Internet of Things

Today’s healthcare industry is evolving, thanks to smart technology and the Internet of Things (IoT). These advances have created a system in which patients can visit with doctors remotely. Best of all, they can receive better diagnoses faster and overcome diseases with greater rates of success. Investments in healthcare technology reflect this trend, as more tech companies focus on opportunities in healthcare. In the second quarter of 2019, healthcare AI companies raised $864 million, according to CB Insights data. That’s $100 million more than they raised in the second quarter of 2018.  While tech startups and their investors are heartily embracing healthcare IT, the adoption of that technology in the healthcare system hasn’t been as robust, at least in the U.S. According to a recent survey, U.S. healthcare organizations are adopting AI and telehealth solutions at much lower rates than their global counterparts.  At this point, though, there’s no longer any reason for the hesitation. Plenty of healthcare IT solutions have already more than proven their worth in many different areas. Three, in particular, have had the biggest impact so far:  1. Connected devices that enable proactive healthcare Smart devices and IoT devices are the crux of many of today’s leading healthcare innovations. They give patients access to providers and specialists, even when physically visiting them is complex. They also give providers vital real-time data about patients. That enables providers to keep a closer eye on patient health, physical activity, and adherence to medication schedules.  For example, a proprietary tech stack for healthcare providers from mobile tech studio Dogtown Media creates a digital command center. This allows healthcare professionals to monitor diagnostics across all patients. When patients wear their connected devices, physicians can remotely track their vital signs, including blood sugar levels and medication intake. Apple is also venturing further into the healthcare market by combining its wearable technology with health data, research, and medical device development. Smart toothbrushes, plates, beds, and clothing are becoming popular ways to track lifestyle habits. All have the potential to impact a patient’s health and treatment outcomes.  2. AI systems that offer faster, more precise diagnoses With the data collected through remote monitoring and telehealth technologies, physicians can gain greater insight into patients’ unique health factors. To make optimal use of that information, several organizations have also invested in AI systems. Those systems, in turn, can thoroughly analyze massive amounts of data to provide highly precise diagnoses.  The early detection of chronic diseases has been a major focus of healthcare AI models; Google recently announced it will train those models to do it more effectively. In one use case, Google’s library of images helped train a healthcare AI system to successfully detect diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of adult blindness. At the University of California, San Francisco, researchers applied a machine learning algorithm to PET scans of patients with memory impairment. The algorithm helped predict whether patients would develop Alzheimer’s disease by searching for telltale changes in brain glucose. 3. Technologies that improve outcomes and recovery The main goal of adopting advanced healthcare IT is to improve patient outcomes. In addition to the examples above, many solutions give providers the ability to do that directly. For instance, smart rehabilitative devices can help patients recover from severe injuries and health episodes by sensing where they need assistance most.  According to the Merraine Group, that may soon include the use of a flexible, self-powering material that recharges itself and can submit diagnostic data to healthcare professionals. The material has already been successfully used in prosthetic knee replacement and rehabilitation. Researchers hope it will soon be viable for use in other prosthetics, such as heart replacement. Automation and machine learning help combine the data from such devices, as well as wearable trackers and diagnostic devices, into comprehensive patient health profiles. Anomalies that were previously invisible can now be easily detected, incorporated into the patient’s profile, and used to design more effective treatment plans. The increasing number of tech companies and startups venturing into healthcare is a sure sign that healthcare IT isn’t going anywhere — except forward. Meanwhile, the many different applications that highlight technology’s contribution to improved patient health make it clear that hesitating to adopt it is no longer an option. The post 3 Ways Tech Is Responsible for Crucial Healthcare Improvements appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

