Innovations in software

Software development and services based on the software has always been associated with the development of society on a circular manner. Modern society development shows the following trends: globalization, standardization and industrialization, however, the same trends can be observed as lines of software development. This applies even more to the development of software because the software is a standardized system of decisions and events or works on a standardized and clearly structured problems. Precisely due to the fact that the software only deals clearly and precisely structured problems and provides outsourcing development. Another specificity of software development, especially at the level of structural design solutions reflected in the fact that development relies on the individual - the key element of system design are expected broad education and a good knowledge of the possibilities of technology and the ability to think at the level of conceptual design, while the lower level designs and technical solutions are left to the professionals encoding - so that the type of workforce that possesses specific and not general knowledge and who is not creative but the opposite discipline taught to think in terms of domains. By this software development differs significantly from the IT system engineering and administrative approach to solving the problem, because while looking for higher levels of creative and quantified solutions require less predetermined and verifiable technical functional solutions.

Also, in terms of innovative software development must be noted that the radically innovative solutions significantly less frequent than incremental progress. And as for radical innovations require special market conditions - lack of appropriate solutions in the market, incremental innovations are driven by pre bay software vendors to quickly copy and apply industry best practice. Thus, most of the edition of a software solution pre be placed in the second group.

How the software was never completely autonomous component of a technical system, it is important to note that the signals, opportunities and mechanisms for innovation come from the side of products and processes that ICT technology as a handle increasingly present global tendency to not only global technology expands and takes almost all functions that have not been associated with ICT technologies have already moved in ourselves so opportunities for innovation in software, opened thanks to what ICT technologies open up space for new solutions that have not previously been possible and technically feasible.

Trajectories of software development and innovation domain could therefore be divided into:

• Infrastructure
• Technological development direction of software
• Converging technologies causing the need to develop a new cross-domain software solution
• Completely new solutions resulting from the new system solutions to the new technology more innovative level

Furthermore, we can division of this software innovations to expand and complement the specific technical and technological solutions which have led to the same:

• Software processing infrastructure (a good example of such innovation are the software that accompanied the development and network infrastructure requirements, MPS, BMS, SCADA ...)
• embedded software that has emerged as a fitting solution to a technology that enables a new kind of functionality (software for robots, management of complex transport systems, etc.)
• Customer service - software is the desired result of the same manufacturers to process, standardize and improve some specific technical or service that requires basic ICT infrastructure and on her based software solution
• Software that are designed to enable a newly created solving business problems and / or challenges
• Software whose innovation and drives require human need for communication and interaction
• Entertainment as an innovation-driven software development

From the above examples it is easy to then reviewing the specific market situation in the world and especially the direction of movement of global ICT industry and business sense in which areas we can soon expect a radical innovation in the field of software solutions in the future.

Some of them are already clearly visible as well as software solutions:

• Big Data and Data Analytics
• Artificial intelligence (general and applied intelligence, machine learning, autonomous machines)
• Internet of things
• Synthetic biology (a classic ICT software and software-based amino acids - live programming system)
• Nano technology - a control nano machines
• The concept of Industry 4.0
• 3D printing and additive manufacturing technology and software industry is leaning on them (3D / 4D scanning, CAD / CAM software, mash point)
• Software in the field of security

On the other hand any way the directions of development of software visible concrete solutions and directions of development of the same have not yet converged sufficiently to be able to adequately and arguments about these or discuss the managerial level of ICT management systems as well as thinking about the directions in which they could move some future tasks of system integration software solutions are already widely known and can be said to be moving in the field above.

Server farms and energy storages are two technologies that are increasingly merge

Modern ICT industry greatly relies on new technologies that do not necessarily have to be an ICT technology. One of the new technologies which are increasingly being used as backup power solution, as well as, primary power is the technology of energy storage vendor that helps that Cloud total solution is greener and therefore technologically acceptable. The idea behind the energy of storage is quite simple and quite old - is based on the need for the energy produced is not used at the time of production it is today already be stored and used when needed we need. If you are ICT professionals this will probably remind you of the UPS equipment, but the energy storages are much more than battery solutions for temporary storage of energy.

