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Joseph Wallace
An abstract of a work, usually of an essay, is a concise summary of its main points. It is meant to concentrate the argument of a work, presenting it as clearly as possible.

The abstract often appears after the title and before the main body of an essay. If you are writing an abstract as part of an assignment, you should check with your instructor about where to place it.

Here are a few guidelines to follow when composing an abstract:

In general, avoid too much copying and pasting directly from your essay, especially from the first paragraph. An abstract is often presented directly before an essay, and it will often be the first thing readers consult after your title. You wouldn't repeat your ideas verbatim in the body of your essay, so why would you do that in an abstract? Consider the abstract part of the work itself.

Start off strong. An abstract should be a mini essay, so it should begin with a clear statement of your argument. This should be the first sentence or two.

Abstracts vary in length. But a good rule is to aim for five to seven sentences. The bulk of the abstract will review the evidence for your claim and summarize your findings.

Avoid complicated syntax. Long sentences and intricate phrasing have their place in essays, but the abstract should be concise. It is not the place for ambitious grammar.

The last sentence or two should point to any conclusions reached and the direction future research might take. Like the first sentence, the last should be provocative and direct. Leave your readers wanting to read your essay.

In what follows, the authors have written an effective abstract that adheres to the basic principles above:

Literary critics have long imagined that T. S. Eliot's The Sacred Wood (1920) shaped the canon and methods of countless twentieth-century classrooms. This essay turns instead to the classroom that made The Sacred Wood: the Modern English Literature extension school tutorial that Eliot taught to working-class adults between 1916 and 1919. Contextualizing Eliot's tutorial within the extension school movement shows how the ethos and practices of the Workers' Educational Association shaped his teaching. Over the course of three years, Eliot and his students reimagined canonical literature as writing by working poets for working people-a model of literary history that fully informed his canon reformation in The Sacred Wood. This example demonstrates how attention to teaching changes the history of English literary study. It further reveals how all kinds of institutions, not just elite universities, have shaped the discipline's methods and canons. (Buurma and Heffernan)

This abstract uses the first two sentences to establish the essay's place in its field of study and to suggest how it intervenes in existing scholarship. The syntax is direct and simple. The third sentence begins to outline how the authors will support their argument. They aim to demonstrate the relevance of Eliot's teaching to his ideas about literature, and so they move next to discuss some of the details of that teaching. Finally, the abstract concludes by telling us about the consequences of this argument. The conclusion both points to new directions for research and tells us why we should read the essay.

Work Cited

Buurma, Rachel Sagner, and Laura Heffernan. Abstract of "The Classroom in the Canon: T. S. Eliot's Modern English Literature Extension Course for Working People and The Sacred Wood." PMLA, vol. 133, no. 2, Mar. 2018, p. 463.

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How to Write an Abstract | The MLA Style Center

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Joseph Wallace An abstract of a work, usually of an essay, is a concise summary of its main points. It is meant to concentrate the argument of a work, presenting it as clearly as possible. The abstract often appears after the title and before the main body of an essay.

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Carbon atoms have diverse possibilities to form bonds. Pure carbon can therefore occur in many forms, as diamond, graphite, as nanotubes, football molecules or as a honeycomb-net with hexagonal meshes, graphene. This exotic, strictly two-dimensional material conducts electricity excellently, but is not a superconductor. But perhaps this can be changed.
A complicated option for superconductivity
In April 2018, a group at MIT, USA, showed that it is possible to generate a form of superconductivity in a system of two layers of graphene under very specific conditions: To do this, the two hexagonal nets must be twisted against each other by exactly the magic angle of 1.1°. Under this condition a flat band forms in the electronic structure. The preparation of samples from two layers of graphene with such an exactly adjusted twist is complex, and not suitable for mass production. Nevertheless, the study has attracted a lot of attention among experts.
The simple way to flat bands
But there is one more, much simpler way of flat band formation. This was shown by a group at the HZB around Prof. Oliver Rader and Dr. Andrei Varykhalov with investigations at BESSY II.

