Internet of Things

Many of us have been cooped up inside for months in the face of the ongoing pandemic, transforming our living spaces into all-in-one offices, gyms, and schools. As a result, those lucky enough to be working remotely and earning expendable income during the “new normal” have been investing in upgrades for the home. The upgrades for the home is evident. The home’s upgrades are evident in the embrace of connected devices that transform today’s humble abodes into tomorrow’s smart hubs. We are scrambling for new gadgets that are energy efficient and have automation, convenience, affordability. We want devices that give us enhanced health and wellness. Energy efficiency shows great promise to simultaneously cut energy bills and carbon emissions in the post-pandemic world. With the world’s climate crisis at a tipping point, this moment could be the trigger that sees millions of homeowners install advanced monitoring to optimize energy use. Today’s shift towards smart energy products sets us on the right course for an evolution following COVID-19. Still, it is one that must be pursued relentlessly and backed by cybersecurity best practice. Working From Home Or Living At The Office? The world we know is vastly different from the world we knew. Offices have moved online; supply chains have been turned upside down, international routes have largely ceased. People, meanwhile, have been ordered indoors. About 30% of the global population has been put in lockdown with different levels of nation-wide quarantines, forcing many to spend more time at home than ever before. The mass uptake of working from home or living at the office all depends on your perspective. Working from home is subsequently changing how people interact with their living spaces. Without the possibility of vacations or lavish dining experiences — many homeowners are spending what disposable income they have on home upgrades. No lavish upgrades right now. However, the upgrades are not simple furnishings or decorations but rather smart devices that bring comfort and efficiency. Smart thermostats, smart lighting, smart garden sprinklers – smart everything – are becoming commonplace inside the contemporary home. The ongoing lockdowns are predicted to spur the global market for smart home devices to 18% growth this decade.

Have you ever lost 30 minutes of creative works on your computer? Or has it suddenly occurred to you that you have a great piece of data that will augment a business proposal, only to discover that the data is missing? Oh – how frustrating! Data loss occurs for various reasons 78 percent – Hardware or system malfunction 11 percent – Human error 7 percent – Software corruption or program malfunction 2 percent – Computer viruses 1 percent – Natural disasters 1 percent – Other acts. Impact of critical data loss across global enterprises Meanwhile, research reveals that global enterprises lose a whopping sum of 1.7 Trillion dollars due to data loss and downtime. And this excludes disruption of business activities, the loss of productivity, the diminished customers’ loyalty, the break of investor’s confidence, the cost of time spent on reconfiguration, and lots more. While it may be difficult to establish a precise impact of data loss and downtime on organizations, it’s obvious that it would, sure, have a radical negative effect. With a seamless increase in web adoption and constant acceptance of new technologies, both small and large scale businesses have been able to share important data as regards their products and services — using the web-as-a-service, Waas. Hackers can compromise corporate networks Meanwhile, hackers are seriously looking for ways to compromise the corporate network of several industries. As a matter of fact, the Verizon Data Breach Report reveals that 15.4 percent of reported incidents were related to malware and web application attacks. Also, many of the most fatal breaches that covered the media in the past few years were caused by web-application and software security vulnerabilities. A very good example is the Equifax breach. Simply put, “business websites possess the greatest threat to organizational security.”

To IoT’s great benefit, edge computing is about to take the spotlight. Consider that each day billions of devices connected to the Internet of Things come online. As they do, they generate mountains of information. One estimate predicts the amount of data will soar to 79.4 zettabyes within five years. Imagine storing 80 zettabytes on DVDs. All those DVDs would circle the Earth more than 100 times. In other words, a whole lot of data. Indeed, thanks to the IoT, a dramatic shift is underway. More enterprise-generated data is being created and processed outside of traditional, centralized data centers and clouds. And unless we make a course correction, the forecasts could come unglued. We must make better use of edge computing to deal more effectively with this ocean of data, Network Latency If we do this right, our infrastructure should be able to handle this data flow in a way that maximizes efficiency and security. The system would let organizations benefit from instantaneous response times. It would allow them to use the new data at their disposal to make smarter decisions and — most importantly — make them in real-time. That’s not what we have nowadays. In fact, when IoT devices ship their data back to the cloud for processing, transmissions are both slow and expensive. Too few devices are taking advantage of the edge. Traffic Jam: The Cloud Instead, many route data to the cloud. In that case, you’re going to encounter network latency measuring around 25 milliseconds. And that’s in best-case scenarios. Often, the lag time is a lot worse.  If you have to feed data through a server network and the cloud to get anything done, that’s going to take a long time and a ton of bandwidth. An IP network can’t guarantee delivery in any particular time frame. Minutes might pass before you realize that something has gone wrong. At that point, you’re at the mercy of the system.

