Developing a Secure IoT App for Smart Household

iot application

The emergence of IoT apps has transformed the market in various fields such as automation, smart city, industrial automation, smart house and much more. Due to technological advancement and low cost of the internet connectivity Internet of things application has been very prevalent. Secure development technology (SDL) is a security system which has been incorporated in IoT for enabling advanced security. IoT application developed by IoT app development companies are going to open a new door of financial growth in the time to come.

Features to include while developing IoT apps

While developing the IoT apps it is very important to take good care of the security, privacy, connectivity, and compatibility of the IoT apps in order to bestow a smooth experience to the users.

Challenges of IoT

1. Data Protection

As these IoT apps receive a lot of data from the users, these should have the encryption facilities so that the data can remain secure in the application.

2. Authentication protocols

Cybercrime has been very prominent in this highly technological era and IoT applications become a soft target for those. The IoT apps should have an inbuilt authentication protocol between the encrypted devices in order to maintain security.

3. Latency and capacity

It has been observed that if the capacity of the IoT apps is upgraded, the latency of the IoT apps decreases. So, it is the challenge for the IoT app developers to maintain a perfect balance between the latency and capacity of the IoT apps.

Important consideration for developing mobile apps

Use of a readymade platform

It is advisable to build an IoT app using an existing platform as an existing platform has few reliable features such as authentication, encryption on a well-designed framework.

Use of secure hardware

It is very important to buy the sensors from the trusted vendors. The IoT developer should purchase from those vendors who can help in ensuring user privacy with EPID technology.

Hiring the Expert developer

It is very important to hire mobile app developers who have worked with various platforms and has the necessary experience. It is also important to define the user base in a way that it can target the right audience.

Security system

Mobile app development companies are ensuring that smart security system is enabled in the IoT application. This SDL enables things such as static/dynamic analysis, threat modeling, secure coding, Authentication to all IOT services has been made compulsory. Authentication deals in end-user communication, machine to machine communication. The system should have the features of updating of the user’s information during the lifespan of the product. Also, IoT should have inbuilt encryption system which needs taking information from the customers and it runs the information through a mathematical formula so that only someone having the special key can unlock the data. A secure update mechanism should also be instilled which ensures that a cryptographically signed update has been received from the vendor to ensure that the update has come from the same vendor.

Smart household

Using of IoT application, the rooms can be decorated with various lighting. The light can be set or the temperature of the room can be regulated using IoT application.

Conclusion

Developing an IoT application for smart home devices will transform our way of living. You will be habituated to a contemplative life as the burden of turning off the device, cooking in low heat, maintaining the speed of the car will be taken care of by these automated devices. You will be able to utilize your time and be thoughtful in your activities that you can run parallelly. 

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How Educational Apps Will Transform the Modern Way of Learning and Teaching?

Educational Apps

IIn this contemporary highly tech-savvy world, we have become dependent on our gadgets for various services, receiving educational service is one major thing among them. Since the time in 2010 Apple invented iPad, the users worldwide have started studying from various android education apps installed in iPad. Then iPhone, Tablet, Kindle, smartphone all gradually resumed focusing in providing this educational service in more than one way. The statistical analysis has concluded that the class equipped with the educational apps in their gadgets have performed quite better compared to those who have learned only in a traditional way.

Features of education apps

While choosing an education app it is important to check that it has the features which will keep the learners engaged.

Lessons videos and test series

The learning app should have a series of videos of lessons. Once a learner finishes watching one module, he will have to go through a test. There should be a score board depending upon his performance in it. If his performance is well enough, a higher level of lesson module will be open before him. So, there should be a list of lesson modules and a list of test series to judge the level of knowledge of the learner. The learning app should be moduled in such an encouraging way that the users have the desire to get back to the application again and again. These visually attractive lessons give an audio-visual sense and make the learning very appealing to the students.

Informative

The education apps should consist of informative lessons so that the students can remember those and can perform well in their classroom tests when they are asked objective questions.

Offline facilities

The application should be well operational in the offline mode so that the learning process for the students become very convenient even when they are in no network zone.