The samples were provided by Prof. Thomas Seyller, TU Chemnitz. There they are produced using a process that is also suitable for the production of larger areas and in large quantities: A silicon carbide crystal is heated until silicon atoms evaporate from the surface, leaving first a single-layer of graphene on the surface, and then a second layer of graphene. The two graphene layers are not twisted against each other, but lie exactly on top of each other.
Scanning the band structure with ARPES
At BESSY II, the physicists are able to scan the so-called band structure of the sample. This band structure provides information on how the charge carriers are distributed among the quantum-mechanically permitted states and which charge carriers are available for transport at all. The angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) at BESSY II enables such measurements with extremely high resolution.
An interesting region under scrutiny
Via an exact analysis of the band structure, they identified an area that had previously been overlooked. "The double layer of graphene has been studied before because it is a semiconductor with a band gap," explains Varykhalov. "But on the ARPES instrument at BESSY II, the resolution is high enough to recognize the flat area next to this band gap."

"It is an overseen property of a well-studied system," first author Dr. Dmitry Marchenko points out: "It was previously unknown that there is a flat area in the band structure in such a simple well-known system."
Superconductivity? Needs still a little help
This flat area is a prerequisite for superconductivity but only if it is situated exactly at the so-called Fermi energy. In the case of the two-layer graphene, its energy level is only 200 milli-electron volts below the Fermi energy, but it is possible to raise the energy level of the flat area to the Fermi energy either by doping with foreign atoms or by applying an external voltage, the so-called gate voltage.

The physicists have found that the interactions between the two graphene layers and between graphene and the silicon carbide lattice are jointly responsible for the formation of the flat band area. "We can predict this behavior with very few parameters and could use this mechanism to control the band structure," adds Oliver Rader.

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graphene; spintronics; acoustics; materials science; spintronics research; artificial intelligence; computer graphics; statistics

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Graphene on the way to superconductivity

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Scientists have found evidence that double layers of graphene have a property that may let them conduct current completely without resistance. They probed the band structure at BESSY II with extremely high resolution ARPES and could identify a flat area at a surprising location.

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Graphene -- an ultrathin material consisting of a single layer of interlinked carbon atoms -- is considered a promising candidate for the nanoelectronics of the future. In theory, it should allow clock rates up to a thousand times faster than today's silicon-based electronics. Scientists from the Helmholtz Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (MPI-P), have now shown for the first time that graphene can actually convert electronic signals with frequencies in the gigahertz range -- which correspond to today's clock rates -- extremely efficiently into signals with several times higher frequency. The researchers present their results in the scientific journal Nature.

Today's silicon-based electronic components operate at clock rates of several hundred gigahertz (GHz), that is, they are switching several billion times per second. The electronics industry is currently trying to access the terahertz (THz) range, i.e., up to thousand times faster clock rates. A promising material and potential successor to silicon could be graphene, which has a high electrical conductivity and is compatible with all existing electronic technologies. In particular, theory has long predicted that graphene could be a very efficient "nonlinear" electronic material, i.e., a material that can very efficiently convert an applied oscillating electromagnetic field into fields with a much higher frequency. However, all experimental efforts to prove this effect in graphene over the past ten years have not been successful.

"We have now been able to provide the first direct proof of frequency multiplication from gigahertz to terahertz in a graphene monolayer and to generate electronic signals in the terahertz range with remarkable efficiency," explains Dr. Michael Gensch, whose group conducts research on ultrafast physics and operates the novel TELBE terahertz radiation source at the HZDR. And not only that -- their cooperation partners led by Prof. Dmitry Turchinovich, experimental physicist at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), have succeeded in describing the measurements quantitatively well using a simple model based on fundamental physical principles of thermodynamics.

With this breakthrough, the researchers are paving the way for ultrafast graphene-based nanoelectronics: "We were not only able to experimentally demonstrate a long-predicted effect in graphene for the first time, but also to understand it quantitatively well at the same time," emphasizes Prof. Dmitry Turchinovich. "In my laboratory we have been investigating the basic physical mechanisms of the electronic nonlinearity of graphene already for several years. However, our light sources were not sufficient to actually detect and quantify the frequency multiplication clean and clear. For this, we needed experimental capabilities which are currently only available at the TELBE facility."

