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2018 | Book

The Artificial Intelligence 2.0 Revolution Read chapter Read first chapter

IoT, AI, and Blockchain for .NET

Building a Next-Generation Application from the Ground Up

Authors: Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari

Publisher: Apress

Part of: Springer Professional "Wirtschaft+Technik" , Springer Professional "Technik" , Springer Professional "Wirtschaft"

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About this book

Create applications using Industry 4.0. Discover how artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities can be enhanced using the Internet of things (IoT) and secured using Blockchain, so your latest app can be not just smarter but also more connected and more secure than ever before. This book covers the latest easy-to-use APIs and services from Microsoft, including Azure IoT, Cognitive Services APIs, Blockchain as a Service (BaaS), and Machine Learning Studio.
As you work through the book, you’ll get hands-on experience building an example solution that uses all of these technologies—an IoT suite for a smart healthcare facility. Hosted on Azure and networked using Azure IoT, the solution includes centralized patient monitoring, using Cognitive Services APIs for face detection, recognition, and tracking. Blockchain is used to create trust-based security and inventory management. Machine learning is used to create predictive solutions to proactively improve quality of life. By the end of the book, you’ll be confident creating richer and smarter applications using these technologies.
What You’ll LearnKnow the technologies underpinning Industry 4.0 and AI 2.0
Develop real-time solutions using IoT in Azure
Bring the smart capabilities of AI 2.0 into your application using a simple API call
Host and manage your solution on Azure
Understand Blockchain as a Service
Capture and analyze data on the fly
Make predictions using existing data
Who This Book Is For
Novice and intermediate .NET developers and architects who want to learn what it takes to create a modern or next-generation application

