TECH TALK
The Internet of Things:
The best is yet to come
Quantum computing, offering a huge leap forward in
technological innovation, is moving into the mainstream.
Miguel Vega, Vice President of IBM Systems Hardware for
the Middle East and Africa, says technological advancement
is unstoppable and our expectations should not be limited.
The Internet of things (IoT) is a term
that’s been bandied about for a long
time and we’re finally at a stage
where it’s coming more into the
forefront, in terms of the technology
and consumer adoption.
IoT is starting to make a difference
to many areas of our lives. Connected
smart metres wirelessly track our
domestic energy usage, while smart
watches and smart cars are playing a
small but influential role in the wider
IoT movement. And this is even before
we get started on connected home
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technologies, ranging from security
sensors to connected light bulbs and
even smart toasters.
However, one question is still in the
back of my mind: “When will the IoT
really hit the big time?” If we accept
that IoT’s moment is indeed yet to
come, then I’m glad to say we can
put a date on it at last. In our new
international study, ‘The Internet
of Things, Today and Tomorrow’ we
asked 3,100 execs from 20 countries
about IoT. The research found a
whole range of interesting ideas and
attitudes, but it also told us that 2019
will be IoT’s breakthrough year. In fact
85 per cent of businesses plan to start
using IoT technologies by 2019. So
put a note in your diary.
What else did the study find? Here’s
the good, the bad and the ugly:
•
IoT is over-delivering. Yes, you
heard correctly – our survey
discovered an ‘expectations
dividend’: the real-world benefits
gained from IoT are exceeding
original expectations in all areas.
o c . i t n e g i l e t n i .