iSPARX™ move to Microsoft Azure
The migration of iSPARX™ to Microsoft Azure and cloud services is driven by several strategic considerations, including data sovereignty, advanced AI capabilities, and the integration of services like AR+Concierge™. Here are some key reasons for this migration:
1. Data Sovereignty:
- Compliance and Regulation: Azure provides robust tools for ensuring data sovereignty, helping organisations comply with local and international regulations regarding data storage and processing. This is critical for businesses operating in multiple jurisdictions with strict data protection laws.
- Geographical Flexibility: Azure has data centres in numerous locations worldwide, allowing iSPARX™ to choose specific regions for data storage and processing to meet sovereignty requirements.
2. Advanced AI Capabilities:
- OpenAI Integration: Microsoft Azure has a strong partnership with OpenAI, offering advanced AI and machine learning capabilities. This integration allows iSPARX™ to leverage cutting-edge AI technologies for enhancing their services, such as natural language processing and advanced data analytics.
- Cognitive Services: Azure provides a wide range of AI services, including computer vision, speech recognition, and language understanding, which can enhance the capabilities of applications like AR+Concierge™.
3. Cloud Services and Scalability:
- Scalability and Flexibility: Azure’s cloud infrastructure offers scalable resources, allowing iSPARX™ to efficiently manage varying workloads and scale their services as needed without significant upfront investment.
- Cost Efficiency: The pay-as-you-go model of cloud services helps in optimising costs, ensuring that iSPARX™ pays only for the resources they use.
4. Security and Reliability:
- Enterprise-Grade Security: Azure provides robust security features, including advanced threat protection, encryption, and compliance certifications, ensuring that iSPARX™ can safeguard sensitive data.
- High Availability: Azure’s global network and redundancy measures ensure high availability and reliability of services, minimising downtime and ensuring continuous operation of critical applications like AR+Concierge™.
5. Innovation and Development Support:
- Developer Tools: Azure offers a comprehensive suite of developer tools and services that support agile development and continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. This accelerates the development and deployment of new features and services.
- Ecosystem and Integration: Azure’s ecosystem supports seamless integration with a wide range of third-party services and platforms, enabling iSPARX™ to create a more interconnected and efficient technology stack.
By migrating to Microsoft Azure and cloud services, iSPARX™ can leverage these advantages to enhance their offerings, ensure compliance and security, and drive innovation in services like AR+Concierge™.
Advanced Technology Architecture for AR+Concierge™
Cloud Infrastructure
Microsoft Azure:
Azure Blob Storage: For storing models/assets as Unity objects and other static content.
Azure Virtual Machines (VMs): For hosting the application backend and processing requests.
Azure Functions: For serverless computing and handling API requests.
Azure SQL Database: For relational database management.
Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN): For content delivery and caching.
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): For user authentication and authorisation.
Cosmos DB: For fast and flexible NoSQL database services.
Database and Data Management
SupaBase: Real-time and scalable data storage and management.
Azure SQL Database and Cosmos DB: Relational and NoSQL databases for storing user data, session data, and other transactional information.
Firebase: Backend-as-a-Service (BaaS) for real-time database, authentication, and cloud storage.
Content Delivery and Streaming
JW Player:
Video hosting and streaming services for 2D and 360° content.
360° HLS HTTP Live Streaming for immersive 360-degree video experiences.
2D HLS HTTP Live Streaming for standard 2D video content.
Augmented Reality Frameworks
ARKit (Apple): Framework for developing AR applications on iOS.
ARCore (Google): Platform for building AR experiences on Android.
Unity: Game engine for developing the AR experience, managing bundles, and assets.
Location and Mapping
Azure Maps: Advanced mapping and location services integrated for spatial awareness and navigation.
GeoSpatial Creator: Tool for creating geospatial experiences and anchoring AR content in real-world locations.
AnchorLocks: System for locking AR content to specific real-world locations for consistent user experience.
Magnetic Field Mapping: Utilising Earth's magnetic field for indoor positioning and navigation.
Indoor Positioning System (IPS): Technology for locating people or objects inside buildings, typically through Wi-Fi, BLE beacons, or UWB.
Proximity and Interaction
UWB Beacons: Ultra-wideband beacons for precise location tracking and interactions within the AR environment.
BLE Beacons: Bluetooth Low Energy beacons for proximity-based interactions and notifications.
User Interface and Experience
Squarespace: Website building platform for marketing, informational purposes, and user engagement.
JW Player: Video hosting and sharing platform for content distribution.
Social Media and Networking
Instagram: Integration for social media sharing and user engagement.
LinkedIn: Professional networking platform for business-related interactions.
Mobile Platforms and Development
Apple App Store: Distribution platform for iOS apps.
Google Play Store: Distribution platform for Android apps.
iOS: Operating system for Apple mobile devices.
Android Studio: Integrated development environment for building Android applications.
Apple Developer: Suite of tools and resources for developing iOS applications.
Security and Compliance
TLS/SSL: Secure transmission of data in transit.
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD): Identity and Access Management for secure access to Azure resources.
GDPR Compliance: Ensuring data privacy and protection according to regulations.
Analytics and Monitoring
Azure Monitor: Monitoring and logging services for Azure resources.
Google Analytics: Tracking and analysing user interactions and behaviours.
Mixpanel: Advanced product analytics to understand user engagement.
Integration and API Management
Azure API Management: Managing and scaling APIs.
GraphQL: Flexible API query language for efficient data fetching.
RESTful APIs: Standard APIs for interacting with backend services.
OpenAI APIs: Advanced AI and machine learning services for multimodal applications.
AI and Machine Learning
AI Multimodality: Incorporating multiple data types (text, image, audio) for a comprehensive AI experience.
GPT-4: Large Language Model for advanced natural language processing and conversational AI.
User Authentication
Linkedin Login: For social media-based authentication.
Facebook Login: For social media-based authentication.
Google Sign-In: For easy and secure authentication.
Apple ID Sign-In: For secure authentication on Apple devices.
Continuous Integration and Deployment
Azure DevOps: Automating the build, test, and deploy phases of the application lifecycle.
Jenkins: Open-source automation server for continuous integration and delivery.
Bundles and Asset Management
Bundles: Stored on Unity, swappable at decision points.
Text Assets: Held as .json strings.
Models/Assets: Stored on Azure Blob Storage as Unity objects.
Videos: Hosted on JW Player.
URLs/Links: Configured on the server, specifying text and additional information like animations.
Server Configuration: Managed via iSPARX™ allowing configuration of assets.
Security and API
Azure Services: Primarily using the Australia East region.
API Calls: From the app to Azure, secured with TLS for in-transit data transmission.
This architecture incorporates modern technologies and services to build a robust, scalable, and secure AR+Concierge™ platform, with enhanced AI capabilities and comprehensive data management.