Adding connectivity with a degree of intelligence to household appliances gives rise to the Internet of Things (IoT). Integration of these inter-connected appliances, with our daily routine, inside our personal spaces, is resulting in smart homes, and the adoption is already exponential. Here is how we are addressing security challenges in an IoT dominated world. Many industries are deploying the IoT concept, such as security and surveillance systems, home appliances, manufacturing, automotive, and recently we also experience numerous innovations in the HVAC industry (cielowigledotcom – HVAC tech). All players’ goal is to provide connectivity plus automation, resulting in comfort and even energy savings. Smart homes promise an automated living experience, with in-built convenience and an efficient style of living. As per IDC projections in 2015, there will be 50 billion connected devices by 2020, with a market worth 1.7 trillion USD. This widescale acceptance of IoT is a fascinating part of the future. It bodes well for the times to come for the smart home industry. But with all good things, there is a catch. Security of data is the most significant risk to such large scale integrations. Moreover, preventing any backdoor entries into a secure home should also be an emphasis on IoT security. Smart home devices’ mass use provides a larger pool for potential hackers and data attackers to target, resulting in a significant disruption of service, financial loss, and physical loss instead of promised convenience and energy savings. Erosion of confidence in smart home appliances through security risks is a stark reality for the IoT industry. It would consequently lead to a slowdown in the adoption of smart home products by consumers. IoT Vulnerabilities Wi-Fi connected devices create a great volume of sensitive data, creating an inherent risk of data and identity theft, device manipulation, and server/network manipulation, and providing many avenues for hackers to exploit. As per Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), IoT vulnerabilities include inherent insecurities in the web interface, mobile interface, cloud interface, network services, and firmware. The vulnerabilities also include insufficiencies in authentication/authorization and security configuration. The lack of transport encryption, privacy concerns, and poor physical security also adds up to the list of vulnerabilities. Limited memory and computational power of microcontrollers is another challenge that is unique to IoT. Both these components are essential to convert dumb appliances into intelligent connected devices. Implementation of security at the device level is a big problem for IoT solution providers. They have to keep in view the balance that needs to be maintained between the security and marketability of the end product. Often, resource constraints within the design of the product do not allow sufficient computing resources, which are necessary to implement strong security. Consequently, many devices are unable to provide advanced security features. As a case example, temperature and humidity sensors cannot handle advanced encryption protocols and various security features. Even over the air (OTA) updates are not utilized, with many IoT devices used in a “set and forget” mode. High-end manufacturers are the exception to this, though. They can provide regular FOTA updates and a robust security mechanism all the way from the cloud protocols to on-device safeguards. Other manufacturers are not so forthcoming, prioritizing low-cost development and a faster timeline for conception to sale.

Coronavirus made us all come up with new solutions. We have figured out distance learning, zoom meetings, social distancing, and not going insane while sitting at home all day. We did a pretty decent job. However, now we have to learn how to go back to life before the pandemic hit. It is not as easy as it seems, and it is hard to say whether things can go back to what they have used to be. Some aspects of our routines will definitely change, and we still have to be very careful. Covid-19 is still an issue, we do not have a vaccine yet. Businesses started to reopen, though. We can not sit at home forever. Considering everything that was said before, businesses have to develop strategies that ensure employees` safety. Otherwise, you will either shut the whole thing down after a week, or no one will agree on coming back to the office. In fact, 93% are willing to continue their remote working journey. So if you want to make them go offline, you have to convince them to do so. 5 Benefits of Reopening the Business with IoT The ones who have already reopened report using more IoT than they have ever done before. “IoT is extremely beneficial at times like this: you need fewer employees, and you don’t have to control safety measures on your own,” – PR expert from Essay Tigers explains. IoT is needed when you reopen your business. You will want IoT’s fine-tuned help implemented into your business life.

For so long, the company intranet was left unattended and somewhat neglected. Advances in the technology of the internet itself meant it was easier to look for information and resources on the world wide web rather than the company intranet. But intranet, extranet, and enterprise collaboration tools have been growing in recent years. An industry report pegged the enterprise collaboration market to grow from USD 31.0 billion in 2019 to USD 48.1 billion by 2024. This is a Compound Annual Growth Rate on 9.2% over five years. Growth factors behind enterprise collaboration tools. The growth behind enterprise collaboration tools has been driven by the emergence of AI as a driving force for the improved usability of intranets and extranets. Josh Smith, Product Manager for Google Drive comments on the success the Priority feature in Google Drive, “The intelligence that makes Priority so helpful is actually powered by your own day-to-day actions.”

