theaustralian.com.au
THIS is the year the internet of Things (IoT) will go from a science fiction concept to a tangible reality. A year when everything from your washing machine, car or toothbrush will communicate and work together to make your life easier.
This taste of hi-tech life was on display at last week’s Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where technology industry heavyweights spruiked their new range of internet connected devices. IoT is no longer science fiction, but are Australian businesses leading the connected future?
One of the biggest proponents of the IoT was Samsung, whose chief executive BK Yoon announced a $US100 million ($122m) investment to create an open development platform to ensure all connected devices can communicate.
“Many people believe that the internet of Things is something that’s in the distant future. It’s not ... The age of the internet of Things has already started,” Mr Yoon prophesied.
He’s right. But from the successful examples of connected systems I’ve seen in Australia and abroad — is his vision of a single platform to manage all devices really necessary?
It can be difficult to imagine what the IoT future will look like. Sure the most well-worn example of an internet-connected fridge automatically replenishing household milk stocks sounds convenient. And connected ceiling fans and light bulbs that can adjust to inhabitant’s movements have clear energy efficiency benefits. But I don’t think these consumer technologies truly encapsulate the profound impact IoT is likely to have. Rather, the greatest benefits and efficiencies for people living in “connected cities” will come from smart infrastructure, services and the integration between these systems and consumer devices.
Think about an internet connected car that can direct you towards an empty car space.
Or public transit networks that provide services based on real-time demand. Uber has already shown the appetite for on-demand transport supported by real-time location and payment systems. And it’s these technological advances that I think are likely to be the real life-changers. We’re also starting to see IoT technology develop in workplaces and smaller communities.
Equipment suppliers from aviation engines to bus motors are embedding sensors in their parts to allow constant monitoring and service management, while shipping firms are using IoT technology to track their fleet and goods.
Britain is leading the way in connected community infrastructure at the government level. Collaborations between tech start-ups and local governments have led to new sensor systems on city infrastructure like public bins that signal when they need to be emptied and parking spaces that know when they are occupied.
In remote Australian mining communities, Vix Technology is helping to overcome the high operational energy costs, staff turnover and lifestyle constraints on fly-in, fly-out workers with IoT technology.
Our SmartSite system makes life simple for mine workers with a single smartcard to use for travel and accommodation check-in, access to mine site facilities and to pay for food, drinks, infotainment and phone calls — creating a completely cashless community.
As soon as the mine worker steps off the plane and boards the mine site bus with their smartcard, the automated systems allocates a room, turns on the air-conditioning and sends directions to their smartphone, eliminating check-in queues.
For mine site operators, the real-time data makes it easy to monitor worker location and behaviour. Using these insights the technology can even monitor and influence worker wellbeing by limiting alcohol consumption in the site bar or providing incentives for eating well and using the gym.
Major Australian sporting clubs are also adopting our SmartSite systems to improve fan engagement, payments and access on match-days, while providing insights on patron behaviour. This extends beyond just match-day experience to developing more regular communication between fan and club. But despite Samsung’s vision, I think our cities are getting smarter organically and don’t require a top down, government or big business orchestrated approach that determines protocols and the rules of connectivity. There are plenty of applicable and relevant standards already available that are being leveraged to meet specific needs. For example the EMV standard for contactless payments are accessible to all and can be applied in card format or via mobile platforms, such as Apple Pay, or even to buy tickets on public transport.
Of course the big players are jockeying for ownership of the IoT space, but I believe there is really no need for a universal platform. Integration between systems will occur as necessary and as long as developers continue to use open web interfaces, the growing power of cloud computing services will facilitate easy integration.
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