Tech Insights Hub

In the 1990s, the world was on the cusp of a wireless revolution. The rise of mobile phones, laptops, and personal digital assistants (PDAs) had created a demand for a technology that could connect these devices without the need for cables. This was the genesis of Bluetooth, a wireless personal area network (PAN) technology that has since become ubiquitous in modern life. The Conceptual Phase (1994-1997) In 1994, a team of engineers at Intel, led by Dr. Jaap Haartsen, began exploring the concept of a wireless technology that could connect devices over short distances. They were joined by engineers from IBM, Toshiba, and Nokia, and together they formed the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). The name “Bluetooth” was chosen in honor of a 10th-century Danish king, Harald Blåtand, who united warring factions in Denmark – a fitting moniker for a technology that aimed to unite disparate devices. The First Specification (1998) In 1998, the Bluetooth SIG released the first public specification, version 1.0. This initial release defined the core principles of Bluetooth, including the use of radio frequency (RF) signals to transmit data between devices, and the concept of device discovery and pairing. The specification also outlined the various profiles, or use cases, that Bluetooth would support, such as headset and file transfer. Early Adoption (1999-2002) The first Bluetooth devices began appearing in 1999, with the introduction of Bluetooth-enabled headsets and adapters. However, early adoption was slow, due in part to the limited range and speed of the technology. It… Read more

Motive in systems communications, timing is very important just like when two people talk! time synchronisation is the key when it comes to nodes in a network how do we perceive/sense time naturally? — Aswin (@akrv1) July 21, 2018 Starting with that, Guide to implementing a Clock synchronisation algorithm on low power wireless sensor networks. following will be some pointers and papers to read before wandering in the wild to get things done and reinventing the wheel. Literature survey Message Time-stamping in Sensor Networks Flooding time synchronisation protocol [1] this protocol is very good in terms of single of time synchronisation it uses linear regression, get ready to do some compute on your MCU very good numbers and explanation in those slides [2] for multi-hop networks, this one is a good paper to read Optimal Clock Synchronization in Networks [3] Send fast synchronization pulses through the network to sync clock in networks pulseSync is the algorithm Temperature Compensated Time Sync [4] The only requirement on that time synchronization protocol is that it can calculate the current frequency error with respect to the reference node’s clock. Unlike other time synchronization protocols, TCTS also records the current temperature during a synchronization exchange. Both the temperature and frequency error at the end of the synchronization exchange is cached in a frequency vs. temperature table in memory. [5] Before attempting subsequent resynchronization, TCTS will measure the current temperature and consults its internal calibration table. If the current frequency error for the measured temperature is cached, TCTS… Read more

First things first Beacon technology provides location data much like GPS. But beacons are not a replacement for GPS technology. While the actual workings of the two technologies vary drastically, the end result is similar. The main selling point of beacons is their ability to provide a user’s location at a more granular level and in areas that GPS can’t reach. iBeacon apps actually benefit greatly from integrating GPS functionality, more on that later.I recently finished working on “The Manifest Experience”, an iBeacon app for the digital agency I work at. The app’s purpose centers around welcoming guests to our office. It also gives them access to location specific details about our space. We built the app as a way to explore the technology and become more familiar with it’s strengths and weaknesses. During the development process I was able to freely experiment with iBeacons. We experimented with new ways to utilize the technology and ended up providing a pretty unique end-user experience. You can find the app on the AppStore here: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/manifest-experience-st.-louis/id929868569?mt=8 NOTE: I’m linking to provide additional context, no need to download it. The app isn’t useful to people that aren’t around our STL office. Quick Look into The Manifest Experience After downloading the app, the user enters some basic information, setting up a small profile of sorts. When a user walks into the office, the app detects the iBeacon at the entrance. The app then sends the users name and photo up to a web service. That web service… Read more

Bluetooth technology has become extremely popular in recent years as a wireless personal area network technology, widely used for data exchange and communication between various devices. Bluetooth technology can be categorized into two main types: Classic Bluetooth and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Classic Bluetooth Classic Bluetooth is the early version of Bluetooth technology, released in 1998. Its primary features include high-speed data transfer and real-time voice transmission, making it suitable for applications that require high-speed data transfer and real-time communication. Classic Bluetooth’s maximum data transfer rate can reach up to 723KB/s, making it ideal for audio and video streaming. The applications of Classic Bluetooth are diverse, including: Wireless headsets and speakers: Classic Bluetooth provides high-quality audio transmission, making it suitable for wireless headsets and speakers. File transfer between mobile phones and computers: Classic Bluetooth enables fast file transfer, making it ideal for transferring large files between mobile phones and computers. Game controllers: Classic Bluetooth provides real-time data transmission, making it suitable for game controllers and game consoles. However, Classic Bluetooth also has some drawbacks, including: High power consumption: Classic Bluetooth requires relatively high power consumption, which can affect the battery life of devices. Complex connection process: The connection process of Classic Bluetooth is relatively complex, requiring devices to undergo complex authentication and encryption. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) Bluetooth Low Energy is the latest version of Bluetooth technology, released in 2010. Its primary features include low power consumption and low cost, making it suitable for applications that require low power consumption… Read more

