The Internet of Everything is starting to take shape
ABI Research’s latest data on the Internet of Everything (IoE) shows that there are more than 10 billion wirelessly connected devices in the market today; with over 30 billion devices expected by 2020. According to ABI, node or sensor type devices will account for 60% of the total installed base of devices by 2020 though devices such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops will continue to be an important influence
Jim Feldhan, Semico Research, believes that several factors will drive the Internet of Things. These include but are not limited to: controlling electric usage to minimize energy consumption; remotely monitoring home and appliances; security concerns for home, office and industrial environments; inventory control; and access to entertainment from home, auto or other remote locations.
Another very important area will be healthcare and preventative medicine, here sensors will play a large roll in monitoring vital signs, drug delivery, mobility, and so on.
One of the key reasons for developing the IoT is to manage usage of resources more intelligently by minimizing wastage and preventing costly breakdown of vehicles and equipment through the use of preventative maintenance. Concepts such as smart grids, healthcare in the home, smart cities, or asset tracking are becoming more crucial in today’s environment. For the IoT to work and help realize these goals the connectivity between sensors, people and machines needs to put into place.
The concept of the smart home will play a large role in developing the services and infrastucture that will make up the IoT. Both energy consumption and healthcare are two areas that could be leveraged by the smart home in the early stages of the buildout of the IoT.
Maybe, we will need new classes of devices. To this end GreenPeak Technologies has released a white paper called “Sentrollers and the Internet of Things” where it defines Sentrollers as a new, all-encompassing term for sensors, actuators and controllers – the various devices that make up the Internet of Things.
The white paper also describes the important role of ZigBee, the technology of choice for the Smart Home, as the crucial enabler for the development of the Internet of Things.
According to the company more devices in the home are connecting to the internet, building the Smart Home, and starting to shift the balance away from people towards connected things. These devices are usually sensors, controllers, actuators or combinations that together, can be considered as “Sentrollers”. For instance: a thermostat senses the temperature, compares this with a desired temperature and activates a heater or air conditioner, controlling, essentially “sentrolling”, the temperature. The Smart Home will also accelerate the use of sentrollers beyond the home: in building automation, for the smart grid, and from there in logistical, industrial and agricultural applications.
Time will tell, but it appears we are seeing the beginnings of the next revolution that will redifine not only the way we live but the economics of how we consume resources.
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