E is for Edge Computing - ABCs of AI (Elementary)

What if your everyday gadgets could become your smartest friends? Learn how edge computing transforms our world in real-time, making technology faster, more efficient, and secure. On this episode of AI for Kids, we break down the wonders of edge computing, showing how it powers smart homes, self-driving cars, fitness trackers, and more. Imagine having a tech-savvy buddy beside you all the time, helping you out instantly—sounds awesome, right?

Get ready for an interactive adventure as we guide you through designing your dream smart room, packed with edge computing devices. We'll walk you through securing your smart gadgets, from setting strong passwords to choosing reliable brands. Plus, we’ve packed in fun facts and essential safety tips to make sure you and your devices stay safe. So grab your crayons, sketch out your future, and let’s make our world a bit smarter together!

Links and Resources:

• Code.org
• Google's Tech for Kids

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:00

Welcome to the AI for Kids podcast, where playtime, learning and creating collide bit by bit. Ever wonder how your phone recognizes your face. How does a game learn to get harder as you get better? This is AI. This podcast is designed for kids like you and your human parents, making the complex world of AI easy to understand and, most importantly, fun. So are you ready to unlock the mysteries of artificial intelligence? Subscribe and join us on AI for Kids. Hey folks, today we are embarking on another exciting journey through the ABCs of artificial intelligence.

Speaker 1: 0:35

In this episode, we explore the letter E, which stands for edge computing. Ready to learn about edge computing? All right, let's get started. What is edge computing? All right, let's get started. What is edge computing? Edge computing is like having a super smart friend right next to you, helping you do tasks quickly or answer questions for you very quickly. Can you think of a place where it would be helpful to have a smart friend or device that's right next to you? Shout it out. So how does edge computing work? Shout it out. So how does edge computing work?

Speaker 1: 1:05

Edge computing uses small computers and devices to do tasks right where the data which you've already learned about with the letter D is created, making things happen fast. It's like getting an answer from a friend who's right there instead of calling someone who's far away. Edge Computing lets the data and activities happen right in your devices, right where they are, without sending things too far away from you. Did you know Edge Computing is all around us? Have you ever heard of a smart home? In smart homes, they have devices like smart speakers and thermostats, and those devices use Edge Computing to respond to commands quickly. There's also things called self-driving cars, where the cars drive themselves without a human, and cars use edge computing to make decisions while driving, like stopping at a red light. There's also edge computing in smartwatches and fitness trackers like Fitbit. They all use edge computing to monitor your health in real time. So did you know that there's a few fun facts about edge computing? Edge computing makes things happen faster because data doesn't have to travel far. It all stays local or nearby. It also helps to save energy by reducing the need to send the data back and forth, because it can stay right near the device. By processing data locally or nearby, it can help keep your information even more private. Isn't that cool? So how does AI and edge computing work together? Ai uses edge computing to make quick decisions, like recognizing voices when you're saying hey, alexa, or okay, google, or faces, instantly when you or your parents use your face to open up the phone. Many of the smart devices in your home use both AI and edge computing to work better and faster. Think about Alexa and Google. Those are the closest things to combining both of those. By using edge computing, ai can perform tasks without delays, making everything smoother and more efficient, or it gets done quicker.

Speaker 1: 3:12

So it's time to play a game. Let's play a smart home game, so this game is called Design your Smart Room. You're going to need paper and something to write with crayons, pencils, pens whatever you have is fine. Next, you're going to draw a picture of your room. Then you're going to think of smart devices you like in your room, like smart lights, smart speakers. Use your imagination. This is your smart room. And then, finally, you're going to draw and label all the devices in your room. Imagine how they would use edge computing to help you.

Speaker 1: 3:45

But, as always, there's things you need to think about when using edge computing that I need you to watch out for. Just like any technology, if not used properly, edge computing can have problems, so it's very important to make sure your smart devices are set up correctly and securely. How do you stay safe with smart devices? You wanna make sure you secure those devices, so make sure your smart devices are protected with passwords and the passwords are updated regularly. Always make sure your parents are helping you with that. Also, ask for help. If you're unsure how a smart device works, ask a trusted adult. And then, lastly, use trusted devices. I only want you to use smart devices from trusted brands and sources.

Speaker 1: 4:27

So what's next? I want you to spend some time thinking about how edge computing can make your daily life easier. What are some of the other smart devices you would like to see in your home or your school? Share your ideas with someone nearby, and I want you to imagine the future together. So at home, there's always activities you can try. You can work with your parents, friends, guardians to explore how a smart device in your home works and how it uses edge computing to make quick decisions. As always, make sure you check the show notes if you want extra resources, but always do that with a parent or trusted guardian.

Speaker 1: 5:05

I want to thank you all for tuning in. I hope you enjoyed this adventure with the letter E for edge computing. Keep that curiosity alive and join us next time as we continue exploring the ABCs of AI. Bye-bye, thank you for joining us as we explore the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. Don't keep this adventure to yourself. Download it, share it with your friends and let everyone else in on the fun. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts, or on YouTube. See you next time on AI for Kids.