The Internet of Things (IoT) is fast evolving as a service and revenue generator in a hyper-connected universe. While IoT is already churning out an enormous volume of data every day, it is only a fraction of what is likely to come up in the next ten years. IoT is the buzzword for market researchers — and their success. Virtually everything, from industrial machines to wearable tech to medical devices, generates streams of data continuously. This data is stored, processed, and analyzed to empower different use cases. Going forward, market researchers can leverage big data analytics to gain granular visibility into separate data sets. This IoT is producing big data that will help in generating useful insights to produce concrete results concerning IoT devices and projects. Leveraging IoT Trends for Market Research    Here are five ways market researchers can use IoT to their advantage: Cloud Applications. IoT sensors are internet-enabled, and so they are always sharing and receiving data through cloud technology. As a result of this, IoT has a significant impact on cloud computing, big data, and streaming analytics. With a massive amount of data being exchanged on cloud apps, market researchers can collect the data from major cloud vendors like Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure and benefit from it. Traditional Industries. Manufacturers, government organizations, and oil and gas companies are the first to adopt advanced technologies, and they are ones who are leading the IoT revolution. IoT has a much higher acceptance rate in traditional industries that leverage the Internet of Things for monitoring traffic, tracking speed, or detecting pressure drops. For market researchers, the prominence of IoT in the old school industries is an excellent opportunity to determine future patterns for the application of IoT. When constructing market research, the best way to start is to investigate where and how the existing IoT solutions can be enhanced through intelligence and instrumentation. SaaS Companies. IoT hardware sensors are evoking a lot of interest and being researched, but the software powers the underlying technology, which facilitates the real-time transfer of data. Researchers can study the code so they know what keeps the hardware up and running as it can get overlooked otherwise. Also, with the advent of drones and robots, market researchers will need accurate insights to figure out if buyers are ready to embrace the change. Qualitative Research Projects. Researchers are in their nascent stage of discovering the latest IoT trends, and so they can use qualitative research to understand the role of IoT in different projects. Understanding the role of IoT projects would also help researchers uncover the pain points faced in these projects so they can shed light on unexpected problems and the solutions to cope with them. Big Tech. The primary purpose of IoT is to make data sharing quick and easy, which is why major corporations like Cisco and Microsoft are building secure IoT solutions for different devices. Increasing the focus on security is now a focal point of research for most projects. But, how much does the general public care about safety in their IoT devices? And, does this affect their purchase behavior? It is questions like these that enable market researchers to determine future business trends. The Scope of IoT in 2019 and Beyond  IoT will Continue to Stay Hot – in Data and Devices. Investments in IoT are expected to cross $1 trillion by 2020. Currently, there are about 1.3 billion connections, and IoT services have already reached an inflection point of 18 to 20 percent adoption. 5G Networks Will Rollout and Rule. The rollout of 5G networks will impact all the IoT devices that are currently running on low-data-rate networks. With this, all the IoT apps that are linked to automation technology, artificial intelligence, machine learning, and virtual and augmented reality will enhance their capabilities. Specific applications like self-driven vehicles and cognitive computing will transition to the next level with the rollout of 5G networks. From manufacturing and transportation to public safety and emergency services, every industry will enjoy significant benefits as 5G networks finally become available on the market. IoT Security will Take Center Stage. The increasing use of IoT devices will automatically increase the risk of cyber attacks. From smart phones and home appliances to high-security commercial installations and government applications, everything will become vulnerable to attacks. IoT can also be used to create botnets which hackers can use for cyber attacks on Wi-Fi enabled networks, routers, and IoT devices. For all of these reasons, IoT security will become a top priority. Big Players will Dominate the Market. Platform vendors like Google, Amazon Web Services, and Microsoft and leading carriers like Vodafone, AT&T, and Verizon will increase their IoT footprint. While these big players battle their IoT market share, much of the market research here will revolve around investigating the launch into a market. As a result of this, security will become the focal point of research for most projects. Market researchers will be entailed the responsibility of determining the importance of security among buyers and how it will impact their purchase decision. So it will become crucial to have a bigger view.      Tapping IoT Talent Will be Challenging. While the demand for IoT has increased dramatically, the skill shortage continues. The skill shortage is why more than two-thirds of companies are unable to hire the experts they need for app development and use of IoT. Smaller players that are not up for IoT are focusing on certain types of devices and data movement to solve their specific industry challenges. 