Imagine you’re watching a baseball match, but instead of a single pitcher at the centre of the field, there are multiple pitchers lined along the edges of the field so that the action takes place at a closer proximity to the spectators. 

In edge computing, the edge refers to micro-modular data centres in any location that is outside of the traditional centralised data centre — at unconventional sites such as a factory floor or a barn in an agricultural field. The edge is closer to the endpoints, which is why data can make the roundtrip from the sensor to the miniature data centre at the edge in few milliseconds to enable faster decision-making and response. 

To cater to the rise of edge computing and the data storage capacities it requires, American data storage company Seagate has an arsenal of data storage solutions for enterprises such as hard drives. 

Before we delve into storage solutions, let’s trace the history of how the need for massive data storage solutions came about:

The rise of the data revolution

Let’s start with IT 1.0, a period which marked the beginning of the data age. During this phase, mainframe computers and basic software language began to mediate information and the potential of digital data was realised. 

IT 2.0 then saw the first wave of significant data growth as PCs and client-server workstations provided direct access to data. 

Mobile and cloud computing played a big role in IT 3.0, as intelligent apps sent data to the cloud for backup and analysis. And now, IT 4.0 marks a new era where data is active, not passive. 

According to Seagate, the biggest driver that heralds the arrival of this new phase is the rise of edge computing, accelerated by technology drivers that drive astounding data growth such as AI, IoT, and 5G (fifth generation of cellular technology).

This era of IT 4.0 is synonymous with an explosion of data. This acceleration is a result of a shift from data primarily being used for business operations to data increasingly becoming the vital element in the smooth operation of all aspects of daily life for consumers, governments and businesses. 

Unlike IT 2.0 and IT 3.0, there are no users behind devices in this new era of data growth. Instead, we have sensors, cameras, and endpoints that talk to other machines (Machine-2-Machine communication). 

These sensors are fast growing at an exponential rate worldwide: a recent Seagate-sponsored International Data Corporation (IDC) report forecast that this rapid digital transformation will lead to data volumes surging to 175 zettabytes by the year 2025. 

This new data-intense world calls for new data storage solutions. 

Improving production line efficiencies

To make the most of the opportunities afforded by IT 4.0, businesses need to start building robust data infrastructures to meet the need for real-time processing and low-latency responsiveness. 

Seagate’s Edge Reference Architecture (RX) for smart manufacturing is a great example. This is a working, practical platform and process that deploys AI in Seagate’s factories to improve production line efficiencies and product quality. Seagate Edge RX for smart manufacturing deploys deep machine learning to identify defects in the production line faster and more accurately compared with a human subject-matter expert.

It could provide up to 20 per cent reduction in the company’s investments in cleanrooms required for manufacturing, as well as cut the time to complete a process by up to 10 per cent1. This means that Seagate can now resolve irregularities and process problems more quickly and at a lower cost than ever before. The company expects to see up to 300 per cent ROI from efficiency improvements and better quality processes. Thus far, the platform has been successfully utilised in a wafer fabrication facility in Minnesota, the United States.

Seagate Edge RX for smart manufacturing also provides a template for solving a far wider range of problems beyond the factory. Its capabilities could potentially extend beyond the smart factory and prove useful in domains as varied as public safety, autonomous vehicles, and smart cities. 

The hard drives of the future  

The arrival of IT 4.0 has led to an increased demand for data.

To handle this demand, smaller data centres that are built closer to the edge require data storage solutions, in addition to core data centres. Seagate’s product innovations are aimed at helping businesses harness the potential of IT 4.0, with solutions to deal with the higher demand for data. 

For example, Seagate’s HAMR (Heat-Assisted Magnetic Recording) is a technology designed to boost the amount of data that can be stored on a hard drive. The high-capacity hard drive packs more into each disk thanks to a new kind of media magnetic technology. Data bits (or grains) become smaller and more densely packed than ever with this technology. Plus, it's also very reliable as the magnetic stability of the data written on the disk isn't affected. 

Also, Seagate's MACH.2 Multi Actuator technology sets a new hard drive speed record. Demonstrating up to 480MB/s in sustained throughput, this is the fastest ever speed recorded from a single hard drive and 60 per cent faster than a traditional enterprise grade hard drive. As a point of scale, a 15K drive can make 15,000 revolutions per minute — the faster the rotation, the higher the transfer rate. 

By doubling the performance of hard drives through the usage of two independent actuators that independently seek, access and transfer data to the host computer concurrently, Seagate’s MACH.2 technology is designed for customers with data-intensive applications, enabling businesses to achieve peak hard-drive performance, while managing to keep up with the need to manage vast amounts of data. 

To find out more about how IT 4.0 can open up a world of opportunities for businesses, visit www.seagate.com/sg/en/enterprise-storage/what-is-it-4-0 for more information.