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Taking The Smart Home to the Next Level With VPU Technology

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We use the term smart so much nowadays that it is possible to forget what it actually means. We have smart vehicles, smartphones, smart watches, and smart homes. But what does smart really mean? What makes the smartphone smart? Is it the biometric access enabled through fingerprint scanning or facial recognition? Is it the automatic rotation of the screen based on the physical orientation of the device? Or is it the device’s connectivity to the internet?

Till Recently, Connectivity Was All It Took To Be Smart 

When it comes to smart homes, a quick search on the internet will reveal hundreds of smart home products. One of the special qualities that a huge number of so-called “smart” appliances have is that they can be controlled via apps on smartphones.

There are smart bulbs which are marketed as having the ability to help homeowners fall asleep at night and wake up in the morning simply by adjusting the light. Such changes can be made through an app on the user’s smartphone, which supposedly makes this lighting system smart.

Whether the above lighting system should be referred to as smart may be a debatable question, depending on an individual’s point of view.

However, such products have been the hallmark of smart home technologies for some time now. If you can change the music on your stereo system at home simply by talking, then it’s smart. If you can change the temperature in a room by touching your smartphone screen, then it’s smart.

But thanks to advances in technology, such as the introduction of the smart home chip and the AI accelerator module, manufacturers are redefining smart home technologies. We are taking the smart home to the next level, hopefully one that better deserves the label “smart.”

Shouldn’t The Term Smart Be Related to Intelligence? 

Smart televisions have been all the rage for quite some time. When they were introduced, being able to watch YouTube on a big screen, as opposed to watching it on your mobile device, might have been considered revolutionary. So was the ability to conveniently stream your favorite Netflix shows on your television screen. And with some smart televisions, you could browse the internet.

That was all it took for the television to be smart: access to the internet.

According to the online version of the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the word smart refers to an excellent ability to learn and think about things. It can also be used to refer to the ability to exercise good judgment.

The television that can access Netflix and Google doesn’t seem so smart now, does it? The Amazon ecommerce website can learn about a user’s preferences and suggest new products based on what it has learned. That is smart. But the current “smart” television can’t learn about its user. It can’t think. And it definitely doesn’t have the ability to exercise good judgment. If it did, it would probably be able to stop you from binge watching the latest season of your favorite Netflix series way into the morning.

For appliances and technologies used in the smart home to really be smart, they should have the ability to think, that is, they should be able to process data and derive meaningful insights that can inform decisions.

They should also have the ability to learn, meaning that automatic optimization should be on the table.

And lastly, they should be able to exercise good judgment. For example, in a smart home, all smart devices should conspire to minimize the wastage of energy.

Enter VPU technology such as the smart home chip and suddenly, a home with true smart technology is in the cards.

How VPU Technology Enables True Smart Devices

What Does a True Smart Device Look Like? 

Picture a lighting system that you don’t have to control via your smartphone and that automatically adjusts to provide you with the most convenient lighting experience possible in your home.

As opposed to some current “smart” lighting systems, you don’t have to reduce the level of blue light through your smartphone when going to sleep. The new smart system would have learned the time when you normally go to sleep. It would track your movement into the bedroom and adjust the light accordingly after having switched off the lights in the other rooms. It would then track your movement into the bed and switch off the lights or dim them – according to your preference.

And if you were reading in bed, it would notice the book and provide appropriate lighting for reading: enough to read comfortably but without blue light so that your body can prepare for sleep.

In the morning, when you usually wake up, the smart system would adjust the light to help your body wake up.

Such adjustments in lighting are considered important because light affects the production of melatonin, a hormone that affects the body’s sleep-wake cycle. Darkness triggers the production of melatonin, which helps the body sleep. On the other hand, light reduces the levels of melatonin in the body.

A truly smart lighting system could help with better sleep. But how would such a system work?

VPU Technology in the Smart Home

To implement smart home systems that learn, think, and exercise good judgment, certain conditions must be met.

To start with, data must be reliably collected. In the smart lighting example used above, such data can be collected through cameras spread out through the home. The footage should be of enough quality to enable the next stage, that of processing.

After smart home systems have collected data, they should be able to analyze it to derive actionable insights. In a smart lighting system, object analysis can help track a person’s movement into and out of rooms.

