PR: Athero Ecosystem Combines Internet of Things with Blockchain to Make Decentralized Smart Cities a Reality

The Internet of Things (IOT) seems like a distant dream spoken of only in high-tech circles, but every day we come closer to making IOT a reality. Currently, customers are consumed with their devices: smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktops. The average american spends nearly twenty-four hours per week online. However, these devices are surprisingly limited when interacting with their environment. IOT will alter this landscape and bring interconnectivity like never before, with vehicles, personal devices, appliances, electronics, and more, all exchanging real-time data and altering behavior accordingly.

Despite the mainstream population’s limited understanding of the Internet of Things, the global IOT market was valued at $157 billion in 2016 and is expected to reach $457 billion by 2020. IOT is poised to revolutionize many industries including the way cities are run. These aptly named “smart cities” will transform everyday life, but so far have remained just a vision. This is rapidly changing.

Athero is building a decentralized, distributed, and economically sustainable ecosystem for smart cities. Athero will combine blockchain technology with IOT to form the “Internet of Blockchains”. While there are many exciting applications for this new network, one of the most intriguing is smart cities.

Smart Cities

Cities of the future will hardly resemble cities of today. Smart City technology will alter the way citizens interact with their cities, giving them unprecedented convenience, efficiency, and time-saving solutions.

Air Pollution

Air pollution has spiralled out of control in many cities, especially across Asia. City governments are very concerned and have begun implementing solutions. The problem is air quality data remains quite limited and difficult to visualize. Athero’s air pollution Smart Sensors will transform the methods of air quality data collection. Athero will deploy Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) across the city’s public transit systems, providing rapid updates and data visualization to assist cities in combating devastating air pollution.

Fully automated solar-powered Smart Parking system

Utilizing real-time and historical parking data, wireless Smart Parking Sensors will locate available parking spaces, thereby easing traffic congestion and reducing fuel costs. Using RFID technology, vehicle check-in and check-out times can be tracked, reduced, and automated payments can be integrated.

Decentralized applications (DApps) and data sharing for building IOT solutions

DApps and data sharing (running on P2P networks) allow users to create their own applications without the need for middle-men or single-party control. This opens up many possibilities for decentralized citizen networks to provide innovative solutions to city problems.

Wifi-ready solar-powered Smart Bench

One of Athero’s most exciting solutions is the wifi-ready solar-powered Smart Bench.

Smart Benches

An ordinary bench has one purpose: sitting. And most are uncomfortable even for that. Smart benches give users access to many benefits way beyond the simple act of sitting. Athero’s Smart Benches come equipped with high-speed LTE Wi-fi internet hotspots with a range of 150 feet. Holders of Athero’s THO token will enjoy unlimited free internet access. Non-holders will receive twenty free minutes per person per day and have the option to purchase more via sms or credit card.

Athero’s Smart Benches are solar-powered and eco-friendly.

As outline here, Athero is developing several Smart City projects including: Smart Parking Technology, Smart Benches, air quality control systems, and decentralized smart contract applications (DApps) for data sharing. Additionally, Athero plans to add to the community ecosystem through decentralized P2P networks, decentralized exchanges, partnerships, and more. The Athero THO token will be utilized throughout the ecosystem to provide many consumer benefits.