The human body grows old — dammit! As we age our bodies becomes a host to several diseases and inabilities. It’s like the reverse cycle of a young-one growing up that executes in the opposite direction. Here’s how AI and IoT in healthcare can help dementia patients. With age, senior people tend to lose their ability to walk correctly, hear well, speak sharply, and they get blurred vision. Dementia is the dysfunction of several mental conditions like memory loss, decision making, or thinking potential. In this post, I’m going to present how AI and IoT technology in healthcare can help support the conditions of such older adults.

Imagine if the internet had been built as a closed ecosystem controlled by a small set of organizations. It would look very different from the internet we know and rely on today. Perhaps this alternate version would run on a pay-per-use model, or lack tools and services that have been developed over the years by independent contributors and scrappy startups. Here is why IoT needs an open ecosystem to succeed. The Open Internet Instead, of a closed internet — we mostly enjoy an open internet. This is in part due to its origins: the internet was built to be fundamentally open, and this is what has allowed it to grow, change, and be adopted as quickly as it has been. In fact, the trend of an open approach propelling innovation is one that we see repeatedly for emerging technologies.

You must have heard the major issue the industry is facing right now? – a significant shortage of talented, skilled cybersecurity professionals. And it’s likely on pace to get worse with more than 1.8 million hit by 2022. Have you ever thought that your business could be the next victim of a cyberattack? The worse is that an estimated 60 percent of small businesses will close for up to six months after a major cyberattack. For over 25 years, the information security landscape seems to evolve at a faster clip each year. In fact, cybersecurity came in a long way and Info-Security World has been there through it all. Although, an unprecedented demand for well-trained cybersecurity workers continues to grow. But, several companies have built traditionally direct traffic from one destination to another, passing judgment about the content; shortage of qualified personnel. To develop the right cyber workforce, the tide of opinion is to make a change. Cybersecurity is the act of protecting computer systems, networks, and programs from all forms of cyberattacks. However, the flaw will always be an advantage once you adopt to hire the wrong personnel. But once you understand the basics of having the right cybersecurity workers then the deeds are well to be safe. Below, therefore, are tips for hiring and retaining the right cybersecurity professionals. 1. Don’t Rely on Experience and Certification, But Ability and Motivation to Learn Having one or more certifications sounds pretty sensible in today’s world, doesn’t it? And many business owners are always interested in those with the best. But what is certification when workers lack the ability and motivation to learn? No wonder Google, Apple, and other companies give less attention to certificates or degrees.

In long-ago-days, the trucking businesses and fleets may have refrained from adopting new technologies because of the inherent resistance to change. However, that attitude has changed drastically — especially recently. Today, more and more truckers are opening up to the use of technology as an integral part of their work. Here are five technologies a trucking business must be aware of. Are you among the truckers who are using the best technologies? Here are the top 5 technologies for truckers to be aware of. Know more and apply these to your advantage. Electronic Logging Devices (ELD) With the deadline for the ELD mandate 2019, 16th December, fast approaching, all truckers are now quite aware of this technology and are working hard to adapt to it. The ELD consists of an electronic logbook to track a driver’s ROD (Record of Duty) status, among other functionalities. The advanced technology of the ELDs ensures less chance of tampering besides reducing the costs of fleet management and ensuring 100% compliance. At this point, it’s one of the most important technologies for trucking businesses to be aware of. However, before you invest in an affordable ELD for owners and operators, make sure that it is in compliance with the FMCSA regulations.

