飛利浦(Philips)的網(wǎng)絡(luò)可尋址(Web-addressable) LED燈泡，可能正在開(kāi)啟下一波物聯(lián)網(wǎng)(Internet of Things, IoT) 應(yīng)用。我們準(zhǔn)備好了嗎？ 物聯(lián)網(wǎng)時(shí)代，真的隨著飛利浦可用手機(jī)控制的199美元燈泡在蘋(píng)果專(zhuān)賣(mài)店 (Apple Store) 上架而到來(lái)了嗎？或許是吧。而且，這也是唯一一次當(dāng)飛利浦高層說(shuō)出“游戲規(guī)則就此改變”時(shí)，我也感到同意。 不過(guò)，盡管就技術(shù)層面來(lái)講，并沒(méi)有太大困難度，但我對(duì)這個(gè)里面裝著具備無(wú)線(xiàn)、IP可尋址的LED燈泡的盒子，仍然有著許多問(wèn)題。 飛利浦開(kāi)發(fā)出了一種名為“色彩”(hue)的系統(tǒng)，這個(gè)復(fù)雜的系統(tǒng)包含了許多彩色的LED晶粒、驅(qū)動(dòng)器IC、微控制器、AC-DC電壓轉(zhuǎn)換器、無(wú)線(xiàn)收發(fā)器、ZigBee和成千上萬(wàn)行的軟件程序代碼。但這個(gè)復(fù)雜的裝置也不過(guò)是用簡(jiǎn)單的真空玻璃外殼將所有必要裝件封裝在內(nèi)。 也正由于其復(fù)雜性，平板計(jì)算機(jī)或智能手機(jī)現(xiàn)在可以在全世界任何一個(gè)地方，透過(guò)連接數(shù)字居家照明來(lái)控制色彩和亮度。該方案還假設(shè)屋主都擁有Wi-Fi路由器。 聽(tīng)起來(lái)相當(dāng)吸引人，特別是因?yàn)樗毁u(mài)199美元。對(duì)照其功能性，其售價(jià)顯得相當(dāng)便宜。有件事或許不是巧合， hue LED燈泡采用和蘋(píng)果iPad一樣的拉絲金屬和玻璃。 盡管如此，除了技術(shù)問(wèn)題，一般消費(fèi)者對(duì) hue 可能仍會(huì)存在一些疑問(wèn)。 情感上的挑戰(zhàn) 第一個(gè)問(wèn)題：為何只在蘋(píng)果專(zhuān)賣(mài)店獨(dú)家銷(xiāo)售？ 我的猜測(cè)是，飛利浦認(rèn)為透過(guò)iPad(或Android平板)來(lái)控制室內(nèi)照明，將會(huì)對(duì)喜愛(ài)嘗鮮的族群產(chǎn)生吸引力。而要讓他們掏出鈔票最簡(jiǎn)單的方法之一，是讓他們?nèi)ス涮O(píng)果專(zhuān)賣(mài)店。一旦“果粉”們都買(mǎi)到 hue 后，就沒(méi)必要再獨(dú)家銷(xiāo)售，屆時(shí)價(jià)格也會(huì)下降。 第二個(gè)問(wèn)題：我們有沒(méi)有想過(guò)物聯(lián)網(wǎng)可能帶來(lái)的影響？ 當(dāng)我們身處家中，對(duì)于有人能遠(yuǎn)程控制家中照明系統(tǒng)，我們的感覺(jué)會(huì)是如何？當(dāng)你的照明系統(tǒng)內(nèi)建了可向遠(yuǎn)程的第三方(如電力公司)傳送資料的能力時(shí)，你會(huì)怎么看呢？ 雖然這些功能的主要訴求都在便利性，但要讓人們從過(guò)去簡(jiǎn)單的操控方法轉(zhuǎn)移到所謂智能型控制功能，而且還再次去熟悉它們，將會(huì)具有挑戰(zhàn)性。 本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 本文下一頁(yè)：碳足跡問(wèn)題

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{pagination} 碳足跡問(wèn)題 第三，我們必須要問(wèn)，去制造這么復(fù)雜的系統(tǒng)，并推動(dòng)全世界朝智能型照明系統(tǒng)轉(zhuǎn)移，確實(shí)是有必要的嗎？制造這些系統(tǒng)的碳足跡呢？LED燈相對(duì)較低的能耗，真能抵銷(xiāo)制造這些復(fù)雜裝置所產(chǎn)生的碳足跡嗎？ 這將取決于燈泡的壽命。LED燈至少可持續(xù)使用10年，但截至目前，還沒(méi)有多少公司有能力設(shè)計(jì)出能使用這么久的消費(fèi)產(chǎn)品。 最 后的問(wèn)題與前兩個(gè)問(wèn)題有關(guān)──值得為了照明去制造這么復(fù)雜的產(chǎn)品嗎。飛利浦口若懸河地談?wù)揾ue燈泡可經(jīng)由無(wú)線(xiàn)連接自動(dòng)更新軟件。大多數(shù)軟件使用者都瞭 解，仰賴(lài)軟件運(yùn)作的設(shè)備，在軟硬件同時(shí)出問(wèn)題時(shí)，大部份都能透過(guò)更新軟件快速解決問(wèn)題。但當(dāng)飛利浦LED燈泡出問(wèn)題時(shí)，比方說(shuō)，因?yàn)檐浖鲁霈F(xiàn)某種程度 的問(wèn)題時(shí)，又是什么情況？ 事實(shí)是，很多人會(huì)想嘗試這種以網(wǎng)際網(wǎng)絡(luò)為接口來(lái)控制照明系統(tǒng)的方法。我相信，這項(xiàng)產(chǎn)品仍會(huì)有它的追隨者快速采用，但也會(huì)有一些不信任科技的族群，堅(jiān)持等待更值得信賴(lài)的技問(wèn)世。 如果這就是物聯(lián)網(wǎng)的起步，那么，我們更應(yīng)該保持謹(jǐn)慎。 Hue 和物聯(lián)網(wǎng)就像是瓶中精靈：你可以得到三個(gè)愿望，但在說(shuō)出要求前，你必須仔細(xì)考慮。 好了，我的臺(tái)燈說(shuō)，該休息了！ 本文授權(quán)編譯自EE Times，版權(quán)所有，謝絕轉(zhuǎn)載 編譯： Joy Teng 參考英文原文：London Calling: LED genies and the Internet of Things，by Peter Clarke

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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.