Intel Opens Internet Of Things Development Lab In Swindon

Intel has opened an innovation centre in Swindon that will develop new technologies for the Internet of Things (IoT).

IoT Ignition Labs Swindon will see Intel collaborating with both established and early-stage British companies, in areas such as smart buildings, retail, and transport.

“This ignition lab will provide our customers a place to build and test end to end IoT solutions that will transform our businesses and everyday lives,” said Rod O’Shea, marketing director for IoT at Intel EMEA. “We pride ourselves in bringing innovative solutions to market and these labs are a testimony to our commitment to this space.”

Encouraging innovation

Ignition Labs Swindon is Intel’s fourth innovation centre for IoT in the EMEA region, following Stockholm, Munich and Istanbul. All four are part of Intel Labs Europe, and have a broader aim of enabling smart sustainable cities.

In 2013, Intel announced the creation of a new business unit dedicated to IoT technology, reporting directly to CEO Brian Krzanich. The company previously said it wants to provide not just chips, but a whole range of end-to-end IoT services, including security products, development platforms and analytics.

At the Ignition Labs, customers will be able to develop new IoT applications, test Intel’s hardware and software tools and receive guidance on design and deployment.

The facility could also be used for educational workshops with local schools, where young kids can learn basics of engineering and software development

During the opening ceremony, Intel demonstrated how its API Management Platform can monitor air quality within a town. Data collected by sensors would then be analysed, and the changes could be reflected on city signage through the Retail Client Manager product. Finally, analytics could establish historic patterns to predict how air quality would change in the future.

These are just some of the connected technologies promoted by Intel. In April, Krzanich launched a family of new ‘gateway solutions’ based on Intel’s Quark System-on-a-Chip and Atom processors, designed to harvest valuable data from previously unconnected industrial systems.

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