The energy storages on the one hand provide a solution for storing large amounts of energy that can be released if necessary, but it is not their sole and overriding function. The primary function of these devices is to regulate the voltage and current in the electrical grid, they in fact represent the energy buffers on the level of energy networks. Then it should be highlighted that the energy storages first technology that enables real and widespread use of alternative forms of energy as the same may from small consumer store energy and return them the same, if necessary, avoiding the complex mechanism of delivery and billing of electricity to the national power systems.

It should also be noted that the energy storages depending on the technology implementation can store energy much denser than the existing battery systems, and it can be kept, and depending on the selected solution over a period of a few minutes up to half a year, and finally to allow the recovery of energy the level of energy substation. This last quality is a special advantage, because thanks to this waste energy, which now goes to the thermal dissipation can be partially collected and taken to an energy storage, and hence used elsewhere, which increases the overall coefficient of efficiency and energy efficiency of the building in which it is located server farm. Another good feature as an application of energy of storage backup solutions around the perimeter of the data center is reflected in the possibility of applying the same solutions thanks to outsource energy supply and / or backup energy solution.

The energy storages behave like Cloud energy producers. Although, the energy storages in essence do not produce energy rather than only stocked energy, one of the models of their implementation is a model secondary production and delivery of energy to consumers who, due to a power failure or a sudden rise in consumption (peaks in consumption) is required. In this model it is shown that the incomparably cheaper by consumers to buy energy reserves and from the nearest power of storage but to buy direct from the manufacturers in the products of a time.

How is this possible? So energy producers must sharply increase their production capacity in the sudden changes of consumption and then their equipment has to work with when the peak load is much less efficient. On the other hand the energy storages still have the same energy efficiency that is achieved in the cycle of charge and discharge. How is the overall energy efficiency of storage is high enough then the companies that manage profitable given plants to buy power from the primary consumers when low power consumption, it is then stored in its capacity a return to the network when requirements for power consumption growth.

Special benefits of energy storage vendor is reflected in the fact that they can store energy in much greater quantity than was possible until now. In fact, if you combine a number of different mechanical aspects of storage, the total capacity of storage is such that it is possible to store the energy of the order of hundreds of MWh, which is enough to get hooked on the UPS device is not just a consumer, such as server farms, but also the consumer the size of a city. A good example of this, which represents the city of New York a couple of years of storage technology used to power the "correction" of electrical values supplied electricity and to power the town or city areas, if necessary.

Energy storages in terms of backup solutions or primary power solutions server farms can be carried out on the site server farms (kinetic storages may be buried in the footer or directly by the accommodation facility)at the edge of Data Center (kinetic and lower gravity systems, and thermal energy storages and large capacity battery systems) or in a remote location (gravitational systems that are in the field of pumped storage or abandoned mine shafts, and use electrical power grid energy service providers for the delivery of electricity).

Finally it should be noted that the use of storage reduce energy and operating costs of server farms because even though it is not a primary supplier of power but a secondary supplier of the fact that the energy operator may buy electricity from any manufacturer at a time when it is most cost corresponds to the same, and that is delivered at a somewhat lower prices.

The application of energy storage technologies as we can see it is possible to significantly reduce costs, increase resistance to risks, always provide uninterrupted and reliable working and what is most important to increase the overall energy efficiency of the Data Centre, which directly leads to a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

Using this technology enables and sustainable development and reduce environmental pollution, so it is not surprising that some of the great Claude service provider decided to use it - and thanks to all these advantages it is likely that the application of energy storage and their binding to data centers in the future to grow.

System integrators - some aspects of the relationship to the protection of the environment and sustainable development

Companies that are primarily focused on system integration business is faced with environmental issues and sustainable development. Since most systems integrator operates globally can be noted that the business faced with a series of global and local problems, of which one of the most significant problem the impact of business activities on the environment. This problem exists on many different levels so the answers and solutions related to it should look at multiple levels. Therefore, first things first.