How far have we come from the moment when the IoT term was coined in 1999, by Kevin Ashton? Well, the usage has certainly improved by leaps and bounds from the toaster, the very first IoT device. The Internet of Things definitely took off in 2014 and it is still surprising us daily. Its advantages are incredible, but they do come at a price. Benefits of IoT Easy Access Right now, you can easily access the necessary information in real-time, from (almost) whichever location you are at. All it takes is a smart device and internet connection. We use Google Maps to see where we are, instead of asking a person in the street. Booking is simpler than ever. Factual information is easily accessible, even from the latest scientific research, or business analysis. It is only a click away. Speed All this data pouring in enables us to complete numerous tasks with envying speed. For example, IoT makes automation easy. Smart offices automate repetitive tasks, thus allowing employees to invest their time and effort into something more challenging. Adapting to New Standards Though IoT is ever-changing, its alterations are minimal compared to the rest of the high tech world. Without IoT, it would be hard for us to keep track of all the latest updates. Better Time Management Overall, the IoT is an incredible time-saving tool. We can search for the latest news on our phones during our daily commute, or visit a blog about our favorite pastime, purchase an item in an online shop, you name it. Eventually, we end up with much more time on our hands. However, nothing is perfect. Disadvantages of IoT Data Breach Having easy access to data is wonderful. Unfortunately, our own private data is more exposed than ever too. Statistics (from a website: idstrong dot com) show some worrying figures. 12.7 million Americans were victims of identity theft. A credit card number is the type of information that was most compromised, followed by a debit card number. Data breaches are extremely stressful. Companies also fear them and can lose the trust of their clients for good if the cyber attack came via their website pages. The riskiest devices are said to be: smart toys for kids, off-brand IoT gadgets, second-hand smart devices, and the latest, suspicious apps (about the newest unusual devices). Dependence The IoT, obviously, is dependent on the internet connection. When there is none, it can’t be used. On the other hand, we have become increasingly dependent on the IoT’s everyday usage. Not only in business, but in our private lives. If we don’t download the desired information quickly, we are prone to becoming agitated and upset, even about the most trivial content. To this end, the IoT does not always bring out the best in us and it has contributed to the great decrease in our attention spans. Complexity Though IoT seems to be completing tasks with ease, a lot of complex operations are behind it. Consequently, if the software makes a wrong calculation, this will affect the rest of the process. The above-mentioned over-reliance can be very dangerous sometimes. At best, we won’t know how to deal with the wrong temperature in our green home. At worst, a glitch in water dam software could cause a disastrous flood. Therefore, oftentimes a mistake in IoT is not always easy to fix. To Sum Up The IoT has brought us many amazing things and it continues to surprise us in lots of sectors: business, healthcare, our private lives. As for the downsides, now that you are more aware of them, try to keep those under control. Protect your data and be aware of how automation and easy access can affect you or your business. The post The Biggest Advantages and Disadvantages of IoT appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