2016 was a milestone that marked the importance of IoT across the globe, and this technology has only gained more popularity since then. Businesses across industries have IoT on their radar, and it is already impacting millions of lives. Different IoT platforms are now facilitating the development of faster, simpler, and intuitive. With apps, the market researchers are undertaking predictive IoT analysis. Meanwhile smart applications and wearable devices have already become top IoT applications. If we take a look back, the Internet disrupted most industries in 1995; Kodak disappeared with the launch of digital cameras, Encyclopedia lost to Wikipedia, Amazon crushed book stores, and blockbuster was blown off by the Netflix wave. The Internet has changed the way people purchase investment plans, movie tickets, and plane tickets. Just like the Internet, IoT has triggered a revolution, and with thousands of projects being launched, this trend is here to say, and researchers will have a lot on their checklist for their next project. Leveraging the Full Potential of IoT with Market Research Software Customers are not that knowledgeable as yet, and so it is the suppliers who need to know the right stuff when making their products and systems. Market researchers can conduct interviews with end-users who’ve used IoT systems and learn their triggers for investing in this technology. Market research can also uncover IoT vendors, the pain points of their existing clients. Then there are the expectations of their potential customers. Companies need to know how the installations went, and also what is driving consumers to invest in IoT devices and products. Market research can also discover what is lacking in IoT products and identify opportunities for making positive changes in the value chain. To create the perfect market research surveys, researchers can use market research software. Market research survey software allows you to create highly engaging online surveys that can be distributed across multiple platforms. A survey generates useful data before launching a new project, for improving an existing product, or for identifying potential new target markets. Surveys are a surefire way to extract accurate data on virtually anything. With fully-featured market research survey software that comes with ready templates, researchers can have reliable data and detailed analysis in hand. With advanced filters, researchers can generate precise responses. The advanced filters sift through the data without missing out any crucial piece of information. When this data is employed well, it can turn projects around quickly and moves the data into a powerful marketing tool. The post IoT – The Buzzword for Market Researchers appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

We have been talking a lot, lately, about the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI). So much so that it’s now difficult to differentiate the real from the not-so-real or purely ‘marketing’ IoT and AI. Data mining isn’t AI. Marketers have been doing it for a good three decades, and others likewise. It’s using intelligent correlations and cohorts to find patterns and latent needs. That’s not much that is artificial about the issue nor situation. There should be a new marketing codebook with these lines: “Thou shalt not cite IoT and AI in vain.” I don’t know how, but the salesperson calls my latest watch “AI enabled,” whether they have AI or not. The clock is not even smart; at best, it’s just digital. When you wipe off the not-so-real jargon and look at the actual applications of AI and IoT, they are aplenty. But how do we find what is actually true — in a world so taken with these terms? It’s simple. Just know the story behind the pitch. Does the product or solution improve over time? In a customer-facing scenario, does it customize itself to your language (maybe like the Amazon Echo). In a more enterprise setting, does it offer better/faster delivery routes for your logistics movement each time you use it? Does it incrementally better itself with a singular goal of improving the results, learning and adjusting? If yes (to any), then it’s AI. A system which learns on itself and tells right from wrong; A recent use-case comes to mind. The company I am associated with, LogiNext, used Kalman filters (algorithm). NASA made the Kalman filter famous when they used the algorithm in their effort to better direct satellites in near and outer space. According to a paper, right back from 1985, “The Kalman filter in its various forms has become a fundamental tool for analyzing solving a broad class of estimation problems.” The company in question used an updated iteration of the Kalman filter to fix vital tracking information of hundreds of trucks moving across the country. Hence, each tracking point was, then, accurate up to 3×3 yards. What’s the impact? Precise knowledge of where each truck is located. Where the truck will be in the future. And when this vehicle will reach the destination; down to the minute. The updated algorithm, with the layer of Kalman filter, learns from the tracking errors. It is essential as the tracking is hardware and network coverage dependent. It identifies patterns in the tracking data to understand what is ‘credible’ monitoring and what’s an error. The system would itself know which tracking data to use and which to ignore, growing the accuracy with continued functioning. In turn, this would ensure that the information going into the system for processing and route planning is accurate. More importantly, avoiding another case of ‘garbage in, garbage out.’ It would be more consistent with incrementally better plans each time it’s used. Here’s the IoT you can use, with complete logistics streamlining. Logistics is primarily a game of Service Level Agreements, SLAs. A company/carrier needs to adhere to these basic unit agreements, SLAs, or minimum viable service levels. It may be when a shipment leaves, the quality of the truck or environment for the cargo, the time when it needs to reach, etc. These SLAs are the code of conduct for carriers, drivers, and companies. They are specific to each shipment. SLA breaches are a serious affair and may result in delays and eventual penalties. So, with SLAs at the center stage, when you must track a package from perhaps LA to NY, you would expect a continuous flow of information regarding the location and state of your package, along with tracking the adherence to the all-important SLA, the ‘promised delivery time.’ How is your estimated time of arrival (ETA) looking as the package is exchanged between carriers, hubs, delivery centers, and the final mile couriers? It’s a dynamic logistical world where even local traffic and weather may become disruptors. If you simplify the entire end-to-end movement of your package – there’s the pickup, the hub-to-hub movement, and the delivery. It’s possible that all this would be dealt with different drivers, trucks, etc., changing multiple hands. How would you know if any of these drivers are more prone to speeding or delays? How would you know if the truck loaded with your package is well-equipped to handle it? All of the maneuverability allows logistic leaders to use AI right now. Here’s how IoT and AI help. It’s the system, an intricate-interwoven-intelligent ecosystem of software and devices where right from the moment the package leaves your hand; it’s tracking capture the unique id and driver details, aligning-in all possibilities, down to the climate in New Jersey a day from the end-delivery time. This system picks the best-suited driver and trucks for the package as per the promised timelines, nature of the package (perishable, fragile, sensitive, burdensome, etc.), route requirements and delays expected/predicted, hours of service for each driver (ELD/DoT compliances), etc. All the information is beamed-up into a single screen where a manager can view all his/her trucks across state lines, and the possibilities of any delays whatsoever. This monitoring empowers the manager (and the brand involved) to take on corrective measures and avoid final delays for the end-customer. Furthermore, this kind of detailed analysis and pin-point accuracy of multiple systems seamlessly talking to each other adds on a layer of predictability. Here the manager can efficiently predict, how many, trucks would continue to accommodate the possible load coming in, correctly. This is without having the need to dip into the spot markets. Conclusion? Only the beginning for IoT, AI, and yes — Machine learning, too. All this brings us to the summation of the main ‘gains’ of IoT and AI with real-world applications in logistics. 1.  Risk estimation – Cutting down on possible delays, SLA breaches, and service disruptions. 2.   Cost savings – Companies that can predict their carrying capacities (of trucks) precisely as per load variations (seasonal, regional, random aberrations), can plan better with their owned and market-sourced vehicles and boost their margins with favorable freight rates. 3.   Customer satisfaction – The ‘holy grail’ comes within grasp, as companies can reverse engineer the perfect delivery experience using AI (exhaustive delivery route permutations to get the quickest one, consistently), and deliver on time, every time. Perhaps it’s time we speak of AI and IoT as “tools,” which they are. They aren’t ‘magic’ solutions to each of our problems. Just last week my investment advisors told me that they could double my savings. When I asked them how they planned to do it, they quickly came back with ‘We’ll use AI.’ The funny part was that I wasn’t supposed to ask anything else. Well, I did, and now I am looking for better investment advisors. Moral: Don’t let the terms bog you down. Look beyond them to the real-world applications, and they may amaze you. The post Break the Mold with Real-World Logistics AI and IoT appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

Every day we see headlines about new smartphones, voice assistants and other gadgets. These items take entertainment to the next level and help us be more productive. Devices are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to unlocking the potential of the IoT. Conserve natural resources using connected devices. Consumers and businesses need to start thinking more about how they use the latest technologies to reduce their environmental impact. Connected devices conserve natural resources for the benefit of everyone. Consumers and businesses conserve natural resources with connected devices. Four essential conservation and environmental IoT is helping to solve air pollution, water waste, noise pollution, and wildfires. Reducing Air Pollution, One Sensor at a Time Conserves Natural Resources. The estimated economic cost of air pollution is $1.72 trillion, according to the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development). Pollution is linked to a wide variety of medical issues in people and animals,  causing severe