

Patrick Nelson
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IDG Contributor Network
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Opinions expressed by ICN authors are their own.
Patrick Nelson was editor and publisher of the music industry trade publication Producer Report and has written for a number of technology blogs. Nelson wrote the cult-classic novel Sprawlism.
The opinions expressed in this blog are those of Patrick Nelson and do not necessarily represent those of IDG Communications, Inc., its parent, subsidiary or affiliated companies.


Future ‘smart walls’ key to IoT
MIT researchers are developing a wallpaper-like material that’s made up of simple RF switch elements and can be applied to building surfaces. Using beamforming, the antenna array could potentially improve wireless signal strength...

How bacteria could run the Internet of Things
The Internet of Bio-Nano Things (IoBNT) would use certain kinds of bacteria, which scientists think has the attributes needed to make effective sensor networks.

How Open-RAN could ‘white-box’ 5G
Open-hardware, software-defined mobile radio infrastructure could kick-start private LTE and 5G and perhaps eventually lead to their supremacy over Wi-Fi for enterprises.

Beyond Moore's Law: Neuromorphic computing?
Some researchers think brain-copying architectures should replace traditional computing. One group explains how that might work.

Instant, secure ‘teleportation’ of data in the works
Quantum teleportation, where information is sent instantaneously, will secure the Internet, researchers say. Scientists are making progress.

DIY communications networks to trend in 2020, says major telco
An across-the-board shift to privatizing communications networks is underway.

Researchers aim for transistors that compute and store in one component
Materials incompatibilities have stalled efforts to integrate transistors and memory in a single on-chip, commercial component. That might be about to change.

Space-data-as-a-service prepares to take off
Development of IoT services in space will require ruggedized edge computing. OrbitsEdge, a vendor has announced a deal with HPE for development.

Researchers experiment with glass-based storage that doesn't require electronics cooling
A Microsoft Research project uses laser optics and artificial intelligence to store data in quartz glass.

IoT sensors must have two radios for efficiency
To extend battery life, IoT radios that send data should be powered only when there's data to send, and a second, power-sipper radio should just listen for a wake-up signal for the principal radio. Academics say they’re making...

Space-sourced power could beam electricity where needed
Harvesting solar energy in space would provide off-grid electricity at night, and for areas that don’t receive much sunlight. A project has just received funding.

Cheap IoT satellite network gets approval
Swarm Technologies joins a slew of new satellite communications providers who have obtained FCC launch and communications approval. This startup is aiming at IoT.

Wireless noise protocol can extend IoT range
On-off noise power communication (ONPC) protocol creates a long-distance carrier of noise energy in Wi-Fi to ping IoT devices.

NICT successfully demos petabit-per-second network node
One-petabit-per-second signals could send 8K resolution video to 10 million people simultaneously, researchers say. Japan’s national research agency says it has just successfully demoed a networked version of it.

Data center liquid-cooling to gain momentum
The serious number-crunching demands of AI, IoT and big data - and the heat they generate - may mean air cooling is on its way out.

Reimagining-the-Internet project gets funding
A National Science Foundation-financed Internet replacement testbed project lays out its initial plans.

How a simpler mmWave architecture can connect IoT
Upcoming 5G millimeter wave frequencies are being bandied as a good, solid network for IoT. But some say they may be too elaborate. A stripped-down version of millimeter wave technology may be the solution.

Space internet service closer to becoming reality
New, low-latency space internet service offerings from OneWeb and SpaceX are closer to becoming reality.
