Forecasting and prediction

Technology Trend: Internet of Things

The NMC Horizon project Technology outlook STEM+ Education 2013-2018 explores emerging technologies and forecasts their potential impact in a STEM (Science, Technology and Mathematics) context. One highlighted technology to watch of interest is the Internet of things.

IoT

The internet of things or better known as IoT is an environment in which objects, animals or people are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a network without the need for human to human or human to computer interaction. This has evolved from the convergence of wireless, micro-electromechanical technologies and the internet (Techtarget, n.d.).

Key trend: Medical Application

According to Johnson et al (2013) it conveys information communicated by network aware objects that connect to the physical world with the world of information through the web. Of particular interest the report shows that IoT is relevant in teaching and learning in STEM Education by the application of pill shaped micro cameras used in medical diagnosis and teaching to traverse the human digestive tract and send back thousands of images to pinpoint source of illness. The same application can be used in terms of public health and the diagnosis of infectious diseases. For instance a nanoparticle that can identify a Flu strain is somehow inserted into the human body. The Nano particle then sends health status to the individuals’ phone/computer on a daily basis, when a flu strain is found the Nano particle then sends an alert to the individual and if it’s a deadly virus it submits an anonymous ping on a heat map highlighting the area.

Each technology has forces that impact them both positively and negatively. The application of IoT is no different. In a positive manner, Vermesan and Friess (2014) Showed that some of the needs driving the society as a potential user of IoT are:

· To ensure public safety: The society is interested in predicting disasters, such as tsunamis, nuclear catastrophe, terrorist attacks, deadly infectious diseases like Ebola and things of that nature.

· To protect the environment: This include carbon emission reduction, monitoring of various pollutants in the environments especially air and water, Waste management and efficient utilization of various energy and natural resources.

The authors also found that enterprise needs such as the following will help push IoT solutions.

· Increased productivity: This affects most enterprises success and profitability

· Market differentiation: With the market saturated with similar products and solutions, IoT may be the one possible differentiator

· Cost efficiency: IoTs may help reduce the cost of running a business.



References

Johnson, L., Adams Becker, S., Estrada, V., and Martín, S (2013). Technology Outlook for STEM+ Education 2013-2018: An NMC Horizon Project Sector Analysis. Austin, Texas: The New Media Consortium.

Techtarget. (n.d.). What is Internet of Things (IoT)? Retrieved from http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/Internet-of-Things

Vermesan, Ovidiu. Friess, Peter (media). (2014). Internet of things: From research and innovation to market deployment. Aalborg: River Publishers.