back to article Tired of IoT hype? Internet of SLUGS and SPIDERS is the reality

Internet of Things (IoT) boosters have great stories to tell about “scavenger-class” sensors that use solar panels, tiny turbines or even stray energy gleaned from passing radio waves. Amid all that excitement we don't hear much about the fact that sensors in odd places will have other things to contend with, like slugs …

  1. BongoJoe

    Former?

    They'll also do well to consider the experience of Australian chap (and former IT journalist) Dan Warne, as recorded in this Tweet.

    Looking at that picture is there a clue therein as to why Dan is now 'former'?

    1. Simon Sharwood, Reg APAC Editor (Written by Reg staff)

      Re: Former?

      Nope. Dan just headed in different directions

      1. BongoJoe

        Re: Former?

        Oh, that's good to hear.

      2. The Crow From Below

        Re: Former?

        "Dan just headed in different directions"

        At the same time? must have been one hell of an explosion.

        1. Phil O'Sophical Silver badge
          Coat

          Re: Former?

          "Please use both exits."

  2. LaeMing
    Alert

    Awwwwww.

    Look at all the liddle babies!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Awwwwww.

      "Flame units only. I want rifles slung."

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Awwwwww.

      yeah I'm not sleeping tonight

  3. Mark 85

    Misleading Headline....

    And here I thought "slugs and spiders" was referring to some members of management that I know.

  4. Jean Le PHARMACIEN
    Coat

    ..slime shows were building nice ...

    ...can I take that to be

    "..slime shows we're building nice...."

    Tsk more sloppy grammar. Standards El Reg, standards.

  5. Neil Barnes Silver badge

    So when my forum stats say

    7 registered users, 32 guests, and 15 spiders online, it doesn't necessarily mean what I thought it meant?

  6. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    "Better seals are being installed to keep the slugs out"

    But what happens when they run out of slugs to eat?

    1. This post has been deleted by its author

    2. Jimmy2Cows Silver badge

      Re: "Better seals are being installed to keep the slugs out"

      So, what... they're going to use elephant seals instead of Weddell seals? How do the seals feel about this? Someone call PETA!!!

    3. Frumious Bandersnatch

      Re: "Better seals are being installed to keep the slugs out"

      But what happens when they run out of slugs to eat?

      Don't worry. It's NZ, not Oz. The seals are native and encouraging them to take up residence won't cause widespread unforeseen consequences.

    4. DNTP

      Re: "Better seals are being installed to keep the slugs out"

      Killer whales to eat the seals, and then Seaworld to mistreat the orcas. Then you install the documentry filmmakers to run Seaworld into the ground, Republican voters to ban undercover filming of animal abuse in industry, deep fried candy bars to kill off the voters, New York City mayors to ban large serving sizes of food and drink… ok, I was kind of making this up as it happened.

  7. mix
    Terminator

    Use all resources available

    Surely the challenge is to work out how we can utilise the kinetic energy produced by the creatures to power the devices. Symbiotic, no?

    1. Groaning Ninny

      Re: Use all resources available

      Harvesting the kinetic energy of slugs? That really *is* pushing it ;-)

      1. Neil Barnes Silver badge

        Re: Use all resources available

        I had some racing snails, and I removed their shells to improve their aerodynamics.

        But they just got sluggish.

        1. Frumious Bandersnatch

          Re: Use all resources available

          <groans>Yes, and my fly is now a walk</groans>

        2. Mark 85
          Coat

          Re: Use all resources available

          Paint an "S" on the side of the shell.... drop them into a mini-automobile. Then tell people to watch that "S"-car-go"...... I'm leaving. Sorry.

      2. Robin Bradshaw

        Re: Use all resources available

        Slug on a hamster wheel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5gI1joaCxI

        You wont be running a datacenter with the electrical output though.

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Conformal Coating

    Might help on the PCBs.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Conformal Coating

      forget conformal coating, should have encapsulated the pcbs in potting compound from the start. sure, it's scrap when it fails, but no amount of slugs would ever kill it. used to do that to boards we put in lampposts.

  9. cray74

    In addition to sealing the electronics cases, what about a heavy conformal coat on the circuit board? Some parylene is moisture resistant and should be resistant to most chemical assaults mounted by uninvited fungi.

    Or pot the whole thing, if the heat loads aren't bad.

  10. A. Coatsworth Silver badge
    Windows

    IoT...

    What would you rather introduce in your house: a smart tv, an internet-ready fridge, or *that* spider meter?

    That's a though decision...

    1. Eddy Ito

      Re: IoT...

      I don't know how well that spider meter works. Sure you get spiders but it looks more like a batch process rather than a continuous flow so you'd probably be just as well off having them delivered periodically.

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