Some of the fast-food IoT technologies I’m about to dig into were already catching wind leading up to our current pandemic. Due to social distancing measures, it seems natural for any technology to thrive if it can help businesses operate with less person-to-person interaction in this climate. As our favorite places cautiously reopen, the following three technologies can help keep customers and employees healthy. Here are three fast-food IoT technologies that could slow COVID-19. Ordering Kiosks Being able to place an order for food indirectly has existed since the telephone. Right now, there’s a need for added layers of separation between people in fast-food restaurants. Using a kiosk to order has never been more helpful. What is an Ordering Kiosk? Ordering kiosks are large, rectangular screens that you can place an order on. The technology itself has been around since the late 1970s, thanks to people like Dr. Murray Lappe at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. Major fast-food restaurants like Subway and McDonald’s began experimenting with these screens and ordering back in 2006. In a 2018 interview, then-McDonald’s CEO Steve Easterbrook shared with CNBC that the company would be starting ambitious plans to equip 1000 restaurants every quarter with kiosks for eight to nine quarters. The alternative way of ordering would provide better customer experience and more revenue for the company. Fast-forward to summer 2019 and the investment paid off. In a Q2 earnings call last year, Easterbrook went over how the company was seeing higher average checks from customers using the order kiosks. Not Everyone is a Fan of the Ordering Kiosk, Though. Former CEO of McDonald’s USA, Ed Rensi, voiced his concerns about the growing Kiosk use about two years ago in an article with Forbes. His main problem with them was that automating these parts of the business would eliminate valuable opportunities for teens and college students who need an entry-level service industry job. Considering the valuable lessons from my own experience as a cashier back in college, I agree with the concerns. How They Help Slow COVID-19 In our current environment, things like kiosks need to be cleaned almost constantly. McDonald’s has issued reopening instructions that any restaurant using the self-order kiosks must have them cleaned after every use. The kiosks will help employees in terms of social distancing and the employees will help the kiosks to stay clean. For the time being, then, they will work together. The IoT kiosks are just one piece of the order, though. Customers who are still wary of using them (despite cleaning protocols) do have other options. By now, most major restaurant chains offer an iPhone or an Android app plus a website for placing online orders. Smartphone apps and online ordering, in general, will come in handy for this situation, plus, they all provide a massive amount of data on customers who opt-in. Pizza Hut (a pioneer of digital ordering) even developed an Xbox app a few years ago and saw over a million in sales within the first four months. More Connection than Ever Now, the beginning of an order is quick, clean, and engaging for customers. Restaurants are also beginning to focus on the end of patrons’ meals, too. If the last thing they do before leaving is have disgusted feeling about something — chances are they won’t want to come back. That’s why businesses are looking at their garbage — and IoT — to further connect with customers and end meals on a cleaner note. At-The-Source Trash Compactors Different businesses, schools, and city governments have gradually been adopting at-the-source trash compacting during the last 20 years. Similar to the kiosks, major food chains like Chick-Fil-A have been adding more trash compactors at an increased pace lately. Also, like kiosks, various ideas and household versions of trash compactors and additional refuse disposal sources have been around since the 1970s. The main reasons for restaurants adopting trash compactors and more trash disposal cans — is the operational efficiency and sustainability. Quick and easy trash disposal comes with added customer experience benefits that will be helpful in a post-pandemic environment. What is an at-the-source trash compactor? An at-the-source trash compactor is essentially a garbage can that smashes trash into a cube so the employees don’t need to go back and forth to the dumpsters as often. Fewer dumpster trips, in turn, uses fewer trash bags, reducing the plastic output in the environment. Many also have the IoT technology built-in for sending a text message or an email once the machine is full. This allows restaurants to focus on other things until the exact time one needs to be emptied. How They Help Slow COVID-19 While you might see handles on outdoor machines — and of course, the much-needed garbage can foot pedals. A compactor that has been showing up in restaurants like Chick-Fil-A all has automatic doors on them that use a motion sensor to open. Automatic doors on the trash bins will help, since making garbage disposal as contact-less as possible these next few months will be crucial. Studies that are currently underway by the CDC suggest that the novel coronavirus can survive for 48 to 72 hours on common surfaces like plastic or stainless steel. The fewer surfaces there are to touch, the better. Outside of the direct customer experience, being able to indirectly monitor when machines are full will aid workers in social distancing measures. Instead of needing to periodically go and check garbage, they can look at a computer or smartphone to know whether a compactor is full. Many chains have plans in place for the beginning and end of meal safety, but what about while you eat? In an April press release, the McDonald’s Vice President of U.S. Communications & Government relations included a list of precautionary measures that the fast-food giant will be taking to prioritize safety in restaurants. Two main areas will remain closed for the time being. The beverage bars and play places will stay closed (imagine the germs in those ball pits!) but not every contact-heavy area can be locked up. Since bathrooms will need to remain open, IoT-enabled devices may be able to help the efforts at keeping things clean. The IoT Bathroom By now, practically everything in a bathroom can leverage some type of IoT fixture. Things like soap dispensers and toilet paper rolls can be monitored for how much is left, toilets can self-flush, and lights can even indicate whether a stall is in use or the door just looks closed. Enormous amounts of data can also be sent to facilities management and customer experience teams. How They Can Help Slow COVID-19 Currently, the main adopters of smart bathroom technologies have been airports. One of the most useful benefits of the IoT-enabled bathrooms at places like the Atlanta International Airport and the Los Angeles International Airport are lights on the ceiling that indicate whether a stall is in use or not. When one is done being used, the cleaning crew could make sure it gets properly sterilized. According to the LAX COVID-19 plan, they are currently cleaning the restrooms once per hour. The ATL’s website mentions “increased frequency of cleaning of public areas” for their plan. Keep It Simple The light systems being installed at airports sound simple enough to fit in fast food. A battery-powered door lock wirelessly communicates with the light above to indicate whether the stall’s being used or not. The lights in the ceiling do require some basic wiring though, according to the website for Tooshlights, the company that provides them. After that, the status and data can be monitored remotely from a computer like the compactors and kiosks. Tying It All Together These next few months will undoubtedly be a tough time for everyone. In efforts to keep costs low and customer experience positive, various IoT systems may be an answer. Kiosks, compactors, and the bathroom will likely continue to be areas of focus for fast food chains to keep business running smoothly. Disclosure: I was an intern one summer about five years ago for Compaction Technologies, a company that makes trash compactors. I’ve cleaned out garbage cans before. I am not receiving any compensation from them or any other company mentioned/linked in this article. The post 3 Fast-Food IoT Technologies that Could Slow COVID-19 appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

