University of Tartu opens Internet of Things lab
The Internet of Things allows objects to be controlled and share data, ranging from smart homes to biochip transponders on farm animals. The University of Tartu has opened the first lab in Estonia dedicated to this field.
Driving home from work, your car tells your house's heating system that you will be home soon, and it turns itself on. The refrigerator realizes that you’re out of milk and adds it to your shopping list. Just two examples of how objects will communicate in the future and make people’s lives more comfortable.
The University of Tartu and Telia Eesti opened Estonia’s internet of things lab. With it, they’re betting on nothing short of the integration of the Internet in nearly all aspects of life.
The unique laboratory is furnished as a smart home and smart office that can be controlled over the Internet. It uses a network of devices that include electronics, software, and sensors. They gather and exchange information, which creates a situation where they're are able to act autonomously in certain situations - in other words, be what’s called smart in the technological sense.
The lab will be run by researchers of the University of Tartu's mobile and cloud computing laboratory. In addition, students of the Institute of Computer Science will have the opportunity to test and create new solutions in the field of the Internet of Things, working on future directions of high technology and new business ideas.
The University of Tartu’s Vice Rector for Research, Erik Puura said that the cooperation with Telia was very important for the university, and that the new lab was the best way to get it going. “The lab improves the university’s studies and research work, makes studies more practical and enables it to test new ideas for start-up enterprises,” said Puura.
“Until now, the Internet of Things has only been talked about in Estonia. But now we are taking a big step towards the future because we have a special environment for testing and creating new applications,” Puura went on.
Tiit Tammiste, Director of Technology at Telia Eesti, said that he hoped the lab would become a springboard for many smart ideas and solutions that could make life more comfortable, secure and exciting.
Editor: Editor: Dario Cavegn