It’s almost impossible to pick up a newspaper today without reading an article about the Internet of Things (IoT), the ability to connect and control objects remotely via the Internet. As the cost of networking devices falls, the number of smart products continues to rise and capture the attention of consumers and businesses.
The largest growth areas are expected to be in transportation, industrial automation, smart medical devices and the connected home. According to Gartner, Inc., a technology research firm, IoT devices will grow to 26 billion units installed in 2020, a 30-fold increase from 2009. This far exceeds the growth of other connected devices, such as cell phones and tablets.
Already, companies are adding connectivity to products that goes unused. These “ghost” devices are created without an application because the cost of enabling connectivity is so low. When the application is developed, the product will be ready.
However, just because products can be smart, doesn’t mean they should be. The capability exists today to make toilets smart, but is there really a need for a toilet that can be flushed remotely? Is there real value in being alerted when the baby’s diaper is damp? Does any one need a piggy bank that also tells you your bank balance?
When considering if it makes sense to add connectivity to a product, there are a few questions to ask:
What are the potential uses and misuses of the product? It might seem like a cool idea to connect your oven so you can start it remotely and have it heat it up while you’re on your way home from work. But what happens if you forgot to remove last night’s leftover pizza from the oven? Could a fire start? Then again, it would be handy to be able to check if you forgot to turn off the oven before leaving the house for the day. Before connecting a product, it’s important to identify all the things that could go wrong and develop parameters and safeguards to mitigate the risks. For example, a smart oven could be programmed to heat up and then shut off after a certain length of time.
Are there safety concerns? Some devices are naturals for adding a wireless component, and others are not. For example, it may sounds like a great idea to wirelessly enable a space heater to turn on in the basement of a vacation home when frigid weather is expected, but there also is the risk of fire. Determine if safety risks outweigh the benefits.
Is information gathered by devices secure? This is a growing concern for the industry as new IoT products are introduced daily, many that transmit personal and sensitive information. For example, medical devices can monitor and transmit patient health information to the hospital or doctor’s office; home thermostats provide clues about when a home owner is away at work; today’s cars are equipped with connected devices that if hacked could create a dangerous situation. It’s important to understand how data can be compromised and what the potential outcome is if data is breached. Protecting IoT data is a shared responsibility. Product manufacturers must employ best practices and security protocols to ensure the safety of data. In addition, users need to know where they are vulnerable and take appropriate steps. For example, some home automation and security sensors allow users to receive alerts via Twitter, which could widely broadcast sensitive information. Also, users need to take appropriate precautions to secure their IoT apps on smart phones and tablets.
Is the cost justified? While the cost of wirelessly enabling a device is falling, it still can add significantly to the cost of a device. The added cost for a low budget item may not be worth it to consumers. For example, adding wireless connectivity to a $20 or $30 toaster could add $10 to $15 to the cost. Will customers be willing to pay a 50 percent premium for the convenience?
What power source is needed? Smart products require a power source, so whether a product is battery or wall powered is a consideration. The power source generally can be decided based on the power needs of the device. If the device needs to be “on” constantly, a traditional battery won’t work because it will drain quickly. Many connected products, such as motion sensors, are able to sleep and wake, reducing power consumption and enabling the device to be battery powered. Also consider where the product will be used and if untethering it from wall power makes the product more useful.
How will the product connect to the Internet? There are several standards available to connect products to the Internet, including Wi-Fi, cellular, Z-Wave, ZigBee and Bluetooth. Each of these has pros and cons. The easiest devices to connect will use Wi-Fi, cellular or Bluetooth. Wi-Fi is ubiquitous in most homes and businesses and Bluetooth connects through smart phones and tablets, using their existing cellular network. Neither requires the addition of hardware or gateways. ZigBee and Z-Wave are short-range wireless technologies used for remote monitoring and control. They both require users to buy their own hub or gateway to enable them to communicate with different devices. This adds cost and one more potential point of failure.
Innovation around IoT is snowballing and it appears that the only limit is our imagination. As new products are connected and novel applications are identified, it is important to consider such factors as security, safety and how battery life will evolve. However, one question will remain: Should this product be smart?
About the author: Adam Justice is vice president and general manager of Grid Connect, a manufacturer and distributor of the ConnectSense product line of wireless sensors. He can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter @adamjustice.
