What are the boundaries of the modern periphery?

The edge now occupies a critical place in the network, which raises an important new question: Where is the boundary between the network core and its edge? Until recently, the answer was obvious: the core of the network was in the data center, while the edge was everything else, from the wiring closets to the computers. Today, it is no longer so simple. The periphery is omnipresent. The device you are using to read this is considered a peripheral device, but so are a multitude of other objects, such as the delivery truck at the curb, the thermostat in the hallway, and the millions of sensors installed in warehouses, train cars and retail outlets.