Comments on: Cisco: Smart grid will eclipse size of Internet

Cisco, whose hardware is at the core of the Internet, is readying communications gear for utilities, businesses, and consumers to modernize the electricity grid.

[supoman]

If this would mean I can dump AT&T as my voice and data provider then BRING IT ON!!!

[Austin_Mike]

WERD!

[Archullus]

Reminds me of some business development work I did 10 years ago. The name is slightly different, it lacks the killer product points and it isn't clear how clever their funding model is, but I'm sure the guys at Cisco know their job and aren't hanging everything out for view yet.
One wonders if they scaled the technical hurdle that the Brits baulked at when I looked at it.

[ghostofitpast]

I remember Scott McNealy talking up this sort of a thing at an Oracle World. He claimed that he tried to convince GE of the value of every light bulb having its own IP number. For all I know, Chambers was in the audience at the time; since I think he was giving one of the other keynotes.

[OldCrow726]

Sounds like "Big Brother" is gonna be watching if I charge my Blackberry too long. Gonna get my own windmill and solar panels and get OFF the Grid.

[dadcss]

This technology has fantastic potential to do good - BUT
If humans can find a way to abuse a good thing, history has shown - they will.

[Maclover1]

Umm yeah I read that too in this article, between the lines that is, after I sent it through my CONSPIRACY filter....NOT.

If this technology forces the conspiracy freaks off the grid and into solar and wind, its working.

[OldCrow726]

I dont feel like a conspiracy nut wanting to get off the grid. I just want to insure my freedom to burn my lights when I want, wash the clothes, wash dishes, take a HOT shower. Everyday stuff like that. Please don't lump me in with nuts. You don't know me.

[jemiller0]

As long as it can be done in a cost effective way without a lot of maintenance head aches, I like the idea of generating my own power anyway. If we moved to a model like this we wouldn't need massive infrastructure to pipe the electricity around. I really hope that solar becomes more economical and more efficient. The same thing with small scale wind. I'm for use of smart grid technology, but, I would also like to see consumers be less dependent on the power companies and able to generate at least some their own power. I believe smart grid technology will help that.

[t8]

History is full of conspiracies. What makes anyone think that they have suddenly stopped?
To deny the existence of conspiracies is a conspiracy in itself.

[digginestdogg]

I just hope they thoroughly think through security and not just gloss it over Microsoft style. Phishers, foreign agents, and other adversaries of commercial, governmental, and public interests will otherwise find a gold mine for profit and antagonism that dwarfs the current damage we see. Imagine bot nets on that grid. Cisco likely has the expertise--but will they take the time to get it right and be willing to increase the costs sufficiently? ANother question is the administrators of the systems--the weakest link. I just read a story about a man who was deported from the US in 2005 but stayed an got a job with the Santa Clara Water district and went in the weekend after being fired and wired millions of dollars overseas--they caught it in time and blocked it. But the bigger the network the tougher it will be to ensure all those who have access do no harm. And this network will dwarf the unruly and poorly secured current internet.

[MD_Willington]

They had better start making utility grade products then.. the consumer grade they offer ain't that great.

[Winniroo]

So many smart things computers can do, but we have wasted a decade or more making eye/brain/wallet candy on the WWW instead of focusing on making the world a safer, cleaner, more efficient place.

Postman said we are entertaining ourselves to death.

We are.

[Vegadan_Man]

The only way this "smart-grid" will ever succeed is to give a no-bid contract to Microsoft. They have a long history of provided secure solutions. As long as you download antivirus software and keep it up to date. Oh, and run a software update three times a day. Anyone can do this unless you are an ignorant Apple user. Sheesh.

[timber2005]

If you are running software update for any microsoft product 3 times a day, you have proven youself to suffer ID-10T syndrome.
Microsoft releases once a month (typically) and never back to back days, or even 3 times a day.

[nguyenhtuan]

Has anyone read the book "Hot, Flat, Crowded" by Thomas Friedman. He has a chapter called "when IT (information technology) meets ET (Energy Technology)." This makes the Energy Internet system. And amazingly, Cisco is making the first step.

With the control of Internet over energy, we can control the usage of electricity efficiently and less wastefully. Because of its connection, we can control the every single device at home from everywhere with a mobile phone connecting to the Internet. Yes, this is smart.

http://www.nguyenhtuan.com

[db2776]

Skynet in the making ;)

[timber2005]

Needs to be IPv6 only addressing. All I can say.

Actually, give it is own /64 subnet, and keep it from being accessed on the normal internet (or anything that isn't in that addressing range), and that would boost security quite a bit.

[damfino11]

Can someone confirm for me that this implies the provision of broadband service to anyplace that is linked to the electric grid?

http://www.daniellieberman.org