.

Rapid growth of IoT is also forecast in the region, with 1.3 billion IoT connected devices expected by
2022, which corresponds to a CAGR of around 27 percent between 2016 and 2022. Machina Research
also predicts a mass scale change in our lifestyle.

WHAT THE HECK IS IOT AND WHY SHOULD WE WORRY?

 IoT means Internet of Things; all the machines that
use higher functions to boost their basic
operations. Kevin Walsh (VP Marketing at Bsquare)
thinks the upper quoted predictions are
exaggerating: “IoT predictions historically tend to
include ridiculous numbers of the high economic
impact and I think that next year the numbers will
be much smaller and more importantly, they’ll be
real.”, still we can’t unsee the fact that IoT is not
the future, it’s present tense.

Let’s say you don’t have a smart fridge that

monitors your stockpile, the temperature in
different compartments, and displays all the data
about your food while also can contact your local
grocery store via internet if some items are just
about to run out.

Let’s say you don’t have a smart brush (just

debuted at CES 2017) that has a bunch of built in
sensors, microphone, gyroscope and warns you
about broken hair ends while using your hair
styling data it builds your user profile and gives
you tailored advice and tailored ads. Even if you don’t have these gadgets you have your smartphone
for starters.

IoT means Internet of Things;

all the machines that use

higher functions to boost

their basic operations.

According to experts all gadgets dealing with user data mean some kind of risk too. Much the same
way your computer can be infected by malware, internet-connected smart home devices can be taken
over by hackers and put to nefarious ends. It's a particularly relevant concern right now, because we've
very recently seen how internet-connected devices can be taken over for massive "denial of service"
attacks.

DDoS attacks have already started and – according to security experts – are likely to ramp up in
strength as more devices with poor security are put into the marketplace. Items such as climate control
devices for your home or smart light bulbs can be hacked over and over again with code available to
anyone, allowing hackers to run free with whatever attacks they have the time and skill to direct.
In October, 100,000 internet-connected devices were taken over and directed to send loads of traffic to
Dyn, an online infrastructure company that provides services for a number of major websites and apps.
When the attack happened, people across the East Coast of the United States were unable to access
Twitter, Spotify, Airbnb, Vox Media publications and more — and it's all because of vulnerabilities in
smart devices. So here come the questions.

BM: What challenges are IoT industry facing for the next few years?

Bálint Farkas: “The immaturity of the IoT industry is definitely a challenge. There are no manufacturers
or processes that have become a de facto standard yet. Cloud computing companies release new
IoT-related services every month or so and when it comes to runtime environments dedicated IoT
solutions, there are plenty of open or closed source operating systems to choose from. A few years
needed until this haywire buzz clears up, good and bad practice becomes obvious.

The lack of human resources in the IT sector also affects IoT branch especially that in this field deep
specialization is particularly required. Another problem is that although network coverage is satisfying
in big cities but smaller settlements and rural areas still lack mobile internet or even signal. These are
global issues that are valid for Hungary too.”

BM: What do you think about the possible future effects on our everyday life; will IoT trigger such a
huge social transformation just like booming robotics does right now? How overhyped is IoT?

Bálint Farkas: “IoT can’t be separated from the process of robotization, fourth industrial revolution,
automatization, digitalization, etc. because it’s an organic part of the progress. Let’s take an
agricultural example: a robotic irrigation system will operate optimally, if the field is covered with
sensors measuring soil moisture and give a real time feedback about the efficiency of irrigation. IoT
sensors, the data they collect and the software that analyses these data is just a fragment of the whole
picture.
Microsoft itself is experimenting, like with self-driving cars, which are able to communicate with
digitized traffic lights, detect data from pedestrians’ smart watches, who were in dead spot but about
to cross. All these devices are actually IoT sensors but they are not able to function on their own – they
work as a part of a complex solution. Considering this IoT will be an inseparable part of the technology
cluster which leads to comprehensive social changes but – whether it’s overhyped or not – I think we’ll
have adequate answer to this question only in the next 20 to 30 years.

Getting those clouds above your head? We got your back! Here at Budapest Makers we’re positive
about the future. So we picked a few interesting and useful IoT projects to show the benefits of this
new era. –ezt még át kell írni…

Sen.se

Company Sen.se has recently launched Sense Mother Smart Home Device, a set of smart sensors that
can be activated in two minutes in the field you want to monitor. The sensors can be programmed for
the different functions, or change them to new locations and reprogram them as often as it’s needed.
For example you can put a sensor in your pocket to count your steps on your tablet, or make it to send
you a reminder to take your pills.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ujqlUWwxgU

Nest

At Nest they transform the pretty much annoying smoke alarm devices into an advanced sensor that is
actually much less annoying. Their products, the mart some sensors have a hands-free silencer and
voice control to make them switch off. This can be quite useful especially to the smoke alarm, as it
means that people will have no more frustrating times of wondering how they are going to reach the
smoke alarm on the ceiling to shut it off. Nest received $3.2 billion in cash from Google to carry on with
developing safe and smart devices.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=METDdcmklVE

Luna

Luna is a crowdfunded project from Indiegogo. Their product is a smart mattress sheet. This gadget
promises you a more restful sleep through a combination of sensors and smart technology. The smart
layer covers the entire mattress beneath the normal bedsheet. Embedded in its material are a bunch of
sensors to detect temperature, motion, heart rate and breathing rate throughout the night. With its
preset function the bed can be preheated before bedtime and what especially great for your sleeping
routine is the “smart alarm” in the mobile app, which wakes you up at the lightest phase of your sleep
cycle.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iib_9UdAFKU

Phillips Hue lighting system

Philips is a tech giant but its latest project tries resembles to startup goals: link bulbs to smartphones
to create a smart home lightning system. This is the Hue lighting system. It can be programmed
through smartphone to help save on electricity bills. Top of that it can be programmed to offer a range
of different shades for different moods. To some degree the company was motivated to do this by the
fact that there is an upcoming ban in the USA on incandescent light bulbs and the ban was already
gradually entered in the EU.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVUTEVZCqsg

AgroSense

AgroSense is a Hungarian company offering a system to optimize plant farming. It measures many
aspects of the plant and its environment to decrease water, pesticide and chemical fertilizer
consumption. The base of the wireless network is a small meteorological stations with other different
sensors integrated. The system collects high-resolution data such as soil moisture, leaf wetness, etc.
and identifies needs for irrigation, application of pesticides and other treatments. All data is transferred
wirelessly, stored in the cloud and enables the user a remote access and data visualization. For example
if pre-set limits for moisture or temperature is exceeded, the system automatically alarms you by
sending a text message or an email.

Using the system is easy and convenient. One base station can cover about 50 to 200 acres and there is
no need to do anything else with it. The supplied data acquisition units (AgroSense Nodes) are
switched on by default, so it only should be installed at the locations and there you go. The system
continuously saves the measurement results to create reports and great visualizations.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dHNDi5Xkpk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GwzP_ob7ouA

hungarian

These are just a few honorable mentions of the booming IoT industry which is going to alter our future
forever. Actually it’s changing our present already. And as every revolutionary new technology it’s true
that “great power comes with great responsibility”. In other words, people get to learn how to deal
with the new smart devices, how to avoid security and sensitive data problems so the dawn of smart
things won’t be referred to as the “rise of the machine”.