Artificial intelligence and the Internet of things (AIoT) is one of the newest players on the tech scene, and it’s already garnered attention at a rapid pace. That’s thanks to its compelling combination of intelligent cognition, edge computing, and autonomous capabilities. While IoT on its own is no doubt powerful, connected networks can only take things so far even when performing at peak. When AI is brought into the same picture, things get a serious upgrade. IoT is already well established and still set to grow, with more than 41 billion IoT devices in use by 2027. What’s more, Gartner predicts that more than 80 percent of enterprise IoT projects will include an AI component by 2022. But just why is such widespread adoption on the cards? Imagine if your IoT-powered infrastructure could run with the ability to self-repair. Think, not only self-repair, but having the ability to apply predictive maintenance, and adjust to external variables automatically. AI promises to offer these gains due to its ability to analyze the vast amounts of real-time data gathered by IoT devices and make autonomous, intelligent decisions based on this data. AIoT holds the potential to drive productivity and efficiency for any enterprise that employs IoT technology. AIoT is also expected to be particularly transformative for manufacturing, autonomous vehicles and robotics. Let’s explore what happens to these industries when AI fuses with IoT. Keeping Ahead of the Manufacturing Curve with AIoT Smart factories and warehouses were some of the earliest adopters of IoT technologies. The World Economic Forum already identified over 1000 smart factories in 2018. However, as more production plants and factories join the trend, the competitive edge they hold diminishes. AI is pegged to deliver the next competitive advantage for organizations that already have their IoT infrastructure in place. AIoT will further enhance the capabilities of factory devices such as remote sensors, smart meters, and production machines as they can process the vast amounts of data and allow devices to react to their environment intelligently. Such changes enable products to reach the market more quickly, production lines to automatically respond to external market demand and offer new business insights from the operational data. Take the regular IoT setup — and add in AI. With an IoT setup, machinery can send automatic service updates to the system so that maintenance repairs can be scheduled. With the addition of AI, this process becomes fully automated. The computer systems will place orders for the parts required and the scheduling set up. Nokia production –Finland. Nokia’s production site in Oulu, Finland saw productivity increase by 30% and they’re now able to bring products to market 50% more quickly. A whole-digital approach combined with cutting-edge technology such as digital twins and intelligent automation made this possible. Farming specialists prime additions. The German digital farming specialists BASF teamed forces with Ontera inc to create an intelligent feedback system that adjusts directly in line with agricultural needs. The project uses computer vision to monitor crop and climate conditions which are fed back to the plant. If signs of pest damage or vitamin deficiency are detected, the plant will tailor the formula accordingly. The formula ensures the crops receive only the formulas they require at that point in time, reduces the production of unnecessary treatments, and helps to improve overall crop yield. AIoT fuels the era of autonomy Autonomy is another key deliverable promised to organizations that adopt IoT in their digital transformation strategies. Many public and private buildings have been keen to adopt the power of IoT to improve their operational systems and allow for real-time service adjustments. Smart heating systems are one example of how this trend is taking shape. AIoT helps to monitor variables such as weather, pollution levels, or the number of workers in specific locations and auto-adjust devices across the building. Knowing the exact occupancy numbers improves conditions for the users of the building, prevents unnecessary energy consumption, and lays the groundwork for predictive analytics. Toronto-based Ecobee uses a range of AI-powered smart thermostats that continually readjust based on incoming real-time data from occupancy and humidity sensors, exterior temperature readings, and predictions based on prior user behavior patterns. Ecobee’s latest feature even connects the system to time-in-use energy pricing that allows the AI model to prioritize energy usage when it’s cheapest. When talking about the future of AIoT, we touch on autonomous vehicles. McKinsey predicts that up to 15% of all cars will be autonomous by 2030. AI provides data to the control system so that vehicles respond to objects, control speed, and change direction accurately. In the autonomous vehicles use case, pre-existing AI will fuse with new IoT infrastructures to help cars stay up to date with traffic patterns, road closures and weather conditions in real time. The more connected devices that are built into traffic and municipal infrastructures, the stronger the benefits – such as reduced traffic – are set to become a reality. Ericsson and Veoneer partnered to develop a connected vehicle cloud to support the widespread adoption of this technology. The partnership will deliver vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to ensure every autonomous vehicle on the road has the latest real-time data. Cloud-technology processes this data with minimal latency. How Robotics is Enhanced with AIoT The robotic sector as a whole saw significant growth in 2019, with investments of $1.1 billion in June alone. As with human intelligence, our external environment influences the decisions we make. Robots with real-time AIoT at their fingertips make smarter decisions and one step closer to realistic intelligence. Delivery robots like those made by Starship Technologies are a familiar sight in many cities and help brands deliver consumer and commercial goods quickly and reliably. These robots already rely on the power of IoT to help them navigate and reach their destinations. Now, companies are exploring how AI could help these robots communicate with customers using natural language processing. As home delivery services continue to increase in popularity, robots are extremely likely to grow alongside this trend. AIoT is also poised to make surgical robots even more helpful. Smart operating theatres are connected to medical devices, real-time imaging, and patient health data. Surgical robots can use this data to adjust decisions during delicate surgeries to improve patient outcomes. The next level of productivity and precision The power of AI is, at times, limited by the amount of readily available data for the algorithms to train, detect patterns and make predictions. As industries continue to adopt the benefits of IoT, and the number of connected devices grows, so too does the potential of AI. AIoT takes advantage of the vast pools of data that are available in these connected environments to make smarter autonomous decisions and more accurate predictive analysis. Overall this helps organizations increase their productivity, create more efficient processes and even improve overall customer experience. While industries more traditionally associated with hardware, such as manufacturing, autonomous vehicles, and robotics, are early adopters of this technology, any industry that incorporates IoT in their processes could benefit from the same productivity boosts that AIoT promises. The post These Three Industries are About to be Hit by AIoT appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

