Silicon Valley, the high-tech universe known to every living soul on this planet is focusing on a single thing: Technological Innovation. Anyone who is a tech user and connected to “something” is already a part of 640 terabytes of data being populated every minute. Location information, Google searches, your connectivity to a telco, Facebook, Instagram, photo uploads, cloud drive services and so on. And yes, every minute 640 terabyte of data is populated.
Many new and modern technologies are usually addressed as the “Next Big Thing”. Is it just because there will be revolutionary changes in the way we do things, the way we live and interact with each other? Or is it because discontinuity appeared on the horizon? Or did we realise a disruptive, exciting jump from one level of boring technology that we were so excited merely 12 months ago into another new one? Think of Grab, a regional version of Uber in South East Asia. It became a part of an extraordinarily successful business model that not only facilitated and inspired taxi rides but also the amazing pairing of suppliers and customers instantaneously, as well as being the precursor to automated transportation. That was the “next big thing” not long ago, isn’t it?
Wait! Or were you thinking that Segway’s PT, a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle that was introduced in 2001 is still the next big thing?
The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connectivity of everything that seemed so remote only a decade ago. And it has 3 essential elements that make it unique when compared to other generic “Next Big Thing” candidates: convenience, economy, and safety. IoT promises certain changes in the ways we function and interact with our homes, offices, transportation, and health. (where we are stationed, when we are on the move and concerning our very selves) And IoT investments typically yield as convenience (i.e. pre-heated oven by the time you arrive home from work), economy (i.e. efficiencies in progresses and operations when you are stationed, on the move or even without you knowing) and safety (i.e. data enabled online personal health monitoring device attached to patient’s body communicating the health condition with his physician).
It is absolutely possible to do more things with IoT ourselves when compared to what comes bundled with many of the household items nowadays. IoT gadgets are not spies or pressure sales tools that monitor your stocks at home and order from the supplier automatically. IoT might even be programmed to narrate an issue, prompt the user and then take appropriate action. For example, you can program a gas detector’s buzz in your house to do more things in a better way. If there is a gas leak, instead of buzzing, it may narrate “there is gas leak”, SMS you and then cut off the gas automatically. Therefore, your imagination is the limit what IoT can do for you. Like playing the piano, there’s no skilful player or bad player. There is one that enjoys playing the piano and one that does not.
So, isn’t it better to get started learning about IoT now and enjoy the Next Big Thing earlier? The IoT Academy has plenty of good courses to choose from and caters a wide range of audience from all ages to meet the future. Hurry, contact us now to find out more!