There are currently more devices connected to the Internet than there are people in the world. The Internet now connects a staggering 10 billion devices today. And this number will continue to grow, as more devices gain the ability to directly interface with the Internet or become physical representations of data accessible via Internet systems. This trend toward interactive device independence is collectively described as the Internet of Things (IoT).
An important point here is that enterprise IoT or “smart solutions” represent an evolution in M2M (machine to machine) communications. An examination of industry-specific networks of machines, meters, and controls found in manufacturing, public utilities, transportation, building automation, retail, and healthcare bears this out. M2M networks were originally built around proprietary or industry specific protocols then “bridged” over to Enterprise IP networks and applications via purpose built network gateways. IoT-enabled networks on the other hand make it easier to build these industry-specific “smart solutions” on standard network protocols and platforms for simpler, easier and more cost-effective deployment. The following table lists examples of industry specific IoT growth areas.
| Solution Areas | Example Applications |
Energy and Utilities Smart Meters, SmartGrids
Building Automation Demand Response, HVAC, Lighting, Surveillance, Security
Transportation Connected Cars, Public Transportation, Freight & Containers, Logistics &Tracking
Healthcare Medical Equipment, Remote Monitors, EHR access, eOutpatient Care, Assisted Living, eHospital
Manufacturing Industrial Process Control, PLC, Diagnostics, Energy use management
Retail Vending Machine, POS, Scanners, Kiosks
Forward-thinking organizations have already built and are managing smart solutions today and have employed service management strategies and planning to accommodate change, deployment, and management requirements for these intricately connected systems. This includes cross industry enterprises deploying everything from transportation networks of automated ticketing machines to GPS tracking of buses, POS and scanner retail systems, and EHR healthcare networks. IoT is no longer an abstraction; it’s a reality today.
Ultimately businesses that can harness data collected from the Internet of Things will be able to provide better services and make more informed decisions, based on real-time data collection and analysis. In addition to automating repetitive tasks for increased efficiency, and predicting repairs and maintenance before a key component breakdown, companies in a wide variety of industries – from transportation to energy, heavy equipment, consumer goods, healthcare, hospitality and insurance — are getting measurable results by analyzing data collected from all manner of machines, equipment, devices, appliances, and other networked “things”.
Some of the more interesting IoT companies, products and services are listed below. Let PEI help you migrate your infrastructure to utilize, support and even provide next generation IoT products and services.
Chui (https://www.techrepublic.com/article/5-internet-of-things-startups-to-watch/) is a smart doorbell. While that may not sound like the biggest breakthrough in IoT, the company is doing some interesting things with its software. Chui uses facial recognition technology to turn your face, and the faces of those you allow, to become keys that unlock a door.
The system tracks and logs who has come and gone, time stamping their visit. This makes it a great tool for businesses who need to keep track of who has been on their property. Users can also unlock the door for expected visitors through their smartphone, so they no longer need to dole out extra keys to a cleaning service or repairman. Chui also allows two way video calls through the device so users can chat with their visitors from their phone.
Sensoria (https://www.sensoriafitness.com/)
Wearables are certainly a booming subsector of the IoT market. Sensoria’s pinpoints an existing problem for which there is, presumably, pent-up demand for a solution: preventing injuries for runners.
Sensoria’s socks are infused with textile pressure sensors and paired with proprietary electronics. Not only do the sensors accurately track steps, speed, calories, altitude gain, environmental temperature and distance, but they go well beyond that to track cadence, foot landing technique, center of balance and weight distribution on the foot as you walk and run. For runners, this could be a big deal.
There are 25 million runners in America alone, up to 85 percent of whom will suffer some type of injury this year. According to Daniel Lieberman, Professor of Human Evolutionary Biology at Harvard, when running, landing on your heel is no different than somebody hitting you on the heel with a sledgehammer (300-400 pounds of force about 1,000 times each mile). That may seem like an exaggeration, but repetitive low-impact forces build up over time, a problem the NFL and NHL are both coming to grips with now.
Sensoria intends to help runners identify injury-prone running styles, such as heavy heel striking, so they can avoid injury.
Sensoria also offers a T-Shirt and Sport Bra, each of which comes with built-in textile electrodes that allow you to simply snap your favorite heart rate monitor (Polar or Garmin) and get rid of uncomfortable plastic straps.
All Sensoria garments leverage the Sensoria mobile app to coach the runner in real-time via audio cues. The Sensoria dashboard can also help achieve goals, improve performance and reduce risk of gravitating
Hank Latham, PEI