Table of Contents

Frontmatter
Chapter 1. The Artificial Intelligence 2.0 Revolution
Abstract
Once upon a time, computers were as big as rooms. They were capable of complex mathematical calculations. They were not, though, meant to be operated by people like me and you. Nor were they designed for creating documents and presentations, playing games, or surfing the web. Early computers were powered by vacuum tubes—just like most other sophisticated electronic devices of the time—and were used in scientific research. Then, the semiconductor revolution happened, and the transistor was born.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 2. Understanding the Internet of Things and Azure IoT Suite
Abstract
A few years ago, Internet of Things (IoT) was an emerging trend. Today, it is part of modern arsenal of IT solutions. In the consumer space, IoT is generally perceived as smartwatches, fridges, TVs, etc.—age-old things that are now connected to the Internet. It is seen more as a convenience feature than a solution to an existing problem (smart thermostats and remote pet food dispensers, anyone?).
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 3. Creating Smart IoT Applications
Abstract
In Chapter 2 we learned about the Internet of Things, IoT devices, practical use cases, and messaging protocols. We also gained the conceptual understanding of Azure IoT Suite and its various components, especially Azure IoT Hub. Armed with this knowledge, it is time to create an IoT solution ourselves. We will create our own IoT network and write applications for devices in that network to solve a real-world problem.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 4. Understanding Cognitive APIs
Abstract
By now, you are conversant with IoT and have a good understanding of creating a smart application using IoT. Chapter 1 started by introducing your journey to the world of artificial intelligence. As discussed in the previous chapters, we are presently in the first AI revolution, which marks the inception of "AI-as a service". What comes to your mind when you hear the term "artificial intelligence". Scary robots? A topic of sophisticated research? A future of machines that can do complex tasks with a blink of an eye? Normally, developers think of AI implementation as a tough task involving writing complex algorithms and writing hundreds of lines of code. Consider the following conversation:
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 5. Consuming Microsoft Cognitive APIs
Abstract
By now, you have a fair understanding of Microsoft Cognitive technologies, its various offerings in terms of service, and a sneak preview of understanding their concepts. Microsoft has done a fantastic job in abstracting the research on AI and machine learning, hiding all complex processing nuances by giving easy-to-consume REST based services, sitting on its Azure Cloud solution. In fact, the entire suite of Microsoft Cognitive Services is exposed as REST APIs. Since the REST API has an API endpoint, you really don’t need any specific platform or programming language to consume it. Another advantage of the REST API is that it can accept input in JSON or XML format and give output in the same formats. This gives you great flexibility to consume REST API directly in all major programming languages, such as C#, Java, PHP, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, and so on. As this book targets .NET developers, we will restrict ourselves to using C# throughout the book. But, really, the fundamentals of consuming Microsoft Cognitive Services remain the same for any language.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 6. Building Smarter Applications Using Cognitive APIs
Abstract
The famous saying “Rome wasn’t built in a day” is so true about Microsoft cognitive services. Each service is exposed as a RESTful API by abstracting years and decades of experience, complex algorithms, deep neural networks, fuzzy logic, and research from the Microsoft research team. In Chapter 4, you were introduced to Microsoft Cognitive Services. You also learned how cognitive services are different from traditional programming systems. Later in Chapter 4, you got a sneak preview of all the Microsoft Cognitive Services API that Microsoft has produced.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 7. Understanding Blockchain
Abstract
In last decade, we have seen the emergence of various computer technologies, each of which was disrupting and revolutionary. Some of these technologies paved the way for a newer generation of technologies to make our lives easier. Some of these technologies are in the category of invention, as they change and disrupt the entire ecosystem. There was a big wave that produced a lot of new billionaires and millionaires. What was available for just 2 cents in 2009 is now available for more than $15,000 US. Yes, we are talking about Bitcoin and Blockchain. Blockchain is the technology behind Bitcoin. Cryptocurrency and especially Bitcoin have certainly divided the world into two zones—one that supports cryptocurrency and the other that opposes it. The use of cryptocurrency has been such a craze that there are around 1400+ cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin in the market, having more than 17+ million accounts. People have raised doubts about the future of Bitcoin. A few countries don’t allow cryptocurrencies in their economies, but almost all of them have provided tremendous support for Blockchain. Bitcoin is just one of the finest implementations of Blockchain, but Blockchain is certainly going to stay and is currently transforming the way we trust across work and business.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 8. Implementing Blockchain as a Service
Abstract
In the last chapter, you learned about the emergence of Blockchain and the very core reason for building Blockchain was cryptocurrency, especially Bitcoin. Over the years, various industry verticals started using Blockchain technology for non-payment systems. As we mentioned in the previous chapter, Blockchain changes the way we trust. While writing this book, various industries across verticals are transforming their individual business cases with the power of Blockchain. Every day new use cases are getting evolved on how Blockchain technology can transform a specific vertical. There is absolutely no denial of the fact that Blockchain is going to disrupt every vertical in the very massive way that one can imagine and would be the source of the next industrial revolution.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 9. Capturing, Analyzing, and Visualizing Real-Time Data
Abstract
Having come this far, you are now equipped with the knowledge of how to create next generation AI 2.0 applications. In your arsenal, you have weapons, such as Cognitive Services, IoT Hub, and Blockchain, to help you create truly cutting-edge intelligent solutions for clients, customers, or your own organization. From a developer’s perspective, you are fully equipped. However, developing solutions is only part of a bigger picture, no matter how big it is.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Chapter 10. Making Predictions with Machine Learning
Abstract
Our adventures in AI 2.0 are nearing their conclusion. If you have gone through all of the previous nine chapters, you have almost all the skills needed to build the next generation of smart applications. You are almost AI 2.0 ready. Almost.
Nishith Pathak, Anurag Bhandari
Backmatter
Metadata
Title
IoT, AI, and Blockchain for .NET
Authors
Nishith Pathak
Anurag Bhandari
Copyright Year
2018
Publisher
Apress
Electronic ISBN
978-1-4842-3709-0
Print ISBN
978-1-4842-3708-3
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4842-3709-0

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