Teaching materials

The teaching material should be relevant to any examination which the members aspire to clear. The success in those examinations will help the members to rely on the education apps and will certainly give good reviews about the application.

Interactive sessions

You are sitting in a classroom and the teacher wants to test your knowledge and to engage all the students in a discussion on the topic which she has already taught in the class. She made a group of five students and asked each group to open different test series in a particular Web app as she handed a digital device to each team of the students. She made sure that each group put collaborative efforts to solve the problems. It instills team spirit, positivity and digital learning capability among them.

Benefits

  1. It playfullypromotes learning and teaching.
  2. The teacher or student can track the previous learning performance.
  3. It gives insights to the students as the learning process is self-initiating, not seems like a traditional compulsive one.
  4. It saves paper.

These E-learning mobile apps are not only used by students for academic benefits, rather by professionals of various fields as these E-learning mobile apps helps the professional to know about new policies, training, concepts, and idea. In a way, education and knowledge gaining have been entertaining by the bliss of these apps. It has a very high retention rate as the user interface is made to produce a highly inspirational environment. It results in the saving of time and money that would have been wasted in classroom-based training. The flexibility of learning at any place and any time, even while traveling makes people engage in learning as their favorite task.

Smart class board

Smart Class Board is an interactive whiteboard which helps the teachers to show any subject materials to the students that all the students can understand easily. The smart class board can accommodate different style of learning in a visually lucrative way. These smart white board is connected to the computer and internet so that the teacher can present various topics available in the educational website and educational applications. As the teachers will no longer need to give handwritten notes to the students so it is very eco-friendly educational process.

Learning management system

Learning management system is a software application which is utilized for administration, documentation, tracking, reporting, delivery of educational courses and training. This LMS has emerged from eLearning. This acts as a platform for online educational contents. It has been designed utilizing analytical data and to provide the learning and training gaps.

Conclusion

Educational learning and training application has brought revolution in the way the knowledge is received. In all walks of life, we have been very depended on these android education apps to keep as updated and remain informative so that we can place our point of views with information and idea in the time of professional meetings. The students have been greatly benefitted as learning through these education apps has been as entertaining as watching television or playing video games.

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What Extended Reality is & what all We can be Done with It?

Extended Reality

Statistics demonstrate that the market share of augmented and virtual reality is suspected of surging by 2022 – it will scale eightfold as corresponded to 2018, amounting to $209 billion. At the same time, extended reality (XR), the new family member to virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) is also gaining steam & driving various processes and events.

Let us figure out what exactly XR is, what its core abilities are, and what market value it has.

The Genesis of Extended Reality

XR encompasses virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality, and the reason why XR has emerged is their (AR, VR & MR) proliferation and convergence. So in order to get a thorough understanding of this platform that fuses above-stated terms, we have to discuss them separately.

Virtual Reality

VR, also known as the computer-simulated reality, is a technology that lets humans immerse into a reality that is distinguished from the existing one or that replicates reality. Alternately, it forms a digital reality that supersedes a user’s real-world totally. Virtual Reality is authorized with specific headsets that present an environment by pragmatic pictures and sounds (audios), while a perfect VR environment comprises of all senses that include smell, taste, and touch. This approach furnishes individuals with a possibility to attain new experiences. VR technology is extensively used in the gaming & entertainment industries and various kind of training. VR may look very pragmatic or may resemble cartoon images, depending on the ultimate goal.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is not an environment that is distinct from an existing one entirely, unlike Virtual Reality. AR technology augments the existing physical environment by particular features such as enriching it by adding graphics, video (visuals), sounds, and additional data. Users can’t interact with an artificial environment, and as it adds some attributes but doesn’t replace it absolutely, it can be said AR is on the top of our reality. In simple words, it places an overlay on our environment; moreover, the camera of smartphones and headsets help humans put an overlay on their existing environment. AR has got an extensive utilization in the gaming industry for intensifying the presentation of games. Pokémon Go is probably one of the most vivid examples of AR and implementation.

