Lab in Tartu for researching internet of things

AS Eesti Telekom and the University of Tartu Institute of Computer Science have signed a cooperation agreement to promote the creation of new business ideas based on research and development work in the field of internet of things. For this, the students’ study environment and options will also be developed and in March the UT smart environment lab will be opened.

 

Graphic: cladirect.com

“Until now, the internet has been mainly used for connecting computers and mobile devices to enable communication between people and e-services, but now more and more objects are also being interfaced via the internet. Smart devices which can be controlled online, for example, lights, security devices, kitchen appliances etc.,” is the explanation to what the internet of things is about given by Head of UT Institute of Computer Science Professor Jaak Vilo.

The so called internet of things enables to create a smart environment at home and at work through devices which know how to operate and which can be controlled centrally over the net.

The internet of things encompasses several research directions. Currently it presumes creating a smart environment, all standards and programmed interfaces and it is also more and more about security. In addition, options and needs for financial saving and creating efficient services are coming about.

In order to work on smart device environments, AS Eesti Telekom will equip a sample smart home and smart office in the Institute of Computer Science where research groups and students will work with the installed technology. The lab will be opened in March 2016.

Head of Development at Eesti Telekom Urmo Lehtsalu said that their company can see a great synergy between the research cooperation with the University of Tartu and the recently announced SmartEnCity project.

“In cooperation with the university we can focus on advanced studies of the interaction of various things and security and with the SmartEnCity project, we can apply this high-tech solution right away in real living environment for people. This way we can offer the biggest aggregated value to ordinary people and be certain that we are providing a solution proven to be good,” said Lehtsalu.

Additional information:

Jaak Vilo, Head of UT Institute of Computer Science, e-mail: jaak.vilo@ut.ee;
Urmo Lehtsalu, Head of Development at Eesti Telekom,  e-mail: urmo.lehtsalu@elion.ee.