Smart Objects
Smart Objects (English smart objects ) are objects that have by embedding information technologies on skills that go beyond their original purpose. The key capabilities of these objects consist collect information to process and to store and interact with their environment.
- 2.1 Personal uses intelligent objects
- 2.2 Operational applications of smart objects
Basics
Motivation
The idea, which is the creation of intelligent objects to reason, is closing the gap between the real world that is physically tangible, and the digital world, which is present in the information systems. Intelligent objects form the basis for the vision of ubiquitous computing. In this vision, which has been substantially developed at Xerox PARC, the boundary between computers and everyday objects, in which information technologies with the everyday objects and can be used at any place disappears. The aim is to support the people through intuitive -to-use devices. Similarly, the concept of the Internet of things is to be understood, in which intelligent everyday objects that have digital logic, sensors, and communication skills, find themselves together in networks. From the economic point of view these smart objects are of particular interest to record additional information about the status of objects and processes digitally. The so-called high- resolution management aims to support management tasks such as planning, management and controlling by the automated data collection. The current information technologies are used (eg the current temperature ) to obtain information at shorter intervals, with a higher level of detail (ideally at the level of a single item ) and with additional status information. Because the data collection by automating causes lower costs, the number of measurements can be increased and so the plans of the company are frequently adapted to the real conditions.
Skills
The definition of smart objects as objects that provides enhanced functionality through information technologies, covers a wide range of different applications. For a general description of the essential functions of smart objects can thereby be divided into five categories:
- Identification and data storage
- Sensor (technology) to capture the environment
- Actuators for influencing the environment
- Information processing and decision-making
- Communications and network capability
Applications
Personal uses intelligent objects
The previously introduced technological breakdown of skills is both for applications of smart objects in the enterprise as well as applications that increase product functionality for a private user, possible. After initially adopted definition of intelligent objects an extremely wide frame is spanned in the private applications where a more detailed categorization is hardly possible.
Operational applications of smart objects
In the operational context of a more detailed categorization of the functions is possible. Distinction can be made between three areas, each requiring a different amount of embedded technologies. A basic function that can be implemented with smart objects, is the real-time acquisition of data within the operational processes. With the help of intelligent objects information about the place, the state and the region of objects can be made available promptly. The second essential function is obtained when the capabilities of the objects are extended so that a decentralized information processing and decision-making. In this case, the decision to start or stop a process that is transferred directly to appropriate objects. A still further transfer of functions to the objects takes place when objects with each other to perform complete business processes individually or through networking, so it must find its way through a logistics environment, for example, a logistic object.
Applications can be found already in the logistics and healthcare. For optimization of supply chains smart objects can be used, which can automatically identify the goods issue of a supplier and the goods receipt of a customer (eg RFID). May be levied with little effort and without manual data entry at any time the current holdings along the supply chain. In conjunction with an inter-company data exchange so the dreaded whip effect can be combated. The intelligent objects can serve here as a technological basis for improved planning approaches (such as Collaborative Planning, Forecasting and Replenishment).
In health care, already found applications that use other functions of smart objects in addition to pure identification. One example is the support of a blood transfusion by wireless sensor networks. A plurality of different functions can be carried out by means of the embedded information technologies. By integrating a sensor node with temperature sensor in a transfusion bag, the temperature can be monitored continuously at the surface of the blood product. These values are transmitted to an objective in the background evaluation system, and in case of breach of thresholds, the relevant personnel can be informed about the potential quality defects. If the patient be fitted with a bracelet with the sensor nodes, an automatic cross-checking information from patient and blood product can be carried out. Through built-in LEDs, which serve here as actuators, the staff can be warned before performing a transfusion if the patient and the blood product are incompatible.
Technologies
The basic function for many applications of smart objects, the unique identification of objects dar. This is especially true for logistical applications where the location of objects by the detection of identification points at the center. Therefore, the wireless communication can be considered as the basis of RFID technology for some applications. For objects that take in addition to the identification and data storage also tasks such as data acquisition or information processing, and wireless sensor networks can be used.