IBM Corp has been demonstrating a wide range of pervasive computing devices at CeBIT in Hannover, Germany. The devices, products from IBM’s year-old Pervasive Computing division, included home networking, mobile and in-car devices.
The firm showed off a home networking server which, accessed through a laptop or a smart phone, enabled the user to close the curtains or turn off the lights in a Canadian home from the IBM stand at CeBIT. The server is based around a Java interface protocol that allows users to connect and manage compliant devices in the home. The system, which was developed with 11 other telcos and IT companies works with CeBus, HomePNA, XDSL, POOTS or ISDN.
The home management system works by first accessing a URL, a browser is the front end user interface and instructions are then fed through to a user’s home server. This raises potential security issues, if home control is available over the web, it can be easily hacked. IBM claims that to address security problems they will port firewall and virtual private network software to the home server.
IBM intends to make money on the devices by offering corporate users software, silicon and services to set up back end systems for the devices. The firm envisages people buying the boxes through an ISP or utilities vendor. The customer would pay a monthly fee and in return, a supplier such as an electricity firm would have limited access to the home network. The supplier may chosoe to regulate the lighting of a house via the network, controlling power supplies during peak periods. Home owners would then get a percentage cut on their electricity bill.