Viewed from the perspective of the average member of a community that was concerned local community or the state system integrators are not seen as an ecological threat. This attitude is especially beneficial for the fact that system integrators as part of the ICT industry are not the primary pollutants, and that the whole industry as such is considered a high-tech and progressive, and so are not associated with possible environmental pollution. The truth is actually quite different. Indeed, precisely because of the rapid technical and technological growth and the short lifespan of most products and services or ICT industry, this represents one of the largest manufacturers of industrial garbage.

In fact, any product ICT industry after three years practically obsolete after this time, ie, mandatory changes, with a new generation of advanced features similar devices, is rubbish, that is, electronic waste, which is one of the most serious environmental pollutants, as in terms of quantity and in terms of chemical composition, ie, the material of which the hardware is normally drawn.

The problem of electronic waste is solved to some extent by introducing the same duties of care by authorized companies, and in some countries and a ban on imports and trade with second-hand ICT equipment and hardware. Furthermore, as a solution for financing the disposal of individual countries introduced tax to be paid on import, ie the purchase of the device, which covered the costs of disposal and destruction, ie,  recyclable waste.

One of the best features of e-waste is that it is almost completely recyclable residue-free, so it is not necessary to have a special permanent disposal site for this type of waste - in a relatively reasonable time all the collected waste will be recycled and returned to the market as new more efficient product. The advantages of recycling are: energy saving, environmental impact and economic impact in the rational utilization of mineral resources.

The problem is that there are parts of products whose recycling is not easy nor cheap and where recycling cost several times more than the cost of production of new devices created from semi products. Although these components is relatively small and they generally represent the legacy products, their number is not negligible. This especially applies to batteries and accumulators of all types whose numbers due to the global trend of increase required for mobility also increase exponentially. Not gathered, thrown and inadequately disposed batteries are a constant source of harmful radiation, and pollute the soil, land and water courses. Each battery which has passed the service life becomes hazardous waste that must be disposed of in a safe way. If you discard the used battery, battery or electronic waste in the environment risk that toxic substances get into the food chain. To avoid this it is necessary that system integrators or perform their own electronic waste management with which in their projects and operations meet or outsource this job mandated companies that will completely adequately implemented.

How is the management of electronic waste complex area is best seen in the case of the management of spent batteries and accumulators. The management of this e-waste includes:
• collecting,
• transport,
• storage,
• sorting,
• treatment,
• recycling and
• disposal of leftovers after treatment and recycling of waste batteries and accumulators.

Another way to protect the natural environment selected for the individual national markets refers to the permissible level of specific toxic substances in electronic waste. Thus, on the territory of Europe normally prohibited sales of electronic components in your weight contain from 0.0005% mercury or more than 0.002% of cadmium.

It should also be noted that in terms of environmental pollutants system integrators and service providers, as well as all other holders or users of ICT systems occur in terms of electricity consumers. In fact, all cloud technology based on the existence Data centers that are significant consumers of electricity. Until recently, "electricity eaters", data centers are now an example of an unusual trend - the increase in productivity reduces energy consumption. This is the result of new solutions, which had to be found since the data centers more pollutants than the airline industry, explains the Urlic Ham, an expert on these issues at Cisco.

Specifically, Data centers consume up to now energy consumed fairly rich irrational in the sense that it is used for the operation and cooling, that the energy was always on stand by and that active and passive redundancy of the system still had to be done. An additional problem consisted in the fact that due to demands for increased resistance and durability to supply all the requirements should be provided to and from secondary sources where they are as producers of electricity used diesel generators which on the one hand have a very small degree of efficiency and on the other side of combustion fuel directly increase carbon emissions. Worldwide digital storage use about 30 billion watts of electricity, which is equivalent to the energy generated by 30 nuclear power plants. Another fact little known to the general public clearly illustrates the magnitude of the problem of data center power. In Germany data centers emit more carbon - dioxide into the atmosphere than the entire airline industry. Aircraft Carriers in pollution accounted for 3.5%, and data centers with 4.4%. Extensive research "McKinsey" shows that data centers consume an average of only 6 to 12% of energy on its primary function, while the rest is spent on maintaining the server in the event of termination of the work or because of the traffic congestion that could cause a server crash.

