Get a recap of the most searched topics and popular OptoForum posts of the year.

Let’s take a look back at 2021 through the eyes of the OptoForums. You remember last year's top 5, right?

For starters, we had almost 200 more people sign up this year over last. (Y-Axis below is the number of daily sign-ups).

Benson Hougland's TEDx Talk on the Internet of Things and why it matters surpasses 1 million views.

The term IoT (Internet of Things) is becoming more commonplace in the world of industrial automation. The idea of companies making digital transformations and embracing the IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) now sounds familiar and part of a typical business plan in our industry. Perhaps that's why this TEDx Talk on the topic of IoT has reached the next level of popularity?

Dashboard UI on integrated and HDMI displays, Dashboard-only user accounts, and log in directly to the Dashboard!

If you follow this blog closely you'll have seen the news that the groov family has had a recent firmware release -- version 3.3.1 for groov EPIC and 3.3.0 for groov RIO. 

This brings a lot of great features that you can see in the OptoBlog posts linked above, but here I'd like to talk a bit more about the additional features added for Node-RED, specifically for the Node-RED Dashboard.

In step with our recent groov EPIC 3.3 firmware release comes our groov RIO 3.3 firmware update.

Ready to hear about new features included in our popular groov RIO edge I/O module? The recently released groov RIO firmware update 3.3 is now available. Here are some reasons you'll want to update!

Learn about two new I/O modules just announced for the groov EPIC controller.

Two highly anticipated groov EPIC modules are here: the 3-phase power monitoring module with 64 channels of data (!), and the highly flexible, software-configurable multifunction, multi-signal module. These new modules can take your system to another level of efficiency and another step closer to your digital transformation goals.

Are you looking to lower your energy spend, avoid equipment failure, and reduce carbon emissions? These latest I/O offerings allow engineers to bring energy, performance, and machine health data directly from the edge into backend systems, for old and new equipment alike, aiming to reduce complexity, cost, and timelines.

Let's take a closer look at these new I/O options: 

New videos help you get to know Sincrón Diseño Electronico, Opto 22's long time partner in Colombia.

OptoPartner and distributor Sincrón Diseño Electronico has recently developed a couple of exciting videos for our Spanish-speaking audience.

Newly added in EPIC firmware 3.3.1 : manage unsecured devices on-prem or at remote sites through secure, on-demand connections.

Last week in the OptoBlog, Ben Orchard shared an overview of what's included in the latest groov EPIC firmware update 3.3.1. One of the highlights was a new networking tool: Port Redirect.

If you've updated to 3.3.1 and you're itching to try this new feature out, here's a step-by-step outline on how it works on a groov EPIC (GRV-EPIC-PR1 or GRV-EPIC-PR2).

Opto 22's updated technical note helps current SNAP PAC users decide if, when, and how to migrate to the newer groov EPIC system.

Opto 22 customers have been relying on the SNAP PAC system for their controls and automation applications for almost 15 years. But now you keep hearing about the new technology of the groov EPIC system.

How is it different?

Should you make the switch?

What would be the benefits of upgrading, and what issues would arise from making the change?

Several highly requested features have been added to the latest firmware update for groov EPIC PR1 and PR2.

Even with the Covid pandemic lingering on, our mostly remote team of software engineers at Opto 22 have been hard at work. As a result, we have a groov EPIC firmware update that addresses a bunch of requested features, and like any software update, some bug fixes as well.

Simply known as version 3.3.1, you can freely download and take advantage of these improvements right away.

Let's take a look at what's new...

A recent webinar hosted by the Eclipse Foundation highlights the power of MQTT with Sparkplug in industrial automation applications.

As a member of the Eclipse Foundation's Sparkplug Working Group, Opto 22 was invited to participate in a webinar with fellow group members to demonstrate the effectiveness of the Sparkplug protocol.

Sparkplug is ready to transform the automation industry by making MQTT infrastructure interoperable, out of the box. Watch and learn from case study examples how this technology can make digital transformation a reality.