And the final basic ability of true smart systems is that of making decisions. A smart home surveillance system should be able to perform facial recognition on a person approaching the house. If the person is a stranger and he or she attempts to access the house, the system should send out an alert to the homeowner and probably trigger the alarm system.

For a surveillance system to be capable of such functions, the feed should be linked to a device with processing capability, such as an AI accelerator module. Such a module is usually made up of specially made processors called vision processing units (VPUs).

What Makes VPUs Appropriate For Smart Home Technologies? 

VPUs are designed to facilitate neural processing and machine vision. Neural processing helps machines and computers think and learn like humans. Modern VPUs have parallel processing capabilities. In addition, they implement minimal data transfer, which minimizes power consumption.

The ability of VPUs to deliver powerful processing while using minimal energy makes them suitable for processing at the edge.

Edge processing means that instead of sending data to the cloud to enable smart systems to make decisions, the data is processed within the smart home system. This makes real-time applications such as the use of gestures to switch off the lights possible. It also eliminates the privacy concerns that come with sending smart home data to the cloud.

Conclusion 

Since “smart homes” became a popular buzzword in the media, most smart technologies have been considered smart because of connectivity. However, technology has advanced to the point where we can have truly smart devices, capable of thinking, learning, and making helpful decisions.

And thanks to technologies such as the AI accelerator module, processing can be brought to the edge, making smart home technology all the more efficient.

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Geneo Glam: Skin Firming Treatment for Radiant, Youthful Skin

Geneo Glam is the ultimate skin firming treatment designed to restore elasticity, enhance radiance, and leave you with a glowing, youthful complexion.

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Geneo Glam

The Geneo Glam skin firming treatment is a luxurious, non-invasive facial that revitalizes the skin by improving firmness, elasticity, and hydration. Using advanced OxyPod technology, this treatment delivers a unique combination of exfoliation, oxygenation, and infusion of active ingredients to help the skin look smoother, tighter, and more radiant.

Key Benefits

  • Firms and Hydrates
    The treatment boosts collagen and elastin production, helping skin feel firmer and more supple.

  • Improves Elasticity
    Increases the skin’s resilience and reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

  • Prevents Collagen Breakdown
    Helps preserve the skin’s youthful structure by protecting existing collagen and supporting healthy cell function.

    Geneo Glam

Powerful Natural Ingredients

  • 24K Gold Particles
    Stimulate collagen production, protect skin fibers, and encourage cell renewal for a firmer, lifted appearance.

  • Silk Amino Acids
    Strengthen the skin barrier, lock in moisture, and support collagen synthesis to reduce visible signs of aging.

  • Carnosine Peptides
    Help protect the skin from sugar-related damage (glycation), delay cellular aging, and extend the life of skin cells.

  • Copper
    An antioxidant and anti-inflammatory that supports collagen development, smooths fine lines, and helps with skin regeneration.

How the Treatment Works

  1. Exfoliation and Oxygenation
    The Geneo Glam OxyPod is activated with a Primer Gel, gently exfoliating the skin and triggering a natural oxygenation process that increases blood flow and enhances skin vitality.

  2. Infusion of Actives
    Active ingredients such as gold particles, peptides, and amino acids are infused deep into the skin to firm and rejuvenate.

  3. Hydration and Nourishment
    A final serum containing hyaluronic acid, rosehip oil, and marula oil hydrates and soothes the skin, leaving it soft and glowing.

Who Should Try Geneo Glam?

This treatment is ideal for people who want to:

  • Reduce fine lines and early signs of aging

  • Firm and tighten sagging skin

  • Restore hydration and improve skin tone

Geneo Glam offers a refreshing way to firm, lift, and hydrate your skin—leaving you with a youthful glow and smooth, resilient skin. It’s a perfect solution for anyone seeking visible results without invasive procedures or downtime.

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H.265 miniature UAV encoders: A comprehensive Overview

H.265 miniature UAV encoders revolutionize aerial technology with advanced video compression, ensuring high efficiency and superior performance for modern UAV systems.