To save energy, Cisco uses a new technology called "Power usage effectiveness", which is achieved by optimizing energy consumption, and is based on the active measurement of consumption or computer and its software. So technically operational management Data center knows how much energy data centers, and how much other equipment. Since rapidly heated, data centers consume a large part of the energy consumption for cooling. For example, if the average data center consumes 100 kilowatts, of which approximately 30kV goes to cooling. With smart ways of cooling and the optimal temperatures of the rooms in which they can save a lot of energy.

This direction of development of technology proved to be not only necessary in terms of environmental protection, but also quite profitable for providers of data center. In fact, all investments in new technological solutions that guarantee reduction of power consumption are returning to a period of 12-18 months and only rarely for a period of 3 years, which is still less than the period of alternation of generations of technological equipment in the data center benefits.

On the other hand, Internet providers and system integrators, especially the latter, contribute to environmental protection and the development and implementation by providing electronic services related to environmental protection.

This may be general services in the form of a cloud software solution for monitoring and control of electronic waste as well as other waste - particularly hazardous types of waste such as medical waste, nuclear waste, various types of radiation whereby represent public or state register of prescribed information on the movement and disposal of waste from which all stakeholders can find out relevant information.

Also, ICT technologies, especially IoT allow the implementation of vertical solutions that can be integrated into many sensor systems that can track information of interest to environmental protection in the wider area almost in real time. So we already have IoT verticals monitor the quality of water, air, represent systems for alerting and an early warning of a number of natural and industrial accidents by providing mobile users targeted information relevant to the avoidance and mitigation of risks, as well as reducing damage to the unforeseen circumstances.

Special portals are the solution for pollution monitoring with monitoring of pollutants and online control of pollution that increasingly dominate the national Internet by alerting the public to the possible consequences of pollution or directly targeted by and making visible the biggest polluters and their share of pollution.

It is this feature of IoT solutions and web portal provides the greatest benefit in terms of protection of the environment and facilitate conditions for sustainable development amounts to - a clear identification records and visibility, and measurable contribution to those who pollute the environment now makes it possible to expose the culprits and then the commitment and action of the broad masses of consent the rules should be for all of us to provide a healthier environment and stop uncontrolled pollution of the same, which is a basic condition for sustainable development of the society in the future.

Besmisao tehničkih karakteristika kao osnova tenderskog zahteva javnih nabavki

Poslednjih dana otkako sam počeo da se bavim javnim nabavkama suočavam se sa neverovatnom situacijom – pokušavam naime da ugovrnom organu objasnim razliku između funkcionalnih i tehničkih karakteristika uređaja koji se nabavljaju u okviru jedne javne nabavke. Konkretno, ugovrni organ je raspisao nabavku u kojem je kao bitna karaktristika računara i praktično eliminacioni faktor kojim se eleminišu pojedini proizvođači navo nazivno napajanje računara. Iz prepiske sa ugovornim organom očigledno je da isti koristi ovu karakteristiku kao način da se zaključa projekat za nekog dobavljača, odnosno, proizvođača. Ovo je uobičajena praksa izvrdavanja principa javnih nabavki. Pronađete jedinstvenu karakteristiku opreme koju poručujete i unapred najavite projekat proizvođaču, a zatim čekate. Mogu se desiti samo dve stvari: da oni koji preuzmu dokumentaciju prepoznaju traženu robu i usluge, odnosno, projekat i budu obavešteni da za dotičnu nabavku od proizvođača ne mogu dobiti ponudu ili da se žale, a onda neko iz ugovrnog organa redom, često sa ne baš suvislim objašnjenjima odbija pitanja, žalbe i predloge drugih potencijalnih ponuđača za ekvivalente robe i usluge – čak i ako su one znatno povoljnije po ugovrni organ od onih koje želi da nabavi.

Nastranu činjenica da u presales postupku prema zakonu o javnim nabavkama nije ostavljena mogućnost transparentnog audita iza kojeg bi sledilo projektovanje specifičnog rešenja koje bi najviše odgovaralo potrebama ugovrnog organa, ali insistriranje na potpuno nesuvislim tehničkim karakteristikama za tražene robe i usluge pomenuti zakon stavlja van svakog logičkog smisla.

