The mid-nineties were an inventive time in technology. We had just received the internet en mass, as well as the first Playstation and the legendary Nintendo 64.

It was fantastic, and no sooner had we gotten our new home PCs and games consoles in place, than we were looking for ways to connect them, to each other and to peripheral devices.

Twenty years ago, everything was wired; want more than one computer on your network? Wire them together. Need to add another player to Goldeneye on the N64? Plug in another controller. That great new song by R Kelly that you want on your phone - wire that thing up.

Now, the idea of a completely wired home network, or wired console controllers seems ludicrous, and one Cambridge company has done perhaps more than most to ensure that everything is connected to everything else. This is the Internet of Everything.

The Internet of Everything

Sometimes called the Internet of Things, the IoE refers to our mission to connect as much stuff as possible to the internet: watches, cars, TVs, kettles, you name it.

Why? Natural progression. Since the 1950s and 60s, we have been looking for ways to send information digitally, and later, to project parts of our lives online.

Cambridge Silicon Radio - now known as Qualcomm - have been working on everything from keyless car entry, to 3D glasses and smart remotes for over 15 years.

Bluetooth Smart

Even some of the very early mobile phones were Bluetooth-enabled, allowing users to swap little bits of information, ringtones and so on. And whilst it took some time for Bluetooth to find its place and shout about it, alongside the more commonly sought-after WiFi, the system comes into its own wherever short-range, reliable connectivity between devices is needed.

CSR have taken Bluetooth technology, and developed it to a point where everything from in-car lighting, to home security and entertainment, can be easily controlled using a secure and fast wireless connection.

The Cambridge-born company, founded in 1999 by Phil O'Donovan, James Collier and Glenn Collinson, is taking a technology often overlooked by the casual consumer, and using it to create a generation of powerful, versatile, and power-friendly devices, with applications in entertainment, in the home and in safety.

A few of CSR’s innovations:

CSRMesh

CSRMesh is an incredibly clever system, whereby several Bluetooth devices can be connected together to form a network. CSR is already testing the Mesh for its home automation capabilities, connecting things like lighting, heating and ventilation to smartphones.

Auto sensors

Measuring tyre pressure, controlling lighting and in-car entertainment systems all from a single device like a smartwatch, could soon be very accessible, thanks to CSR’s work on seamlessly integrating car systems with Bluetooth technology.

Gaming controllers

Serious gamers look for certain things in the performance of their controllers: responsiveness, reliability of connection and power efficiency. Plenty of companies offer wireless controllers, but it’s CSR who are going the extra mile to develop an entirely new generation of gaming technology.

CSR has brought more to the tech industry than just serious know-how. This company, whose founders were once part of the still hugely successful Cambridge Consultants, develop with creativity and curiosity, and a desire to make our world a more connected one.

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