Google’s Project Brillo is a slimmed-down OS for IoT-based devices (via Google)
Google wants to be an integral part of your life in terms of the IoT. Sure, they already have smart devices such as thermostats and smoke alarms in our homes already but they want to expand even further into the IoT realm in much the same fashion as introducing Android to mobile platforms. It should be noted that this isn’t the first time Google tried their hand at getting into the IoT market as the company developed Android@Home back in 2011 with little success.
This time however they’re going full-speed ahead with their Brillo Project (not to be confused with the popular scrubbing pads), which is essentially a slimmed-down Android-based operating system designed for IoT connected devices. The OS has been slimmed-down enough that can be loaded onto everyday smart devices such as door locks, HVAC or even lighting, it can also load onto dumb devices as well- including appliances and surveillance cameras or just about anything has Bluetooth or Wi-Fi capabilities.
Project Brillo was unveiled at Google’s developer conference, however the details of the project are slim at best. Instead, Google’s Senior Vice President Sundar Pichai touched on the protocol that will allow those IoT devices to communicate with one another- Weave. Not only will they be able to communicate using Wi-Fi, they will also be able to access data utilizing the cloud. In fact, it’s built into Google Play services, so support can be accessed through Android or iOS-based devices. Since Google acquired Nest (makers of smart devices), Weave will be integrated into future and existing products, which will provide interoptability between Brillo and the other Operating Systems mentioned above.
Brillo will be available to OEMs and app developers, however us common folk can get in on the action with teaching those devices how to use voice commands using communication tools built into Brillo. Make me some coffee, start my vehicle and order some pizza could be the only phrases needed for those devices to learn. Don’t expect this to happen in the next few weeks however, as the developer tools that come with Project Brillo won’t be released until sometime in the 3rd quarter of this year. Until then we’re stuck using Siri, who still can’t seem to get anything strait in terms of vocal commands.
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