U pomenutoj prepisci koju već par sedmica vodim sa dotičnim ugovorinim organom pokušavam da im objasnim razliku između funkcionalnih i tehničkih karakteristika, kao i činjenice da radne osobine uređaja zavise samo od funkcionalnih karakteristika, a da su tehničke karakteristike posledice izbora pri projektovanju uređaja, te da predstavljaju uslove radnog okruženja u kojem pomenuti uređaj treba da radi. Propisivanje tehničkih karakteristika kao zahteva javne nabavke ima dakle smisla samo i jedino ako se nabavljani uređaj i usluga moraju ukomponovati i prilagoditi za rad u nekom radnom okruženju i tehničkom sistemu koji već postoji pa se ne želi menjati ceo sistem zbog novih komponenti koji se u njega unose. Sa druge strane bilo koji zaokruženi tehnički sistem, posebno ako je u pitanju uređaj, već je projektovan, optimizovan, proizveden i kontreolisan tako da kad izađe na tržište sve njegove funkcionalne i tehničke karakteristike dovedene su u optimalni odnos. Odnosno za sam računar, odnosno njegove funkcionalne osobine potpuno je nebitno na kojem nivou nazivne snage radi njegovo napajanje. Napajanje se projektuje spram ugrađenih potrošača, odnosno, komponenti i karakteristika potrošnje pojedinih računarskih komponenti (procesor, memorija, HDD, grafika...) i optimizuje za konkretni hardver. Svi brend računari prošli su ovaj proces optimizacije i za njihove radne karakteristike ni na koji način ne utiče napajanje – odabrano napajanje u potpunosti zadovoljava uslove eksplatacije i insistiranje na većem napajanju nema smisla jer neutrošena električna energija dovodi do dodatnog zagrevanja pa ju je potrebno odvesti iz kućišta. Dakle, zabluda je da veće napajanje ima prednosti, jer je ima niži stepen radnog iskorištenja, veći je potrošač i principijelno ima nižu energetsku efikasnost. Ova zabluda je utoliko veća ukoliko je proizvođač uradio optimizaciju pre izbacivanja brend proizvoda na tržište. Uređaj sa manjim napajanjem nije nekvalitetniji, niti će slabije raditi, niti će kako sam uspeo da čujem od pojedinih pravnika koji su pisali odgovore na moje žalbe biti netačniji („imati smanjenu tačnost matematičkih operacija jer se procesor i memorija nedovoljno napajaju“). Sa durge strane brend uređaj sa višim napajanjem neće imati nikakve superiorne karakteristike u odnosu na predhodni jer je njegovo napajanje takođe optimizovano za potrošnju komponenti koje su u njega ugrađene, pa je onda nelogično da kao uslov kvaliteta bude navedena tehnička karakteristika nazivno napajanje računara. Ovo bi donekle i imalo smisla u slučajevima kada se ne radi optimizacija potrošnje na nivou ugrađenog hardvera pa se izborom većeg napajanja osiguravamo da smo obezbedili neometano i dovljno napajanje svih komponenti ali u konkretnom slučaju se traži brend računar poznatih tehničkih i funkcionalnih karakteristika pa to nikako ne može biti slučaj.   

Zanimljivo je i to da većina ljudi koji se bavi javnim nabavkama u ICT sektoru, a očigledno je to slučaj i u drugim sektorima, ne zna da u slučaju sistemskog pristupa odabiru rešenja postoji jasna hierarhija zahtevanih karakteristika po kojoj se prvo ispunjavaju uslovi postavljeni pred funkcionalne karakteristike, zatim tehničke karakteristike, pa karakteristike kvaliteta pri čemu se pod kvalitetom podrazumevaju dodatne tehničke podobnosti uređaja (MTBF, način i kvalitet izrade, MTTR, interoperabilnost sa drugim sistemima...) pa na kraju komercijalno finasijski uslovi pod kojima se roba i usluge nude. Nakon ovoga u slučaju sistemskog pristupa – koji očigledno skoro da se i ne koristi - ide analiza odnosa cena-efikasnost, pa tek tada sastavljanje predloga rang liste rešenja, umesto ovoga, javne nabavke se uglavnom oslanjaju na sledeći model – tenderskom specifikcijom propišu se minimalne tehničke karakteristike koje uređaji ili usluge moraju da zadovlje da bi bile uzete u razmatranje, a onda traži najjeftinije rešenje, odnosno, primenjuje kriterijum ekonomski najpovoljnije ponude. Jasno je da za onoliko koliko se razlikuju ova dva modela toliko se razlikuju i domeni njihovih mogućih rešenja pa je jasno da je model primenjen u praksi takav da često dovodi do neadekvatinih i pogrešnih rešenja ne samo u smislu izbora rešenja, tehnologije, već u konkretnom slučaju i ekonomskih izbora.

