Edge Devices

Hardware Trends Shaping the Next Decade Hardware design is evolving. In the coming decade, devices will be faster, smaller, and more capable while using less energy. The big driver is smarter hardware: chips that do more work with less power. This shift changes how we build phones, cars, factories, and data centers. AI accelerators and specialized chips are common now in phones, servers, and edge devices. They deliver higher performance per watt than general purpose processors. That means apps can run locally, improving privacy and cutting the load on data centers. As a result, developers can design smarter features without waiting for cloud round-trips. ...

Edge Computing: Processing Closer to Users Edge computing shifts data processing from distant data centers to machines closer to where data is generated. This approach reduces round trips, cuts latency, and can make services work even when networks are slow or unreliable. It sits between devices and the cloud, sometimes called the edge or fog, but the core idea is simple: process near the source. How it works Edge computing uses layers: the device (sensor or camera), the edge gateway or local server, a nearby regional data center, and the cloud. Some tasks run on-device, some at the gateway, and heavier work goes to the regional site or cloud. This mix enables fast responses while saving cloud bandwidth. ...

Communication Protocols: From HTTP to MQTT As devices and apps connect more often, you will encounter different communication styles. HTTP remains the backbone of the web, while MQTT shines on low bandwidth or unstable networks. This guide explains how they work and when to use them. HTTP: the baseline HTTP operates on a request–response model. A client asks for data with GET, or sends data with POST, PUT, or PATCH. Each call carries headers, sometimes a JSON body, and a status code on reply. The system is stateless by default, which makes servers easy to scale and cache friendly. The downside is the overhead: headers, repeated connections, and polling when data arrives irregularly. For web APIs, REST over HTTP remains common because it is predictable and well supported. ...

The Internet of Things: Security by Design From smart thermostats to industrial sensors, the Internet of Things connects devices to the internet, making life easier and operations smarter. Yet security gaps appear when products are rushed to market or rely on default settings. Security by design means building defenses into every phase—concept, hardware, software, and updates—so devices stay safe even as threats evolve. Think of security as a layered shield. Start by assuming devices can be compromised and design to limit damage. Reduce the attack surface by turning off features you do not need, using strong authentication, and encrypting data both in transit and at rest. Use secure boot, code signing, and a hardware root of trust to verify that only trusted software runs on devices. ...