Google’s Brillo: The Lightweight IoT OS

Google’s Brillo is the lighter version of its mobile operating system Android, which would power the smart devices to communicate with each other without any platform compatibility issues

– Rohit Arora

Internet of things is no more an alien subject; it is definitely the next big wave in the world of technology where every device, from television to microwave to light bulb will be interconnected wirelessly. Therefore every technology firm, big or small somehow wanted to be a part of this bigger picture.

Google, which started its mobile operating system Android in 2007 and now owns 78% smartphone market share globally is expected to launch the code of its new lightweight Android-based operating system- Brillo in the Google I/O 2015, the company’s conference for software developers. This OS will run on low-power devices connected to the “Internet of Things” to create a framework of interconnected smart devices.

As these devices do not require a lot of processing power and memory to communicate with each other and the smartphone, the operating system may require as little as 32 or 64 MB of RAM to set up the ecosystem. This makes it possible to offer functionality for a number of devices such as television sets, microwaves, refrigerators, light bulbs, door locks, CCTV cameras and even your toothbrush. This will result in a seamless interconnected ecosystem where a standard OS will eliminate the platform compatibility issues.

Google can win the cards here because it owns NestLabs; a tech firm which was acquired by the company last year that manufactures a variety of smart home appliances such as thermostats, security cameras smoke alarms, etc. With this merger Google will have the software as well as the hardware control of the IoT devices in the near future. This can be a new mile stone for the company as the latest reports by the Gartner have suggested that by 2020, the number of Internet-connected devices will rise to 26 Billion as compared to 900 Million in 2009.

But as we mentioned earlier, all the big and small fishes in the market are working on the technology and Google will not be the only one in the game. Another market leader, Microsoft is also working on a version of Windows 10 that will drive various electronic devices such as ATM machines and a variety of wearable gadgets related to health industry.

Chinese telecommunication giant, Huawei has also designed an operating system; LiteOS for IOT devices. And the Korean giant, Samsung has also introduced the Artik line of hardware that is designed for IoT devices with open software and Samsung hardware.

What’s coming up in IoT

•    Google is expected to launch the code for Brillo at the Google I/O 2015.

•    According to Gartner, by 2020, the number of Internet-connected devices will rise to 26 Billion as compared to 900 Million in 2009.

•    Microsoft, Huawei and Samsung have also designed their own operating systems for IoT devices.