一颗LED灯泡让物联网的游戏规则就此改变

飞利浦(Philips)的网络可寻址(Web-addressable) LED灯泡，可能正在开启下一波物联网(Internet of Things, IoT) 应用。我们准备好了吗？ 物联网时代，真的随着飞利浦可用手机控制的199美元灯泡在苹果专卖店 (Apple Store) 上架而到来了吗？或许是吧。而且，这也是唯一一次当飞利浦高层说出“游戏规则就此改变”时，我也感到同意。 不过，尽管就技术层面来讲，并没有太大困难度，但我对这个里面装着具备无线、IP可寻址的LED灯泡的盒子，仍然有着许多问题。 飞利浦开发出了一种名为“色彩”(hue)的系统，这个复杂的系统包含了许多彩色的LED晶粒、驱动器IC、微控制器、AC-DC电压转换器、无线收发器、ZigBee和成千上万行的软件程序代码。但这个复杂的装置也不过是用简单的真空玻璃外壳将所有必要装件封装在内。 也正由于其复杂性，平板计算机或智能手机现在可以在全世界任何一个地方，透过连接数字居家照明来控制色彩和亮度。该方案还假设屋主都拥有Wi-Fi路由器。 听起来相当吸引人，特别是因为它只卖199美元。对照其功能性，其售价显得相当便宜。有件事或许不是巧合， hue LED灯泡采用和苹果iPad一样的拉丝金属和玻璃。 尽管如此，除了技术问题，一般消费者对 hue 可能仍会存在一些疑问。 情感上的挑战 第一个问题：为何只在苹果专卖店独家销售？ 我的猜测是，飞利浦认为透过iPad(或Android平板)来控制室内照明，将会对喜爱尝鲜的族群产生吸引力。而要让他们掏出钞票最简单的方法之一，是让他们去逛苹果专卖店。一旦“果粉”们都买到 hue 后，就没必要再独家销售，届时价格也会下降。 第二个问题：我们有没有想过物联网可能带来的影响？ 当我们身处家中，对于有人能远程控制家中照明系统，我们的感觉会是如何？当你的照明系统内建了可向远程的第三方(如电力公司)传送资料的能力时，你会怎么看呢？ 虽然这些功能的主要诉求都在便利性，但要让人们从过去简单的操控方法转移到所谓智能型控制功能，而且还再次去熟悉它们，将会具有挑战性。 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 本文下一页：碳足迹问题

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{pagination} 碳足迹问题 第三，我们必须要问，去制造这么复杂的系统，并推动全世界朝智能型照明系统转移，确实是有必要的吗？制造这些系统的碳足迹呢？LED灯相对较低的能耗，真能抵销制造这些复杂装置所产生的碳足迹吗？ 这将取决于灯泡的寿命。LED灯至少可持续使用10年，但截至目前，还没有多少公司有能力设计出能使用这么久的消费产品。 最 后的问题与前两个问题有关──值得为了照明去制造这么复杂的产品吗。飞利浦口若悬河地谈论hue灯泡可经由无线连接自动更新软件。大多数软件使用者都瞭 解，仰赖软件运作的设备，在软硬件同时出问题时，大部份都能透过更新软件快速解决问题。但当飞利浦LED灯泡出问题时，比方说，因为软件更新出现某种程度 的问题时，又是什么情况？ 事实是，很多人会想尝试这种以网际网络为接口来控制照明系统的方法。我相信，这项产品仍会有它的追随者快速采用，但也会有一些不信任科技的族群，坚持等待更值得信赖的技问世。 如果这就是物联网的起步，那么，我们更应该保持谨慎。 Hue 和物联网就像是瓶中精灵：你可以得到三个愿望，但在说出要求前，你必须仔细考虑。 好了，我的台灯说，该休息了！ 本文授权编译自EE Times，版权所有，谢绝转载 编译： Joy Teng 参考英文原文：London Calling: LED genies and the Internet of Things，by Peter Clarke

相关阅读：
• LED灯泡市场杀红眼，8月中国40W产品低至5美元
• 风河推出物联网软件平台，安全性、互联性和可管理性一网打尽
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{pagination} London Calling: LED genies and the Internet of Things Peter Clarke Has the Internet of Things arrived at last in the shape of a Philips box available for $199 from the Apple store? Perhaps. And for once. I am inclined to agree with a company executive when he says this is a "gamechanger." Still, the advent of wireless, IP-addressable LED light bulbs in a box begs many questions. The technical ones are fairly straightforward. Philips has engineered a system called "hue," a necessarily complex system requiring multiple, colored LED die, driver ICs, microcontrollers, ac-to-dc voltage converters, wireless transceivers, ZigBee and thousands of lines of software. All this complexity replaces a simple evacuated glass envelope enclosing a strand of engineered metal. The complexity does allow the digital control of the color and brightness of household lighting via a connected tablet computer or smartphone anywhere in the world. The scenario also assumes the homeowner also has a Wi-Fi router. It sounds appealing and looks so seductive in the box, especially since it costs only $199. That's relatively cheap considering the promised functionality. It also is probably no coincidence that a hue LED light bulb is finished in brushed metal and glass just like an Apple iPad. Still, the social questions raised by hue may not be so easy to answer as the technical ones. Emotionally challenging The first question is: Why is the hue starter kit being made available exclusively through Apple stores? My guess is that Philips understands that being able to control domestic lighting from an iPad (or Android tablet) will appeal mostly to early adopters. Those most easily parted from their money tend to shop at the Apple store. Once the Apple fanatics have all bought into hue, the exclusivity will be dropped along with the price. Second question: Have we thought through the implications of the Internet of Things? How would we feel someone about remotely controlling lighting levels while we're in the room? What about using lighting with a built-in capability to report usage patterns to third parties like utilities? While these features were intended as conveniences, the transfer of that degree of intelligence from a limited set of electronic devices to familiar and formerly inanimate objects will be emotionally challenging. Carbon footprint and genie Third, we must ask whether the use of such complexity in manufacturing and in transferring work in progress around the world is sustainable? In other words, what is its carbon footprint and is it more than offset by the relatively low levels of energy used when the lights are on? This will depend on the life of the bulbs. LEDs that last 10 years would be beneficial, but so far not many companies designs consumer goods to last that long Lastly, and related to the previous two questions, is whether such complexity is worth the trouble. Philips glibly talks about automatic software updates for the hue light bulbs being uploaded wirelessly. Most software users understand devices dependent on software updates can quickly run into problems when hardware and software are out of sync. What happens when the Philips' LED bulb is stuck on rosy-purple because the software update was somehow corrupted? The fact is that many people will want to try this type of Internet-mediated control. I am sure most early adopters will take to it like proverbial ducks to water while Luddites will stick with tried and trusted technologies. If this is the beginning of the roll out of the Internet of Things, we should remain circumspect. Hue and the Internet of Things could turn out to be like the genie in the lamp: You get three wishes, but you have to be careful what you ask for. My desk lamp says I have to end here.