Mixed Reality

Mixed Reality, as the name suggests fuses components of real & virtual environments both. It generates a new environment where physical & artificial objects come together and interact, reaching each other on a real-time basis. Compliance is a vital characteristic of Mixed Reality; that is why it compiles the best attributes of real and artificial environments. MR makes the best use of augmented reality and virtual reality, all while allowing users to view the real world along with some virtual objects. These objects are attached to a specific real point, letting the users treat them as real objects.

The Essence of Extended Reality

Now that we have a clear concept of AR, VR, and MR- phenomena that emerges XR, we will see the definition of extended reality and the critical features of XR. 

What Does XR Mean?

VR, AR, and MR are the three pillars on which Extended Reality stands. XR combines the core features of all the three and everything within these interrelated phenomena. XR incorporates real and virtual environments and concerns technologically powered interactions between humans and machines, according to the definition of XR. Innovations that bring on changes formulate new XR experiences as XR depends on underlying technologies, i.e., AR, VR & MR.

Why various verticals and business operations are increasingly using XR? 

The main cause of its employment is that it helps eliminate distance barriers. 36% of CEOs contemplate it to be the principal factor in adopting XR as per Accenture’s survey. Extended Reality assists in addressing issues that are due to remoteness as a large number of operations become geographically disbursed. XR solutions such as 3D environments significantly heighten obtaining valuable insights.

The Advantages of XR Reality

Now the question is extended reality restricted to improving the user experience, or it is good for business? Companies employing ER do get valuable advantages, such as:

The provision of a fantastic experience

A dive into a completely different reality enables companies to present their users with the opportunity of visiting areas of interest or experiment something and that too without leaving the house.

Efficient data uptake

XR presents its users with a more realistic view of their subject matter, which lets them be trained extra efficiently.

Secure training

Those who demand to practice in high-risk circumstances, like military or chemists, can practice securely from traditional classrooms.

Seamless data access

XR eliminates distance barriers, making it easy for humans to access remote data smoothly.

The Disadvantages of XR Reality

XR does have drawbacks as well in spite of the fascinating opportunities. These are:

Endangered privacy

XR is prone to cyber-attacks and in particular data thefts when compared to other technologies. Since XR-based solutions have access to individual information of tons, it can result in severe damage.

Decreased social engagement

Extended reality presents various means of amusement that may engross human minds and endanger to eradicate the need for interaction. Though XR enables people to interact, it lets it in a diverse way that lacks contact and personal communication.

Physical harm

Long-term use of VR devices and AR glasses can lead to eye disorders, nausea, faintness, and headache.

Massive cost of implementation

The development & implementation of XR solutions and devices that support this technology are high-priced, due to which it may come at costly prices.

Final Thought

Extend your business opportunities with Extended Reality as it provides valuable advantages to a business. Thousands of companies around the globe have already got the best of it. At the same time, just like the other emerging technologies, the implementation of Extended Reality is also still a bit risky and demands significant investment. If you choose to implement XR in your business, you will win half of the battle while finding a reliable mobile application development company. A right service provider must have considerable expertise that allows users to evade errors and minimize risks.

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All You Should Know About Cross-Platform Apps Development

App Development

As of today, the world mobile app market has undergone several notable innovations. With the myriad of the app being updated and developed periodically, the global mobile application market has traversed all the expected limits and is supposed to behold the new heights. Mobility has now risen as an integral part of the digital world as well as leading the global economy towards further growth by mobile application development along with web app development. The scenario today is that mobile app engagement is causing a dramatic change in millions of businesses in a way that has made ”Mobile first” as a default approach.

Mobile apps are an excellent medium for enhancing brand awareness & recognition and marketing specialists have admired this move. The future of mobile phones has come under the vague periphery, with the increasing integration of Artificial Intelligence. Nowadays, nearly about 99% of mobile users either use Android or iOS as their mobile app platform. Potential users of both the platforms are scattered unevenly, making it tough to classify the prospective users and their preferences. For small entrepreneurs or SMEs, developing a mobile application for both these platforms is a time-consuming and financially crippling task.