Technology is booming in the home. Technology Convergence and the Smart Home recently reported that US broadband households now own more than ten connected devices. A shortlist of the home connected devices include connected consumer electronics, connected health devices, smart locks, thermostats, security cameras, sprinkling systems, and more. But long-range wireless power promises less waste and lower cost with these smart home systems. Interoperability and connectivity are two key deciding factors in purchase decisions. As the number of devices increases in the home, so does the need to keep them consistently charged and working (no one wants the smart lock on their front door to lose power). For those smart home devices that still call for the use of traditional batteries, consumers are faced with both an enormous amount of battery waste and high replacement costs. Also, because batteries only have a small total energy capacity, manufacturers are forced to sacrifice device functionality just to extend battery life. Taking Charge Without the Waste The proliferation of devices is driving the need for a sea-change in how those devices are powered. Batteries are expensive, wasteful, and often die quickly, leaving our smart home devices unusable, sometimes for days. Annually, Americans discard approximately 180,000 tons of batteries (more than three billion batteries), of which 86,000 tons are single-use alkaline batteries that cannot be recycled. Placed end to end, the dead alkaline batteries alone would circle the world at least six times. Much of this waste ends up in landfills, not only taking up precious land but also allowing harmful chemicals to leach into the surrounding soil and waterways. Despite advances in battery and charging technologies – like longer-lasting lithium-ion rechargeable batteries — a new Zogby report talks of, “Charging America 2019.” The Current State of Power Options for Smart Home and Mobile Devices, found that 40 percent of consumers have to replace smart home device batteries multiple times per month. A New Path – Long-Range Wireless Power Not only do we need a more sustainable energy delivery approach for the benefit of our planet, but consumers are also hungry for alternative energy options. They want possibilities that will give them more excellent reliability and reduce their costs associated with having to purchase a plethora of batteries continually. 25 percent of consumers that are investing in smart home technology said that they would spend an additional 10 percent or more for a smart home device with long-range wireless power if that meant making the device more mobile, easier to install and less of a hassle to service on a reoccurring basis. Long-range wireless power is the disruptive technology that is cutting the cord. Long-range wireless power is the disruptive technology that is cutting the cord on a soon to be an archaic system of powering devices, especially in the smart home. The process? A wireless power transmitter sends safe infrared beams to a receiver (typically embedded in the devices to be powered), and a small photovoltaic cell in the receiver converts the light to electricity. The concept is similar to solar panels converting sunlight into electricity. Infrared beams can travel with little degradation over a distance, efficiently and safely providing wireless power across a room. The infrared process dramatically reducing the need for batteries, and thus decreasing the environmental footprint caused by battery waste. The infrared method of charging frees up manufacturers to create the smart home devices that consumers desire, free of the power limitations imposed by batteries. Long-range wireless charging will turn the tide on battery waste with a more sustainable way to charge not only smart home devices, but mobile phones, tablets, wireless speakers, and industrial sensors. Long-range wireless eliminates the need for batteries and power cords altogether. It’s a win-win for consumers, manufacturers, and most importantly, our planet. The time is now for this disruptive tech to enter the entire industry. The long-range technology will innovate and prepare for a new way of charging the growing prominence of smart devices in our daily lives. Just like WiFi-enabled a new class of products — long-range wireless charging can usher in the next generation of powered, eco-friendly smart devices. Image Credit: Hilary Halliwell; Pexels The post Ditch Batteries, Save the Planet with Smart Systems appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....

