What Is Smart Dust Used For

2 forces drive the evolution of the Internet of Things: Speed and size. Organizations are leveraging enhanced broadband connectivity to drive real-fourth dimension analytics and on-need intelligence, even as new manufacturing techniques make it possible to squeeze compute power onto millimeter or micrometer compages.

The result? Smart grit — too known every bit microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) — capable of scaling up IoT scope even as size scales downward.

While business applications for smart dust are already emerging, this tiny technology could offer substantial benefits for post-secondary processes. Here'due south how going small could evangelize a big impact for education.

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What Is Smart Dust?

The term "smart grit" was coined by Kristofer Pister of the University of California, Berkeley in 1997 to draw his wireless assortment of sensor nodes.

Originally a tongue-in-cheek nod to the late-'90s trend of pinning "smart" to the clarification of whatever new technology, MEMS are now grabbing attention from inquiry firm Gartner as an emerging technology, and the market is set for "strong growth" through 2019, according to a press release on recent related research.

MEMS are tiny, 3D-printed sensors designed to work in tandem. They're purpose-built with both mechanical and electric components; newer iterations draw ability from subtle vibrations or even the surrounding air, making them ideal for highly sensitive applications.

College Education Smart Dust Adoption at Scale

While smart grit got its start as function of a Berkeley project, two decades of IoT development constitute potential for MEMS beyond multiple industries. Some electric current applications include:

Neural Dust: Berkeley teams have implanted smart grit sensors in rats to assist monitor and command nerve and muscle activity. These tiny MEMS take no batteries, instead relying on ultrasound to both take measurements and draw ability.
Automotive Safety: Every bit noted by Electronics 360, smart dust sensors are now existence used to power condom mechanisms in vehicles. MEMS-based accelerometers in airbags take improved operation and reduced total cost, while authorities-manded tire pressure sensors tin intelligently collect tire data using vibration as their power source.
Constructive Knowledge: When building I World Trade Centre, construction firms entombed smart sensors in physical blocks to ensure they were correctly laid.

Reduced size and enhanced speed also inform more forrard-thinking applications, such as:

Improved Solar Cells: Israeli researcher Muhammad Bashouti is developing molecule-calibration solar cell infrastructure that could potentially absorb 95 percent of visible light.
Smart Food Packaging: The Found of Electrical and Electronics Engineers suggests next-generation smart dust sensors could utilise paper or plastic sensors to detect food freshness and study this data via a smartphone app.

More FROM EDTECH: See how universities are using IoT to mitigate security risks on campus.

Universities Prepare for Smart Grit Integration

Gartner predicts that innovation across systems on a chip, advanced sensors and the intelligent mesh that ties these devices together will keep to drive IoT development through 2019 and across.

But what does this mean for post-secondary institutions? How do they prepare campus networks for the appearance of low-cost, commercialized MEMS development?

Outset is wireless network support. Schools such equally Princeton University are currently deploying "wireless outset" models that prioritize seamless connections across loftier-density endpoints. This is disquisitional for campus MEMS applications, since these devices rely on wireless links to create large-scale sensor networks and evangelize disquisitional data.

Post-secondary institutions must also develop new applications capable of both communicating with and controlling smart dust deployments. As noted past Inside Higher Ed, mobile applications are now "irresolute how teachers teach and students learn," but the advent of mobile-first environments also has an touch on campus Information technology management.

Fixed desktop resource aren't enough to go on pace with evolving student expectations — and won't exist able to manage microscopic MEMS networks.

With post-secondary schools facing the same malware and phishing threats as big enterprises, security is paramount.

TechRadar points to key practices such every bit improved authentication, regular user training and a articulate information security policy to assistance secure networks.

In add-on to protecting pupil data and administrative documentation, improved security measures are critical to ensure smart dust networks — which are collecting millions of on-campus data points — are protected against a potential breach or compromise.

MEMS' Effect on Higher Educational activity Campuses

What's the potential for smart grit at post-secondary institutions? Beyond form integration and research applications, MEMS offering several opportunities to help streamline campus life, including:

ID Cards: Recent research suggests a benign relationship between radio frequency identification and MEMS. For campus ID cards, combining these 2 technologies could allow wireless, granular access permission command along with the ability to locate students in case of emergency.
Data Analytics: Embedded MEMS in science and reckoner labs, student wedlock halls and sports facilities could empower large-scale, low-ability data drove to help schools ameliorate sympathise how facilities are used and identify the need for proactive maintenance.
School Safety: Smart dust networks in on-campus residences and high-value facilities could act as intelligent alarm and warning systems to both meliorate pupil safety and frustrate would-be criminals.

MORE FROM EDTECH: Why IoT security needs an interdisciplinary approach.

Smart Dust Is at Micro Scale with Macro Touch on

Enhanced wireless connections and improved 3D press have created a high-value business organization example for smart dust applications. But this technology also offers straight benefits for post-secondary institutions: With the right infrastructure in place, schools tin leverage the macro potential of micro MEMS.