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H.265 miniature UAV encoders

As the demand for high-quality, real-time video transmission from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) continues to rise in both military and commercial applications, the need for efficient, compact video encoding solutions has become paramount. H.265 miniature UAV encoders represent a significant advancement in this space, providing robust video compression in a small, lightweight package ideal for drones with stringent size, weight, and power (SWaP) constraints. Leveraging the power of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), also known as H.265, these encoders allow UAVs to deliver high-resolution video over constrained data links, enhancing situational awareness and operational effectiveness without overwhelming available bandwidth.

H.265 is a video compression standard that succeeds H.264/AVC and offers approximately double the data compression ratio at the same video quality level. This efficiency is particularly beneficial for UAV applications, where bandwidth and power availability are limited, especially during beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) missions or in contested environments. With H.265 encoders, UAVs can stream 1080p or even 4K encoder video in real time while consuming significantly less data than older standards. This is critical for operations such as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), where maintaining video clarity over long distances or through relay networks is essential for accurate decision-making.

Miniature H.265 UAV encoders are engineered to operate under harsh environmental conditions while maintaining optimal performance. These devices are typically ruggedized, featuring extended temperature ranges, shock resistance, and electromagnetic shielding to ensure reliable operation in military or field environments. Despite their small size—often no larger than a deck of cards—they include advanced features such as low-latency encoding, dynamic bitrate control, encryption, and support for multiple streaming protocols including RTSP, RTP, and MPEG-TS. This allows them to integrate seamlessly into existing command-and-control infrastructure and support a variety of end-user applications, from real-time ground monitoring to autonomous navigation and object tracking.

H.265 miniature UAV encoders

The integration of H.265 encoders into small UAVs has significantly expanded the capability of tactical drone systems. For example, military units can deploy hand-launched drones equipped with these encoders to provide persistent ISR coverage over a battlefield, transmitting clear, actionable video intelligence back to command centers in near real time. Law enforcement agencies and border security forces also benefit from these technologies, using UAVs to monitor large or remote areas with minimal personnel. In disaster response scenarios, such encoders enable drones to deliver live aerial assessments of affected regions, helping responders prioritize actions and coordinate relief efforts efficiently.

Beyond video transmission, modern H.265 UAV encoders are increasingly integrated with onboard artificial intelligence modules that enable edge processing. This allows UAVs to perform real-time object recognition, motion detection, and scene analysis directly within the encoder, reducing the need to send raw data to centralized systems for processing. Such capabilities are crucial in time-sensitive missions where latency can affect outcomes, such as tracking moving targets or identifying threats in complex terrain.

Despite their many advantages, the deployment of H.265 miniature encoders does come with some technical considerations. The encoding process, while more efficient than previous standards, requires higher computational resources. Manufacturers must therefore strike a careful balance between processing power, thermal management, and energy consumption. Additionally, the compatibility of H.265 streams with legacy systems remains a factor, as not all ground stations or video players natively support HEVC decoding without updates or specialized software.

Manufacturers of H.265 miniature UAV encoders include companies such as IMT Vislink, Soliton Systems, Haivision, and VITEC, all of which provide solutions tailored to UAV and robotics applications. These encoders are often modular, allowing integrators to select configurations based on mission requirements, payload limitations, and transmission needs. As the ecosystem of compact, high-efficiency video systems grows, continued innovation in low-power silicon and AI integration is expected to drive the next wave of capability enhancements in this field.

In the evolving landscape of drone technology, H.265 miniature UAV encoders stand out as a critical enabler of high-performance video transmission. By combining advanced compression with minimal SWaP impact, these systems provide UAV operators with the tools to observe, analyze, and act with unprecedented precision and clarity—no matter how small the platform or how demanding the environment.

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IEEE 802.11p and V2X Communication: Enabling Smarter, Safer Roads

IEEE 802.11p revolutionizes V2X communication, driving smarter, safer roads through advanced vehicle connectivity. This cutting-edge technology enhances transportation systems, enabling intelligent and secure interactions for a safer future.

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IEEE 802.11p

Modern vehicles are no longer isolated machines; they are becoming intelligent, connected nodes within a larger transportation ecosystem. At the heart of this transformation is Vehicle-to-Everything (V2X) communication, which enables cars to talk to each other and to the infrastructure around them. One of the first and most influential technologies developed to support V2X is the IEEE 802.11p standard—a wireless standard specifically tailored for vehicular environments.