Cross-platform application development has solved this problem for the vendors, and it is anticipated to catch a massive share of the customer’s market. Traditionally, native apps have ruled the market with a significant advantage, but now cross-platform app development has taken a hold over native mobile apps. With the advent of cross-platform application development, web and mobile app development have stepped a bit ahead. Earlier small entrepreneurs and startups find native app development comes out heavy in their pocket, but cross-platform app development is pocket-friendly.

What is a Cross-platform application?

Cross-platform applications are flexible that advances the source code’s usability and facilitates the cross-platform app developers to employ it on different platforms. Cross-platform app development caters all mobile operating platforms without making the user notice and that too by saving time, cost, and efforts.

Benefits of Cross-platform application

The underlying vision of every organization is to connect with broader customers to acquire a large target audience and revenue generation. Cross-platform app development offers many advantages; this is why mobile application development company worldwide prefer this technology.

Some of its advantages are as follows:

From the prospect of developers

Development speed

Cross-platform apps require less time than that of native web or mobile apps, in turn, increasing the development speed of the cross-platform apps and reducing the expenditures incurred.

Reusability of codes

Mobile app development companies globally are lured with the versatile features of cross-platform development. The code once written is reusable in another web and mobile development tasks also, saving the company from deploying a different development team for a specific app.

Easy use of plug-in

In order to develop various features, Plug-ins are superb. Handy tools, namely PhoneGap, Appcelerator, and much more ease out the access to plug-ins.

Cloud integration

When integrated with the Cloud, the versatility of cross-platform apps improves.

From the prospects of business owners

Uniform view for clients

The apps look similar no matter what the mobile platform is used. A single time investment demonstrates a more critical power and magnifies visibility as the app can be installed and operate on any platform.

Shorter Development time

The time and efforts spent in creating, coding, and examining web and mobile development projects are directly proportional to the cost of the development. With cross-platform apps, businesses will save cost by reducing the required. If the right technical stack and plan are flexible, the businessman can use 80% of codebase. By shortening the development time with cross-platform apps, you can save cost, which in turn, leverages the marketing purposes and other core business conducts.

Cost-effectiveness

A standard native app having basic features ranges around $100,00 and has a variety of complexities through the development process. However, cross-platform apps are cost-effective and do not have many complications with its development process.

Exposure to a large number of users

As the app can be operated and installed anywhere, cross-platform apps increase the reach to consumers. Its additional benefit is uniformity that makes it extra comfortable to know and handle on any device.

Low maintenance cost

The ever-changing standards and requirement of the businesses force administrators to push updates 48 times in a year, which demands a higher price and nullifies the app revenue for small businesses.

The drawbacks of Cross-platform app development

Though it comes with a wide range of benefits, it has some disadvantages as well. These are:

From a business point of view

No updates

As only native apps are entitled to get the update information, there are any timely updates from the Apple Store and Google Play Store. No updates are amongst the significant drawbacks of cross-platform app development. It has been a hot topic within the developers concerning the future of cross mobile app development when comparing to native web and mobile app development.

Performance issues

The computing ability of mobile phones is minute and inappropriate for handling complex HTML5/CSS user interface components and also increases the response time with lots of load time over GPU/CPU resources.

Time-consuming compilation

The time for code compilation is quite slow. It demands time and must be done individually for all platform, unlike the native code compilation. Furthermore, the rendering time is also much time-consuming.

From the developers’ point of view

Challenging UX requirements

Matching the UX necessity of both the platform is not a simple task for the app developers. It is understandable that any app’s success heavily depends on its UI design. Poor UI design accounts for 20% of app store rejections, so it demands developers to be very careful during the development process.

Last Lines

Despite highlighting handy tools, cross-application development also incorporates a few frameworks that utilize particular languages and tools, so you have to learn the tools & languages from scratch. Cross-platform apps come with advantages and drawbacks both and choosing between native app development and cross-platform development depends on your business requirements, budget, and goals. If you are a small entrepreneur or startup, cross-platform is the best alternative for you as it can provide you an extra edge. If money is not a matter, a native app is the best option in this case. And yes, cross-platform is prone to be given red light if you don’t contact a mobile app development company to assist you in the same.

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