Get ready for The Internet of Things.  It’s a groundbreaking shift in our Internet ecosystem as we move beyond computing devices to a network of everyday tools ranging from home gym equipment to insurance-issued automotive monitoring systems.  Known as the IoT, it is mirroring the explosive growth of mobile devices, which BI Intelligence estimates will grow from 1.9 billion connections today to 9 million by 2018.

As society transitions from a series of formerly inert objects to networked intelligent devices, the IoT represents a potentially huge and lucrative market for many industries.  How we utilize the data generated by the IoT will play a key role in maximizing these profits.  For example, smart homes aren’t anything new; we’ve already written about how the utilities market will use big data to make the smart grid smarter, based in part by information collected through new home thermostats.   But the number of other areas where IoT data will be used is mind boggling.

Think about a few of these concepts:

• What if billboards moved beyond paste-and-paper to digital?  Motorola is just one company that has developed a purpose-built network to digitize billboards.  And consultants at McKinsey report that Japan is already analyzing the shopping habits of people passing by billboards and changing the messages to best suit their needs.
• Angel is the first open sensor for health and fitness.  Through a wristband, it monitors vital signs and, if potentially dangerous health conditions are detected, it notifies you AND your physician.  Presumably, insurers will also be able to access this data.
• Your home might already be automated, but how about your pet’s feeding schedule?  That’s the purpose of Pintofeed, which works through your smartphone to let you deliver meals on time – even if you’re not in residence.

In fact, the possibilities are endless…and that’s why we’re creating the Alacer Center for Advanced Computing (ACAC).  Led by consultant Aaron Hoffer, ACAC is tasked with delivering game-changing solutions that impact how our daily lives intersect with social engagement and electronics.

We’re not quite ready to take the wraps off our project yet – but we’re moving forward quickly.

by Ed Sarausad