Research and Development (R & D) forms an important facet of CyberThinc operations, allowing CyberThinc to not only keep abreast of the latest technology developments, but to play a part in creating them. The research and development is currently focussed around the following key areas:
Internet of Things R & D
The main focus of CyberThinc hardware related research is the Internet of Things. Having developed domestic whole house sensor systems in the late 1990s, CyberThinc was well placed when technology became sufficiently practical to enable networked devices that could be deployed cost effectively, rather than the previous expensive, and less effective solutions.
The basic hardware platforms we are researching and testing currently are Arduino based embedded systems and Raspberry Pi based systems – both of which are low cost but very capable and flexible for testing services and products for the Internet of Things.
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Home Automation R & D
CyberThinc R & D in Home Automation has largely been subsumed into the Internet of Things research, since the Internet of Things covers such a wide potential range of technical areas. Previously, CyberThinc home automation research was mainly centred on the use of X-10 operation with Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems, as well as Home Automation, Home Information and Home Entertainment systems using a custom solution of touch sensitive LCD displays coupled to house PC server computers. X10 has now been superceded, and our research has moved to newer, faster, more reliable home automation technologies such as INSTEON, Home Easy, Zigbee, Z-Wave and 6LoWPAN, with these also having significant crossover with the Internet of Things, and hence being subsumed into our Internet of Things R&D.
Smartcard Systems R & D
CyberThinc was previously a smartcard systems integrator. In addition to the common smart card form factor, R & D into iButtons/JavaRing form factors as well as JavaCard was undertaken. This research was subsumed into the Internet of Things Research, with the CyberThinc card based research now looking at QR codes and similar solutions.