What is IEEE 802.11p?

IEEE 802.11p is an amendment to the IEEE 802.11 standard (commonly known as Wi-Fi), designed to enable wireless access in vehicular environments. It was approved in 2010 and forms the basis for Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC).

Key Characteristics of 802.11p:

  • Frequency Band: Operates in the 5.9 GHz band reserved for Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS).

  • Low Latency: Optimized for fast, real-time communication necessary for safety-critical applications.

  • Range: Effective communication range of up to 1 kilometer, suitable for high-speed vehicle interaction.

  • Decentralized Architecture: Enables direct communication (V2V and V2I) without the need for cellular or network infrastructure.

  • Robustness: Handles high-speed mobility and rapidly changing topologies typical of vehicular environments.
    IEEE 802.11p

Role of 802.11p in V2X Communication

V2X (Vehicle-to-Everything) is a broader term encompassing various communication paradigms, including:

  • V2V (Vehicle-to-Vehicle)

  • V2I (Vehicle-to-Infrastructure)

  • V2P (Vehicle-to-Pedestrian)

  • V2N (Vehicle-to-Network)

  • V2C (Vehicle-to-Cloud)

802.11p primarily supports V2V and V2I communications, forming the backbone of DSRC-based V2X implementations. Its low latency and direct communication capabilities make it ideal for applications such as:

  • Forward collision warnings

  • Intersection movement assist

  • Emergency electronic brake lights

  • Lane change warnings

Comparison with Cellular V2X (C-V2X)

As V2X technology has evolved, C-V2X (based on LTE and 5G standards) has emerged as a strong alternative to 802.11p. Here’s how they compare:

Feature IEEE 802.11p (DSRC) C-V2X (LTE/5G)
Latency ~10 ms ~5–10 ms (LTE), <5 ms (5G)
Coverage Short-range, direct Short + long-range via network
Deployment Mature, field-tested Growing, especially with 5G
Infrastructure Minimal (no cellular needed) Requires cellular networks (for V2N/V2C)
Interoperability Limited with C-V2X Newer versions support dual-mode

Adoption and Use Cases

Global Deployment:

  • United States: Initially favored DSRC based on 802.11p, though recent FCC rulings have shifted focus toward C-V2X.

  • Europe: ETSI has defined ITS-G5, a protocol stack based on 802.11p.

  • Japan and South Korea: Active use of DSRC for tolling and traffic safety.

Real-World Applications:

  • Collision avoidance systems

  • Smart intersections

  • Road hazard notifications

  • Platooning for commercial vehicles

  • Public transport priority systems

Advantages of 802.11p

  • Mature and Proven: Used in numerous pilot programs and early deployments.

  • Fast Time to Communication: No need for handshake protocols; devices can communicate almost instantly.

  • No Subscription Costs: Operates independently of cellular networks.

Limitations and Challenges

  • Scalability: In high-density traffic, packet collisions may reduce reliability.

  • Spectrum Allocation: Regulatory changes in some countries have limited the bandwidth available to DSRC.

  • Limited Ecosystem Growth: Many automakers and countries are shifting investment to C-V2X and 5G-based platforms.

Future Outlook

While 802.11p has laid the foundation for V2X communication, the industry is gradually pivoting toward more advanced and scalable technologies such as 5G NR-V2X. However, 802.11p remains relevant in regions where DSRC infrastructure is already deployed and continues to serve as a dependable option for immediate, low-latency vehicular communication.

Hybrid Solutions:

Some industry players are exploring dual-mode V2X devices that support both 802.11p and C-V2X, ensuring backward compatibility and smoother transitions.

 

IEEE 802.11p has played a pivotal role in launching the era of connected vehicles, offering reliable, low-latency communication tailored for high-speed mobility. While newer technologies like C-V2X and 5G are beginning to dominate the roadmap, 802.11p’s contributions remain foundational in the evolution of V2X systems. As the automotive industry moves forward, a mix of technologies, including legacy support for 802.11p, will ensure that safety, efficiency, and connectivity continue to advance on roads around the world.

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