Edge computing has a bright future, even if nobody's sure quite what that looks like

Edge computing is easy to sell but hard to define. More a philosophy than any single architecture, edge and cloud are on a spectrum, with the current cloud service model often dependent on in-browser processing, and even the most edgy deployments reliant on central infrastructure. The philosophy of edge, as most Reg readers …

[Pascal Monett]

I'm sorry, where's the difference ?

You spend an entire paragraph on 5G saying that it is all about processing close to the user.

Then you try to contradict that by saying that airplanes need to use local processing.

Well, that's about as close to the user as you can get.

I don't see the difference : in both cases, data is not being processed centrally.

One is not a contradiction to the other.

[jdiebdhidbsusbvwbsidnsoskebid]

Re: I'm sorry, where's the difference ?

I think the plane use case has the planes not needing to talk to each other with low latency whereas 5G devices do. The planes' data is mostly just telemetry that doesn't need constantly adapting real time networks to ride on. Most of it can be stored on board and exfiltrated in bulk later.

I suppose you could give the planes an autonomous 5G style networking capability, somehow have point to point comms between all the planes currently over, say, the Atlantic. But why? Also, how?

[The Man Who Fell To Earth]

What's old is new again

Only the buzzwords change.

[adam 40]

Re: What's old is new again

... or recycled (perhaps recycling buzzwords saves the planet?)

In my day EDGE was Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution :-)

[jdiebdhidbsusbvwbsidnsoskebid]

Re: What's old is new again

Recycling (reusing?) has to be the way forward. In English, we've only got 456,976 possible four letter acronyms available.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: What's old is new again

Not if we add 0-9 to the alphabet.

We could also pad and hash the acronyms, but some folks might find that annoying.

[jdiebdhidbsusbvwbsidnsoskebid]

Re: What's old is new again

"Not if we add 0-9 to the alphabet"

True, but then it's no longer a 4 letter acronym, but an alphanumeric code instead. You might as well include any other ascii type characters. Include 2 byte character sets and before you know it you're doing it all in binary, which might be better all round, it's more honest at least.

I've never really understood why "Command and Control" is C2 and not CC, it doesn't save any characters. Bit like how saying "WWW" is more syllables than " World Wide Web".

[amanfromMars 1]

In the Beginning ...... around the Edges of Spaces

Autonomous processing onboard, prioritising of immediate safety information such as moment-to-moment engine parameters for available real-time links, and efficient retrieval of bulk data when possible, lead to design decisions far removed from 5G engineering.

And far more advanced than 5G engineering too, Rupert Goodwins. Novel Fields of Endeavour are Master Piloted via Virtual Means and Advanced IntelAIgent Memes then ......... Delivering Heavenly Support ..... from COSMIC* AIDevelopment Stores.

COSMIC* .. Control Of Secret Materiel in an Internetional Command.

I can honestly say IT Changes Everything and Everything is Changed and Further Developing a Brave New More Orderly World Order usurping and negating Current Primitive SCADA Systems of Remote Elite Executive Administrative Control in Failed Command of Encouraging Reward/Just Desserts. :-)

I Kid U Not.

What would you like IT and AI to make and do with those Easter Eggs, El Reg? Be Imaginative now for Practically Anything is Available with the Support of Everything, and such is easily made possible. Of that there is Zero Doubt.

:-) That is an Embarrassment of Outstanding Riches which does when one is worthy, leaves one to Constantly Enjoy and Employ, Monitor and Mentor and Deploy the Addictive Pleasures that Accompany and Driver the Results of Immaculate Choice.

And some would settle for that and abide a long time while there, and consider it Nirvana.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: In the Beginning ...... around the Edges of Spaces

yes. but can it give a home2a hobo 2live4?

[Doctor Syntax]

I give it a couple of years and we'll have the Individual Device capable of performing all the work local to the user either standalone or only needing a remote server for communication with other Individual Devices or maybe some central storage. No, not at all a Personal Computer or anything like it.

[Anonymous Coward]

Remind me

Isn't this exactly what IBM did when they replaced the mainframe's dumb 3270 terminals with mainframe connected IBM PCs.