Motivation

The Internet of Things (IoT) promotes an enhanced physical world, whereby a greater range of physical things are accessible and interoperate using Smart Devices, Smart Environments and Smart Interaction – the Smart DEI model of IoT [more->], driving an innovative range of new industrial and societal products and services. IoT is also closely related to the field of Ubiquitous or Pervasive computing (Ubicomp or Percom); IoT focuses more on smart interaction between a wider Things or Machines,  whereas Ubicomp focuses more on making human interaction with more diverse Things more implicit.

IoT extends the mode of connecting Anything, Anytime, Anywhere (the 3A View of IoT), through to enabling the creativity of Anybody (4A view of IoT) to be innovative designers of new smart devices [more->] through a revolutionary disruption to the traditional industry driven technology development model driven by the rise of community driven IoT efforts such as maker communities. This leverages the availability of low-cost controllers (MCUs), Micro-Electro Mechanical systems (MEMS) and Low Power Personal Area Network (WPAN) and other technologies.

We need to foster a deeper and more inclusive model of citizen science participation beyond seeing people and things as mere data sources [more->] to improve data science. Hence, we also need to use IoT to improve the scientific know how of many more citizens. Such an approach is essential if we are to meet societal goals for a sustainable planet.

A cross-disciplinary approach to IoT is needed [more->] to promote a more inclusive model for IoT innovation, to tackle targeted IoT problems that are beyond the pure data science expertise. Such an approach needs to span electronics engineering (design & main hardware), mechanism engineering and design (device physical-world proofing), sensor expertise (sensor stabilisation, calibration), physical and natural science (data meaning & interpretation), human-computer interaction design, AI, Security social science (human interaction and privacy) and pedagogy.

IoT has an increasing impact on a global scale. It is a core enabling technology for several specific problem domains and applications [more->] such as smart cities, smart transport, smart buildings, smart utilities, and eHealth – each of these can benefit and impact society at a global scale.

There are several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that IoT is here to stay and to continue to grow rapidly. [more->] These are:  the number of connected things is predicted to be about 25-50 billion connected things by 2020; tech giants now have internal business units dedicated to IoT; there are a raft of new IoT products and start-up companies who are developing these; IoT standards are being developed as a sign of maturity of the IoT marketplace; the job market that calls for IoT skills is increasing.