Quanta Computer recently introduced an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that aims to connect varied home appliances and electronic devices in one ecosystem, EQLink.
Quanta Computer recently introduced an Internet of Things (IoT) platform that aims to connect varied home appliances and electronic devices in one ecosystem, EQLink.
EQLink establishes itself as a rare IoT ecosystem in the marketplace, which is saturated mostly by “local devices” that operate independently.
EQLink, however, connects devices like lightbulbs, smart sockets, blood pressure monitors, fans, air purifiers, which are parts of EQL’s supplying in the name of Ripple. With the connection and control protocols through IR, BLE and Wi-Fi, EQLink provides not only remote controlling but also the big data analysis for a more ‘humanized’ smart home.
To embody EQLink, Quanta Computer works with EQL Technology, founded in 2016. By promising “Enjoy Quality Life,” EQL stresses its R&D strength to deliver innovative technology and products in smart home.
Dexter Yeh, the project leader of EQLink, said “Many company resources have been invested in this R&D endeavor, especially the AI performance. We want to ‘humanize’ the smart home – having hands, ears, mouths, eyes and brain for the home. EQLink smart home consists of three elements: Room Hub, playing as the hand to control devices, Smart Speaker, the mouth and ear and the Multi-functional Robot.”
Room Hub is a distributed wireless system for remoting sensors and actions. It provides end-to-end connectivity between home appliances and smart devices via BLE and IR. The beauty of Room Hub lies in its distributed architecture of Wi-Fi networking configuration. That gives users the possibility of connecting several Room Hubs for the control and connection in the multiple floors of the residence.
Furthermore, a functional robot, to be launched in 2017, that moves around the room requires ubiquitous Wi-Fi connectivity. This is when Room Hub comes in. The distributed hubs together serve as a wireless system for remote sensors and actions. Each hub also acts as a data storage unit, and the data will be uploaded to the cloud for later access.
With“more human touch” in mind, the user should not have to take out their phone to give command through an app, while the appliance is just inches away. Yeh commented, “The convenient voice command is the preferred option for controlling. That is where the Smart Speaker, which acts as the voice centric user interface, is for.” To further integration of the voice command, EQLink is already compatible with Microsoft Cortana, Google Speech API and Amazon Echo.
The company is set to release the API so as to invite global customers and partners’ feedback, and then, hopefully, followed by more EQLink adoption. SDK will also be provided to business partners for the integration of its signature Smart Speaker.
EQLink can be applied to three types of business partners: retailers, IT firms and system integrators.
“By bundling its products with EQLink solution, Taiwan’s electronics retailer E-life Mall’s offering will have a more futuristic feel. It helps E-life avoid fierce price competition with other retailers,” Yeh said.
There are also IT firms from Japan that are very interested in IoT development. Instead of creating everything from the ground up, they opted for purchasing the whole EQLink package.
Real estate developers, like hotels and construction companies, are also potential business partners. They are system integrators in this case. “Ripple has proven its success in Taiwan market. The system has been integrated with multi-brand home appliances and sold in the local retail channels,” cited Chester Hsieh, CEO of EQL Technology. Besides Taiwan, the platform solution will be available in the U.S. and Southeast Asia in 2017.
Product Adopted:Software