5 Ways Intel's New Joule Module Changes The IoT Game For Partners

Intel Unveils New Module At IDF

During his Intel Developer Forum keynote Tuesday, CEO Brian Krzanich introduced a new module targeted at the Internet of Things.

The Joule module, built for IoT applications, packs a high-performance system into a low-power package. This maker board enables users to take a concept from prototype to production at a "fraction of the time and development cost," according to Intel.

"The Internet of Things need needs computing at the end, in the middle and in the cloud – and we believe Intel technology will make all of this possible," said Krzanich during his keynote.

Following are five things partners need to know about the Joule module.

Two Models Available To Resellers

According to Intel, Intel Joule is available in two models – the 550x and the higher-performance 570x.

The Intel Joule 570x developer kit is available for sale at the Intel Developer Conference, and will begin shipping in September through Intel reseller partners.

The Joule platform is also pre-certified for distribution into more than 80 countries, including the U.S., according to Intel.

Joule Is Highly Scalable, Made For High-End Compute

The Joule platform is highly scalable, according to Intel, because it is based on an Intel Atom System on a Chip (SoC). This means that transitioning a product design to high-volume production can be done with modest engineering expense.

The Joule module also features high-end compute, 4K video and large memory capabilities, as well as support for other Intel software tools.

Intel Joule And RealSense Support

Joule is capable of delivering humanlike senses to a new generation of smart devices, and enables embedded developers to build out an embedded system or take a prototype to commercial products faster, while minimizing development costs, according to Intel.

According to Intel, Joule features support for the company's RealSense cameras, allowing developers to build devices that capture depth of field information and are more capable of autonomous behavior.

Difference Between 550x And 570x

The 550x model of Joule contains a 64-bit quad-core Intel Atom processor running at 1.5GHz. This model also features 3 GB of LPDDR4 RAM and 8 GB of memory.

The 570x model has higher performance, with a 64-bit, quad-core Atom processor running at 1.7GHz, as well as more RAM (4 GB of LPDDR4 RAM) and 16 GB of memory.

Both models feature Intel HD Graphics with 4K video capture and display, as well as USB 3.0 support and a Linux-based operating system tailored for the Internet of Things and smart devices.

Real-Life Applications

Krzanich during his keynote showed an Internet of Things application for Joule, pairing the module with French company Pivothead's industrial safety glasses to monitor tasks performed by a factory operator.

The Joules module, as well as a built-in camera, enables the glasses to provide immediate audio feedback for real-time quality control and visual assistance.