harm to plants. Over the last century, countries around the world have made significant policy changes to curb air pollution. Implemented more sustainable practices to conserve natural resources. Tracking air quality is fundamental to understanding how pollution spreads and the impact of it on communities. Businesses and governments with the correct data can make informed decisions about how to mitigate air quality issues. The problem with traditional air monitoring systems is that they are expensive and only capable of monitoring a limited range of parameters. The emergence of low cost, low maintenance sensors, and gateways have enabled cities and businesses to deploy air pollution monitoring solutions. Within a city’s massive scale, there can be an unprecedented insight into air quality. These insights can be seen by deploying sensors around roads, schools, industrial buildings, parks, and other areas. This IoT provides real-time measurements of air quality to map patterns. Issues are more easily identified, and cities can make more strategic business and policy decisions. Say Goodbye to Water Waste. Amid a variety of recent state-wide droughts, public service announcements have worked hard to educate the public. We are all learning the importance of conserving water and reducing water waste. However, even the most conscientious person might not be aware of water leaks in their home. How is that leak contributing to their water bill? For businesses, the problem of water leaks is magnified. Industrial, warehouses, or office buildings catapult the cost of water leaks. Connected devices send alerts. Damage from a ruptured pipe or other leaks cause the city and public works high costs when problems are left unchecked. Connected sensors are an easy way that consumers and businesses can keep tabs on water usage. Businesses and consumers need to better understand their water footprint and reduce water consumption. Sensors can monitor water usage, in addition to tracking a building’s levels of humidity and temperature. Real-time analytics revealing anomalies are quickly be resolved. Costco Wholesale is committed to slashing prices; it’s also make incredible strides in cutting down its water usage. When Costco tested out the Apana water management system, the company saw a 20 percent reduction in water use. The lowered usage resulted in a 22 percent reduction in their water bills. Costco has since rolled out this water management system across the rest of its North America locations. Curbing Urban Noise Pollution can be addressed through connected devices. Noise pollution is a persistent problem for residents in an urban environment. Municipal noise ordinances aim to reduce noise pollution with assessments of noise. But the monitoring is performed inconsistently, and primarily it’s only complaint-driven. Low-cost acoustic sensors enable continuous monitoring of noise in densely populated and trafficked areas. Cities now have access to valuable data to establish more effective noise regulations in places that need them the most. The city of Calgary, Canada, has undertaken several smart city initiatives, including deploying sensors in certain areas to autonomously detect noise. Calgary has partnered with The Urban Alliance and the University of Calgary to use machine learning to distinguish between different types of noise. The differentiator can monitor construction, traffic, gunshots, and music. They will track the noise against the time and location where the noise event occurred. These sensors are helping the city to detect when noise thresholds have been hit to better respond to noise issues and improve residents’ quality of life. Advances in Fire Detection Technology are Heating Up, Businesses can Conserve Natural Resources. Fires in the U.S. cause roughly $10 billion in property damage and injure or kill thousands of people every year. Historically, it’s been challenging to monitor wildfires as they occur over vast swaths of land and move very quickly. Cellular reception is often limited in those areas for wildfire danger. Wildfires have become more prominent and more commonplace in recent years, particularly in California. Firefighters are relying more heavily on technology that helps them detect fires sooner. When a fire is detected quickly, it changes the whole management dynamic. Early warnings are allowing firefighters an enhanced ability to keep people safe. In fire-prone areas, fire management agencies are turning to sensors equipped with AI to measure environmental metrics. Temperature, carbon dioxide levels, and wind direction provide vast amounts of information that combine to detect the fire and predict where it will head. Advanced monitoring systems in place reveal fires started deep within a forest. The detection times emerge quickly so firefighters can put it out, minimizing the environmental impact and damage. Most importantly, this tech is saving people’s lives. Building a Greener World; Businesses to Conserve Natural Resources. The choices businesses and consumers make every day have a significant impact on the health of the public and the environment. IoT devices will continue to play a pivotal role in identifying environmental issues and enabling us all to make changes to further our sustainability efforts. The post Businesses to Conserve Natural Resources Using Connected Devices appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....