INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

“In the next century, planet Earth will don an electronic skin. It will use the Internet as a scaffold to support and

transmit its sensation”

-Neil Gross, 1999

Internet is the product for people, all the data, images, recording and games, books and commerce. Internet is one the most important and transformative ever created. Internet is like a DIGITAL FABRIC woven into the lives of all of us in one way or another. The new internet is not just about connecting internet but also connecting new things and so the name “Internet of Things”. It’s important because things can share their experience with other things.

Now you must be wondering how does it work?

You take the things you use every day and give them the ability to communicate, sense and touch. This way thing can collaborate with things. We humans communicate with other humans through our 5 senses. Imagine your everyday use things having the ability to sense and communicating back to you. And that’s where our ‘Internet of People’ intersects with the ‘Internet of Things’.

An example of it would be a smartphone, it has so many senses:

Where you are (GPS) Whether you are moving, it knows how you are holding it (Gyroscope) How much light is in the room (Ambient Light Sensor) How close it is to your face (Proximity Sensor) What you are saying or what sounds are around you (Mic) And even has an eye to see its surrounding (Camera)

Also it has the ability to communicate on a wireless network, other examples are garage door openers, smart bands, and smart watches. But these are small examples……why would business care? They do care, to the tune of billions of dollars like, Cisco, IBM and Google are making huge investment on the Internet of Things. Samsung, in August 2014, acquired a company “SmartThings”, a home automation startup, for around $200 million, similarly Google purchased “Nest Labs”, manufacturer of smart thermostats and smoke detectors, for $3.2 billion, one of the largest acquisitions in the Internet of Things space.

SO HOW BIG IS THIS INTERNET OF THINGS?

Well, it is said that Internet of Things was born at the point in time when there were more things on the internet than people, by 2008. Today there are about 10 billion things/devices on the internet and are expected to bloom to about 50 billion by 2020, which will usher billions of dollars of economic growth. This was done by huge companies, but why do we care? Well we all want to lead a better life, and the Internet of Things like the ability to sense, communicate, acquire data, and so on will help us build processes and system, deliver better health care through remote diagnostics and monitoring and bring safer environment. So yes, the Internet of Things is a perfect thing to collect a lot of data and turn it into wisdom to move the human race forward.

INTERNET OF THINGS INNOVATIONS

1. PHILIPS HUE

Philips Hue LED bulbs allow consumers to control mood lighting with their tablet or smartphone. Users can program the bulbs to dim at night, or blink if they detect an intruder. There’s also an API that allows Netflix to dynamically change the lighting based on a movie scene’s color palette, extending the movie experience beyond the screen.

2. RALPH LAUREN

The clothing company’s POLO TECH SHIRT streams athletic performance biometrics like heart rate, movement intensity and energy output to the cloud. One could easily imagine integrations with FitBit and Nike+ to give the wearer a unified experience of their athletic performance.

3. TESLA

If a repair is needed, Tesla’s software automatically downloads an update and if necessary, autonomously schedules a valet to pick the vehicle up and bring it to a Tesla facility. Car owners avoid the often frustrating experience of dealing with third party repair garages and negotiating over price.

4. FORD

The automotive maker is investing in new business models and partnerships that include Zipcar-like ridesharing, and Uber-esque on-demand services. Its AppLink platform allows users to connect to apps through voice recognition, and Ford has ambitions give drivers the ability to pre-order Starbucks or automatically pay for gas.

5. HILTON HOTELS

Hilton is rolling out new features to its front of house services like smartphone based check-ins and room key functionality. Going forward, it is not difficult to imagine saved custom guest heating and lighting preferences, push travel suggestions and deal notifications, and automated luxury services.

6. NEST

The most recognizable of smart, connected home devices to date, the Nest thermostat allows users to control their home’s temperature from their smartphone or tablet, while also helping customers save on their energy bills. The company was purchased by Google for more than $3 billion, and is releasing a suite of other home automation products like a fire alarm.

7. CARIQCarIQ makes cars smarter, thanks to a device which records both traditional data from your car, such as mileage and speed, as well as driving patterns. A bit like Waze, it’s also connected to a community of peers where you can compare your stats with friends, or with people in the same place, or with the same make and brand of car.

8. KWIKSET KIWO

Kwikset Kevo have designed such locks that don’t need keys, all you need is your smartphone to unlock them. These locks are available on operating software’s like Apple iOS and Android v5.0. The keys of lock are also unique in themselves as to unlock the door you just need to touch your keys and door will be unlocked. The technology used by Kevo is simple Bluetooth technology.

ISSUES WITH INTERNET OF THINGS

That technology already influences our moral decision making, which in turns affects human agency, privacy and autonomy. He cautions against viewing technology merely as a human tool and advocates instead considering it as an active agent. Editorials at WIRED have also expressed concern, “What you’re about to lose is your privacy. Actually, it’s worse than that. You aren’t just going to lose your privacy, you’re going to have to watch the very concept of privacy be rewritten under your nose”. Concerns have been raised that the Internet of Things is being developed rapidly without appropriate consideration of the profound security challenges involved and the regulatory changes that might be necessary. The key ideas that reveal the complex dynamic between online opportunities and online risks include:

Digital in/exclusion Learning and literacy Peer networking and privacy

Civic participation Risk and harm

This research raises key questions regarding identity, literacy, privacy, participation and risk which are all key issues in relation to IoT developments.

TRANSFORMING INDIA INTO DIGITAL EMPOWERED SOCIETY AND KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeiTY), has come out with a draft INTERNET OF THINGS Policy document which focuses on following objectives:

1. To create an Internet of Things industry in India of USD 15 billion by 2020. It has been assumed that India would have a share of 5-6% of global Internet of Things industry.

2. To undertake capacity development (Human & Technology) for Internet of Things specific skill-sets for domestic and international markets.

3. To undertake Research & development for all the assisting technologies.

4. To develop Internet of Things products specific to Indian needs in all possible domains.

The Policy framework of the Internet of Things Policy has been proposed to be implemented via a multi-pillar approach. The approach comprises of five vertical pillars (Demonstration Centers, Capacity Building & Incubation, R&D and Innovation, Incentives and Engagements, Human Resource Development) and 2 horizontal supports (Standards & Governance structure).