How many of us take our devices for granted? The plethora of devices available has seeped into our everyday lives to a point of familiarity. We don’t give a thought to the processes between the device and the provider. Furthermore, we don’t use the term “edge computing” when we talk to Siri, Alexa, or Bixby.
What is edge computing really? We hear 5G and think, “I have that already,” but do you? Now there is talk of 6G and beyond, which feels a bit like sci-fi at this point. How can we make sense of all this in a practical, strategic way that could impact our companies and the people’s expectations?
Joining this episode is fellow Acceleration Economy Network Analyst and Founder of Next Curve, Leonard Lee. We’ll chat through this murky topic, hit on some practical notions, why 5G is important, and how connectivity impacts trust and reliability that is needed for many processes.
Highlights
02:36: What is this edge stuff all about? It’s important to bring clarity to enterprises, the C-suite, and other business leaders.
05:28: 6G discussions are happening that are very premature at this point. The current uses for 5G are still being discovered and have a long way to go.
08:53: Telcoms are still building infrastructures to support 5G and address the needs of rural areas. Leonard argues that infrastructure drives innovation. For example, FaceTime disrupted the notions of traditional networks.
A better way of looking at it is the technologies get rolled out when the infrastructure operators or the service providers are ready for it.
12:06: What is the catalyst for driving innovation? In part, it’s a mutual feedback cycle with customers and technology providers. Also, it’s helping people understand this information in a real way.
16:02: Leonard outlines the tactic he will be taking to guide people, like a compass, to the information they need to see how 5G can be leveraged. This information will cover service delivery models, challenges, and problems that need to be solved, and the benefits of the convergence of various technologies.
19:13: It’s important to address the expectations from the personal side and the business side, and the overlap between the two. Further, the deliverability of outcomes doesn’t always translate into something viable.
22:49: What’s the difference between edge computing and endpoint computing? The key to innovation is to understand the difference and where to infuse AI and other functionality. This will impact the future of the distributed computing paradigm.