Primer koji sam naveo kojim se pomoću nazivne snage napajanja računara odlučuje o valjanosti brand računara nije usamljen. Monogo češći primeri su vezani za nabavku vozila, gde je uobičajena praksa da se tenderskim zahtevom propiše snaga motora i/ili kubikaža motora, a ne neka od funkcionalnih karakteristika vozila. Naime, snaga motora nije u direktnoj vezi sa funkcionalnim karakteristikama vozila. O tome kako će se vozilo ponašati na putu pod opterećenjem zavisi prvenstveno od obrtnog momenta (koji je iako tehnička karakteristika u direktnoj vezi sa ponašanjem vozila na putu), koji se bar koliko je meni poznato tenderskim dokumentima skoro nikada ne propisuje. Takođe, kubikaža motora ima veze sa udobnošću u ekspataciji, prvenstveno elastičnošću motora i donekle potrošnjom, ali nije u direktnoj vezi ni sa snagom ni sa obrtnim momentom, jer se vrednosti istih mogu dobiti iz motora različite zapremine pomoću turbokompresora i direktnog ubrizgavanja goriva, te promene smese.

Neadekvatan pristup problemu nabavki i loše propisivanje zahteva za nabavkama od strane pravnika i ekonomista koji su uglavnom zaposleni u sektoru javnih nabavki donekle bi bio i razumljiv mada ne i opravdan kada su u pitanju robe opšte potrošnje gde usled marketinških kampanja često vladaju zabune i mitovi, ali postaje potpuno nejasan kada su u pitanju radne i industrijske mašine. Naime, za bager je od presudne važnosti koliko kubika koje gustine može da obradi u jedinici vremena, a ne snaga motora ili veličina rila i kašike (koje su bar neposredno vezane za funkcionalne osobine uređaja) ali razmak gusenica nema nikakve veze sa funkcionisanjem uređaja (čak ni objašnjenje o položaju centra mase ne stoji u potpunosti)

U slične tehničke karakteristike koje se obilato koriste za zaključavanje tendersa često se koriste i one koje se ne mogu realno primetiti, odnosno, one koji ljudska čula ne primećuju već se mogu detektovati samo tehničkim napravama. Insistiranje na istim potpuno je besmisleno, jer ako ljudsko uho ne može da čuje određene frekfrencije onda je potpuno nebitno da li ih i koliko verodostojno može reprodukovati menbrana nekog zvučnika. Realni funkcionalni zahtevi dakle mogu se ispuniti i drugačim, često jeftinijim uređajima ali se takvi usled zahteva iznetih u tenderski specifikacijama ne mogu nuditi.

Sve ovo i ne bi bilo toliko čudno da tokom poslednjih dana nisam iz prepiske shvatio da većina ljudi u sektoru javnih nabavki i ne zna za funkcionalne zahteve, te hierarhiju zadovoljenja zahteva i druge modele (osim onog koji sada primenjuju) ocena nuđenih rešenja. Ovo jsano govori o dve stvari: koliko je razbacivanje budžetskih sredstava i koji je nivo obaveštenosti (izbeći ću reći pismenosti) onih koji se ovim poslom bave. Kako je ovaj poslednji vrlo nizak onda i nečudi ogromna nenefikasnost i disipacija budžetskih sredstava te rapidno siromašenje društva koje ista izdvaja za zadovljenje opštih potreba državnih organa.