The Internet of Things, All Set to Revolutionise – But Not Without Concerns

Sep 04, 2019   |   Jeremy Philemon

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Photo by: geralt (pixabay.com)

The Internet of Thing (IoT) is the concept of connecting any device with an on-and-off switch to the Internet (and/or to each other).

Coined in 1999 by British technologist Kevin Ashton, the IoT is embedded in everyday objects, hence enabling them to send and receive data. This includes cellphones, coffee makers, washing machines, headphones, lamps, wearable devices, and almost anything else you can think of.

Dr Timothy Chou, a Stanford University lecturer and an acknowledged pioneer in cloud computing has predicted that in the next 10 years, the IoT revolution will dramatically alter manufacturing, energy, agriculture, transportation and other industrial sectors of the economy. Together, these sectors account for nearly two-thirds of the global gross domestic product (GDP).

As a result, the IoT has received considerable attention from industries, academics, and government. The Government of Singapore for example, is supporting the sector as part of the Smart Nation initiative, as shown in the readings below.

By emerging as a futuristic technological infrastructure IoT will revolutionise the functioning of sharing services, and by its convergence with other emerging technologies, it would also accelerate the next generation of the sharing economy.

Despite the benefits of IoT, concerns remain for the public in its widespread adoption and this centers around the privacy and security of their data, and implications for the security of infrastructure and the resilience of systems.

It is therefore important to understand public attitudes to IoT applications and to identify where the public’s concerns may not align with the research and business objectives of the IoT. Assuaging the public’s concerns about IoT with more information and education will better drive the adoption of IoT.

The mechanics of Singapore’s race to IoT leadership, May 7, 2019, Techwire Asia

Source: Shutterstock

As part of its SGD4.5 billion (US$3.30 billion) Industry Transformation Programme, the government has called for IoT adoption in five manufacturing clusters: Aerospace, electronics, energy and chemicals, marine and offshore, and precision engineering. IoT also plays a crucial role in Singapore’s Smart Nation initiative, being driven by its economic planners and policymakers. Read more here.

Microsoft, SkillsFuture (SSG) jointly offer training and certification, Aug 4, 2019, The Straits Times

Source: Shutterstock

SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) and Microsoft signed a memorandum of understanding and launched the Tech Intensity Training Roadmap. SSG will also incorporate the Microsoft material on subjects such as cyber security, the Internet of Things (I.O.T) and artificial intelligence into the curriculum for its SkillsFuture for Digital Workplace programme. Read more here.

Pampers introduces Internet-connected diapers, July 19, 2019, The Straits Times

Source: pampers.com

Pampers is launching a new “connected care system” called Lumi that tracks babies’ activity through a sensor that attaches to diapers. The sensor sends an alert to an app notification when a diaper is wet. It also sends information on the baby’s sleep and wake times and allows parents to track other information such as dirty diapers and feeding times. Read more here.

Smart homes the focus at Courts Funan store, July 9, 2019, The Straits Times

Source: Courts

Courts has built its first Internet of Things (IoT) store at Funan, which encompasses 12,000 sq ft to focus on the growing demand for Smart Home devices. The store also houses both Google Experience Zone and Samsung Home Experience zone for the perusal of their consumers. Read more here.