How Edge Computing is changing the world?
Bogdan LashchenkoEdge computing is changing the way data is processed and delivered from millions of devices around the world. The exponential growth of internet-connected devices - IoT - along with new applications that require real-time computing power continues to drive edge computing systems. Faster network technologies such as 5G wireless are enabling edge computing systems to accelerate the development or operation of real-time applications such as video processing and analytics, autonomous cars, artificial intelligence and robotics, just to name a few.
What is Edge Computing?
Gartner defines edge computing as "part of a distributed computing topology where information processing is close to the edge - where things and people produce or consume that information." rely on a central location that can be thousands of kilometers away. This is so that data, especially real-time data, doesn't have latency issues that can impact application performance.
In addition, companies can save money by outsourcing processing locally, reducing the amount of data that has to be processed in a centralized location or in the cloud. Edge computing was developed due to the exponential growth of IoT devices that connect to the internet to receive information from the cloud or deliver data back to the cloud. And many IoT devices generate huge amounts of data in the course of their operations.
Think of devices that monitor production equipment on a production floor or an internet-connected video camera that transmits live footage from a remote office. While a single device that produces data can quite easily transfer data across a network, problems arise when the number of devices that transmit data at the same time increases. Instead of just one camera broadcasting live content, multiply that by hundreds or thousands of devices. Not only will quality suffer from latency, but the bandwidth costs can be enormous.
Why is it useful?
This type of data processing is gaining ground simply because the amount of data received on the main server nodes has become almost unfathomable, and sorting what is useful and what is not becomes an increasingly pointless task. It also reduces the risk of data corruption or loss while traveling. It is useful in many different applications. However, one of the more obvious examples would be the edge processing ability to quickly identify machine parts that have failed or lost capacity from the data it reads about the output. This ability allows it to be repaired or replaced quickly, which can greatly reduce your potential cost or liability if it breaks completely.
Where did this make the greatest impact?
Edge computing has a significant impact on various areas of our lives. However, it cannot be denied that there are 3 specific areas in which it excels. Here are the places edge computing has influenced by far the most:
- Production;
- Gambling;
- Healthcare.
Production. There are so many moving parts in the factory that it is impossible for a person, or even many people, to get close enough to how everything works. When something goes wrong in a typical environment, it may take a technician to find and fix the problem within days or weeks, depending on the complexity. If your system is connected to an edge computer system, the need for temporary emergency repairs will almost disappear as problems can be identified, pinpointed, and resolved before they become serious problems.
Gambling. Online gaming has been gaining ground for several years, but in 2020 it took that to another level. The problem is that everyone wants to play games against people all over the world and be on a level playing field, which was not possible until edge processing arrived. With this system, games can be run on remote servers closer to players, reducing ping and latency and creating a fairer landscape than ever before. This new feature allowed game developers to take a much more innovative approach to their offerings.
Examples of this can be found in the iGaming industry, where edge computing has opened the market to anyone worldwide and has allowed innovation to flourish. Innovation is especially important for new online casino sites as a way to stand out from the competition. When choosing the right online casino, it is worth taking a look at the online casino ranking, which was prepared by knowledgeable people. Before you decide to play online slots at a specific provider, it will be worth checking the link provided to find out about the offer of the best casinos on the market.
Healthcare. Edge computing functionality is of great importance to the medical industry. This made it possible to create wearable devices that monitor the daily activities of patients, as well as health data and vital signs from a distance. This means that doctors don't have to be afraid of watching a particular patient closely, as they know they will be alerted if something goes wrong, which in turn allows them to treat far more people much more effectively.
This technology is driving the shift from person-centered to patient-centered care, which is a significant step in the medical industry. The previous method for recognizing and diagnosing symptoms relied on collected data from such a wide range of people and examples. At the same time, patient-centered care is more person-centered.
Edge Computing or Cloud Computing?
Finally, it is worth looking at the differences between the two most popular solutions with a fairly similar name. The principle of their operation, however, is slightly different, which translates into the use of other ideas. The advantages and disadvantages of both Edge Computing and Cloud Computing can be found below.
Solution | Cloud Computing | Edge Computing |
Principle of operation | Cloud computing is the use of hosted services such as servers, data storage, networks and software on the Internet, where the data is stored on physical servers maintained by the cloud service provider | Edge computing makes data processing and storage immediate by bringing computing systems closer to the device, application or component that collects or generates data |
Main advantages | Forget administration or management hassles, availability and usage fee, reliability | Response time and delay, high security and lower risk, lower transmission cost |
Main disadvantages | Downtime, limited infrastructure inspection, limited or limited flexibility | Security, infrastructure costs, data loss |
Both solutions are similar in many respects, but differ in the way they work. As a result, businesses around the world do not always choose Edge Computing at the expense of Cloud Computing. Thanks to the advantages and disadvantages presented in the table above, it is clear why one or the other solution may not always be the right choice in a given situation.
Bogdan Lashchenko – content manager at EgamersWorld.Bogdan has been working at EGamersWorld since 2023. Joining the company, he began fillin the site with information, news and events.