A New Way of Computation

A networking philosophy, edge computing focuses on bringing computing closer to the source of data as far as possible, an attempt that helps reduce the use of bandwidth and latency. To put it in simple words, edge computing refers to running of processes in the cloud that has been reduced in number and it also refers to the processes being moved to the local places which could be on the computer of the user or it could also be an IoT device. When computation is brought to the edge of the network, the amount of communication, specifically the long-distance one that takes place between the client and the server is reduced considerably.

The Speciality of Edge Computing

Processing data closer to the place of generation is what edge computing specialises about. This leads to greater processing speeds as well as volumes. There are several advantages which edge computing offers as compared to the traditional computing methods. When the computation power is put at the edge, it enables companies to better manage their physical assets. It also helps in the creation of new human experiences that are also interactive. A few examples of use cases of edge computing include self-driving cars, robots that are autonomous ones and many more.

The Networking Factor

There are already a number of devices that are being used in our daily lives like smart phones, smart watches and smart speakers and other devices that collect and process data locally while at the same time connecting with the physical world. Edge computing does not demand a separate ‘edge network’. In case a separate network is present, it is considered as a location in the continuum that exists between the users and the cloud where 5G gets the option to come into action. Connectivity that is extremely powerful and also wireless is brought into edge computing by 5G which paves the way for great opportunities like drones that are autonomous, remote telesurgery, various projects on smart cities and many more.

The Preferences
Edge computing is being preferred today in most places, for instance at the hospitals and at the factories and even in the retail industry. It is involved in the processing of sensitive data. Usually, these places demand solutions that exhibit low latencies and also do not require a network connection. Edge computing holds the potential to transform businesses across different industries starting from engagement of the customers to marketing and production and also back-office operations.

The Practical Applications

Edge computing enables businesses to connect the digital and the physical world. Instances of edge computing involve the inclusion of algorithms and online data into brick- and-mortar stores for the purpose of improving the retail experiences. It also involves creation of systems that can be trained and machines which shall aid in learning. Smart environments can be designed that shall take care of the comfort and safety factor.

The Different Advantages

Minimization of the use of bandwidth and resources associated with the server is brought by edge computing. This technology helps in the reduction of latencies. In use cases like self-driving cars and telesurgery, rapid response time is demanded and for this purpose, edge computing comes in handy. This technology enables users to keep data safe locally and the need to store it in the cloud does not arise. In cases where the connectivity to the cloud is not reliable, users may need the processing to go on locally in order to keep the operations running. Edge computing enables processing of data in a faster and safer way and hence rapid decision making by robots as well as sensors is now made possible.

Some Drawbacks

There is a high chance that the activities of malicious attackers might increase with the inclusion of the so-called smart devices into the system. The local hardware demanded by this technology is more and this is considered to be a drawback of edge computing.

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