It seems that everywhere we turn, the world is being digitally transformed, and your local supermarket could be next. We’re all used to the “non-digital” supermarket shelves — but digital supermarket shelves are likely to be the way of the future. That’s because they can deliver benefits to both consumers and supermarket retailers, so it’s a win/win situation. Here is: smart supermarket shelves — a shopping transformation. How smart supermarket shelves could benefit consumers The major potential benefits for consumers center on the capability of powered supermarket shelves to interact with smartphones. This can create a personalized shopping experience for consumers. Consider these two potential applications of smart supermarket shelf technology: 1) A digital sign that could display a relevant promotion to a shopper as they walked past. This promotion could be triggered by the types of groceries that the customer has bought in the supermarket in the past and by the supermarket shelf sensor interacting with the customer’s smartphone to detect when they were approaching the shelf. Consumer demographic data (like age, gender and cultural background) could also be used to trigger personalized supermarket shelf display information. 2) A smartphone shopping list feature where information on where customers can find grocery items that are on their list could be digitally and automatically provided to them by powered, smart supermarket shelving. What about consumer privacy issues? Of course, there are always concerns when commercial organizations collect consumer information. Those concerns usually center on how that information will be used by the organization that’s collecting it. For example, according to recent research conducted by PwC, 43% of U.S. consumers say that they would not give their personal information (such as their purchase history, location, and age) to companies to allow for more personalized experiences. However, 63% of U.S. consumers in the same PwC study said that they would be open to sharing their personal information in return for a product or service that they truly valued. These findings demonstrate the importance of retailers, such as supermarkets highlighting the consumer benefits of smart-shelf technology. The benefits for supermarket retailers The potential benefits of powered supermarket shelves for retailers include: Data-driven inventory management that enables the automatic tracking of in-store stock levels. For example, out-of-stock alerts can be sent to relevant supermarket staff to prompt restocking and reordering. Efficient restocking and reordering can help to increase sales by ensuring appropriate inventory levels. Using and being able to easily and quickly update electronic price tags, saving time compared to manually pricing stock, and eliminating the need for price checks. The ability to use flexible digital signs to market to grocery shoppers in real-time. For example, in-store promotions that can be quickly and easily adjusted to suit changing circumstances, such as new product launches or seasonal marketing campaigns. Many supermarket purchases are impulse items, so the power of delivering relevant, personalized information to supermarket consumers should not be underestimated. The ability to generate detailed analytics on consumer shopping behavior to inform store merchandising by managers and other supermarket staff. For example, customer foot traffic patterns to show where the stock should ideally be located to maximize sales. Preventing or minimizing theft. Internet of Things (IoT) technology that enables smart supermarket shelf technology Key IoT technology that enables the benefits of supermarket shelf technology to be delivered include: Electronic shelf labels (ESLs) Supermarket retailers who use ESLs will no longer have to manually price items. Instead, their prices will be digitally displayed, allowing items to quickly and easily be repriced (for example, when they go ‘on sale’ at a lower price for a limited period in order to stimulate consumer demand). ESLs can also allow retailers to reduce product waste by quickly and easily allowing the price of items to be lowered when they are nearing their expiry date. Again, this tactic can stimulate consumer demand. Radio-frequency identification (RFID) tags RFID tags transmit and receive data using radio waves. They can be used to help with inventory management or to alert staff if a shopper or staff member puts an item on the wrong shelf. Weight sensors Weight sensors also assist with inventory management by detecting when a product is replaced or removed on a supermarket shelf, or when consumers move to a certain area of the store. Machine learning algorithms can then be used to analyze this consumer movement data to assist with store decision-making. In addition to these IoT technologies, more traditional technologies like video cameras can be used on smart supermarket shelves for store security, to monitor inventory levels, and to gain a deeper understanding of consumer behavior in-store. For example, where consumers spend most of their time and foot traffic patterns. The bottom line Smart shelf technology offers many potential benefits for both consumers and physical store retailers, especially those in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector such as supermarkets. The bulk of supermarket purchases are still primarily made in-store, and personalized in-store shopping experiences are the next logical frontier for digital transformation according to the latest research from McKinsey. In time, personalized in-store shopping experiences may become as common as the personalization we’ve come to expect when shopping online. Image Credit: Anna Shvets; Pexels The post Smart Supermarket Shelves: A Shopping Transformation appeared first on ReadWrite. Read more.....