Sorta, will kill your phone! When the date of a 64-bit iOS device is set to January 1, 1970, the device will fail to boot. Connecting the device to iTunes and restoring the device to factory defaults will not put the device back in working order. Instead, a physical repair is required. but it is interesting to breakdown from what we already know! It is reported only for 64-bit iOS devices – I don’t know yet if that also means 32-bit? but I looked what it encompasses.. Excluding those devices with 32-bit processor iPod touch 5th Generation and before iPad 3rd Generation and before iPhone 5C and before From assembling PCs I know for a fact that if you replace that small coin battery, it will reset your clock. I m not if that main battery is also that battery. In that, remove your battery and put it back would be one solution that comes right out of my mind. But it seems like there are special tools involved its better to goto the Apple Store to get it fixed, is the only solution for now. DON’T DO IT! would be the advice. There are few baits around and I hope if you google before you do it, this comes up and you are safe. Baits I have seen on the internet: This goes around on twitter, https://twitter.com/gabdi_/status/698230041591836672     Security issues: NTP! simple, just change the time on the server, boom, all of the iPhone 6 will go off. Best skynet hack for dropping… Read more

Intent When there is a city wide Wireless Sensor Network (WSN), this has to be resolved with anything meaningful, say name of where it is located. then this has to be the name that it should be resolved to. to creat DNSed, as in past tense in English for DNS. To DNS the shit out of the IoT. To create an amazing network and to overload the DNS servers. To create everything out in the open, so everything in the Hollywood movies can come true. Scenario When a water tank level indicator at place called “Meereen”. There is a number for the water tank which is 256. then, this can be described in the internet nomenclature as domain name: meereen.got object: water tank number: 256 sensor type: level indicator this would translate to an internet name of “level.256.water.meereen.got” usually, there is only a sensor in a an area and they are organised in cluster. in that case, Meereen’s water tank is being referenced, and the sensor 256 is being addressed where the level is being asked for, https://256.water.meereen.got/level where level is a service provided by the sensor Possibility: It is possible to use BIND9 to build a DNS server, then create the zone records to point to the different sensors. the tutorial gives a good insight on deploying a BIND9 DNS server [3]. There are very good python libraries available in such an instance to build an DNS server and then work with their API. The following are some interesting DNS APIs… Read more

Cut to action steps: Install Arduino IDE Install board support packages to compile for ESP8266 http://arduino.esp8266.com/stable/package_esp8266com_index.json How and where to do it! first add that URL in the additional board managers URL now goto the board manager and look for ESP8266 and install the package compile your first program, don’t upload yet To upload, if you have NodeMCU, Arduino takes care of turning the boot-loader mode. if any other, then better to put it yourself into boot-loader mode. Enjoy ESP8266 development!

There are million ways to finish what you started; there is only one way to fail On the way to getting things done right after getting off the train at the university. was having a moment ;)😂

WiFi Positioning system is a new way to get precise localisation. It is used in conjunction with GPS to achieve better accuracy. Read through to know how there is a slight privacy intrusion and how you can take care of your privacy issues. I am also sharing some interesting things about this WiFi Positioning System (WPS) that Google offers through its developer API. It is interesting that Google asks for you to sign up for logging the access point (AP) information in your android phone. Well if you knew when and where it is asked, you will surely hit NO! They collect your AP information mostly without clear notice and then you have to pay to use the API to access this information. Atleast this is what Google does. Well some digging says it is just done periodically. My conclusions of how AP information tagged with location is logged are as follows It is somewhere connected to location reporting from Google Location Services. It could be just the localisation data that is sent to Google to while you are using your apps that require location. So Google actually logs all the Access Point (AP) a device connects to and with the help of GPS it is geolocated and the info is tagged and sent to Google servers! How to opt out of this WPS?

Bluetooth is a wireless personal area network (PAN) technology that has become an essential component of our daily lives. From smart home devices to medical equipment, Bluetooth is used in a wide range of applications that make our lives more convenient, efficient, and connected. In this article, we’ll explore the various applications and use cases of Bluetooth, and examine how this technology is transforming industries and improving lives. Smart Home Devices One of the most popular applications of Bluetooth is in smart home devices. From thermostats to lighting systems, Bluetooth-enabled devices allow homeowners to control and monitor their homes remotely using their smartphones or tablets. For example, Philips Hue smart light bulbs use Bluetooth to connect to a user’s smartphone, allowing them to control the lighting in their home from anywhere. Wearables and Fitness Trackers Bluetooth is also widely used in wearables and fitness trackers. Devices such as smartwatches and fitness trackers use Bluetooth to connect to a user’s smartphone, allowing them to track their fitness goals, receive notifications, and control their music playlists. For example, Apple Watch uses Bluetooth to connect to an iPhone, allowing users to receive notifications, track their fitness goals, and control their music playlists. Audio and Music Bluetooth is a popular technology in the audio industry, allowing users to stream music wirelessly from their devices to speakers, headphones, and earbuds. For example, wireless headphones such as Beats and Bose use Bluetooth to connect to a user’s smartphone, allowing them to stream music wirelessly. Healthcare Bluetooth… Read more