Acer introduces new cloud solutions

By Zsarlene B. Chua
Reporter

THE CLOUD solutions arm of New Taipei-based Acer, Inc., has presented three new solutions under its Build Your Own Cloud (BYOC) brand in a bid to expand to a more “Internet-of-Things-centric (IoT) business model,” according to a company executive.

“We were not happy with the current IoT [solutions],” said Patrick Liao, AVP for PAP Business Development, Acer Cloud Technology (Taiwan), Inc., during a media junket on July 19.

He added that’s the reason why they decided on creating a home grown solutions called Beingware, which combines Acer’s expertise in hardware, software and service.

In 2014, the electronics giant has introduced BYOC apps focused on cloud storage for everyone, not just Acer users. This year, the company has introduced what they called the next generation service platform meant to function “as a one-stop-shop for a range of versatile PaaS solutions…to meet the needs of the very growing population and businesses,” according to a company press release.

“[This makes] other players to develop IoT solutions to benefit their customers,” Mr. Liao said of the openness of their solutions.

And while the cloud business of the electronics giant known for its PCs does not comprise a whole lot of the business, Mr. Liao said they expect the cloud would comprise a third of the entire Acer business in the next 10 years.

CLOUD PROFESSOR
The three new solutions presented to the media during said junket includes the Acer Cloud Professor, an IoT starter kit that “combines all the hardware and software students need to start learning more about the cloud,” said the press release.

Cloud Professor is a dongle promoting “coding education,” something Acer has been doing since 1981, according to Mr. Liao.

“It’s very straightforward — [simply] plug and play and code and make,” he said as the device can be used by children from 9-12 years old.

“We want to create an ecosystem…to shape the future of the next generation,” he said.

Mr. Liao said this month they will be training private school teachers in the Philippines to encourage them to use the Cloud Professor.

ACER AIR MONITOR
Acer Air Monitor checks on air quality in real time (via a companion app) as it tracks six air quality indicators: Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), carbon dioxide, PM2.5, PM10, temperature, and humidity.

And since it was built using the free IFTTT protocol, it can ideally be hooked up with “nearly all smart products found in the home,” according to the release.

“[The Air Monitor] can also be used to monitor air quality in public/commercial areas,” said Mr. Liao.

The Air Monitor will be exhibited in the Philippines on Aug. 17-19 as part of the Systems Integration Philippines (SIP) Expo at the World Trade Center in Pasay City.

ACER DIGITAL SIGNAGE
Currently deployed in many convenience stores in Taiwan, the Acer Digital Signage is meant to collect data for advertisers and the retail industry as it provides almost real-time performance analysis of ad campaigns.

The solution — which combines large format displays, a small web cam and media player — will then track how many people’s attention were drawn to the current ad being displayed and using facial analysis, infer how the customers took the ad.

It will also profile the viewer’s attention and categorize them based on demographic (age, sex and disposition). It also allows the advertiser to plan campaigns to designated screens.

Mr. Liao said that based on their current tests, it’s “90% accurate”.

He added that they are currently studying the Philippine market to see if the said solution would be brought there.