The long-awaited experimental proof of extremely efficient terahertz high harmonics generation in graphene has succeeded with the help of a trick: The researchers used graphene that contains many free electrons, which come from the interaction of graphene with the substrate onto which it is deposited, as well as with the ambient air. If these mobile electrons are excited by an oscillating electric field, they share their energy very quickly with the other electrons in graphene, which then react much like a heated fluid: From an electronic "liquid," figuratively speaking, an electronic "vapor" forms within the graphene. The change from the "liquid" to the "vapor" phase occurs within trillionths of a second and causes particularly rapid and strong changes in the conductivity of graphene. This is the key effect leading to efficient frequency multiplication.

The scientists used electromagnetic pulses from the TELBE facility with frequencies between 300 and 680 gigahertz and converted them in the graphene into electromagnetic pulses with three, five and seven times the initial frequency, i.e. up-converted them into the terahertz frequency range. "The nonlinear coefficients describing the efficiency of the generation of this third, fifth and seventh harmonic frequency were exceptionally high," explains Turchinovich. "Graphene is thus possibly the electronic material with the strongest nonlinearity known to date. The good agreement of the measured values with our thermodynamic model suggests that we will also be able to use it to predict the properties of ultrahigh-speed nanoelectronic devices made of graphene." Prof. Mischa Bonn, Director of the MPI-P, who was also involved in this work, emphasizes: "Our discovery is groundbreaking. We have demonstrated that carbon-based electronics can operate extremely efficiently at ultrafast rates. Ultrafast hybrid components made of graphene and traditional semiconductors are also conceivable."

The experiment was performed using the novel, superconducting-accelerator-based TELBE terahertz radiation source at the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources at the HZDR. Its hundred times higher pulse rate compared to typical laser-based terahertz sources made the measurement accuracy required for the investigation of graphene possible in the first place. A data processing method developed as part of the EU project EUCALL allows the researchers to actually use the measurement data taken with each of the 100,000 light pulses per second. "For us there is no bad data," says Gensch. "Since we can measure every single pulse, we gain orders of magnitude in measurement accuracy. In terms of measurement technology, we are at the limit of what is currently feasible." The first authors of the article are the two young scientists Hassan A. Hafez (UDE/MPI-P) and Sergey Kovalev (HZDR).

Journal Reference:

Hassan A. Hafez, Sergey Kovalev, Jan-Christoph Deinert, Zoltán Mics, Bertram Green, Nilesh Awari, Min Chen, Semyon Germanskiy, Ulf Lehnert, Jochen Teichert, Zhe Wang, Klaas-Jan Tielrooij, Zhaoyang Liu, Zongping Chen, Akimitsu Narita, Klaus Müllen, Mischa Bonn, Michael Gensch, Dmitry Turchinovich. Extremely efficient terahertz high-harmonic generation in graphene by hot Dirac fermions. Nature, 2018; DOI: 10.1038/s41586-018-0508-1

Cite This Page:

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graphene; spintronics; electronics; technology; spintronics research; information technology; mobile computing; computers and internet

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Graphene enables clock rates in the terahertz range: Researchers pave the way for graphene-based nanoelectronics of the future

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Graphene is considered a promising candidate for the nanoelectronics of the future. In theory, it should allow clock rates up to a thousand times faster than today's silicon-based electronics. Scientists have now shown that graphene can actually convert electronic signals with frequencies in the gigahertz range extremely efficiently into signals with several times higher frequency.

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Physicists at the University of Alberta in Canada have developed a new way to build quantum memories, a method for storing delicate quantum information encoded into pulses of light.

"We've developed a new way to store pulses of light -- down to the single-photon level -- in clouds of ultracold rubidium atoms, and to later retrieve them, on-demand, by shining a 'control' pulse of light," said Lindsay LeBlanc, assistant professor of physics and Canada Research Chair in Ultracold Gases for Quantum Simulation. LeBlanc conducted this research with postdoctoral fellow Erhan Saglamyurek.

Quantum memories are an important component of quantum networks, serving much the same role as hard drives in today's computers. And the interest in storing quantum data efficiently and effectively is only growing, with practical applications including a quantum fibre-optic internet and other methods of secure communication.

"This experiment involved taking short pulses of light, in which we could encode quantum information, storing the light in the atoms, and then retrieving the original pulse that carries the same information," explained Saglamyurek.

The novel method developed by LeBlanc and Saglamyurek, which is best-suited for key applications requiring high-speed operation, also has considerably fewer technical requirements than required in common quantum storage techniques. "The amount of power needed, for example, is significantly lower than current options, and these reduced requirements make it easier to implement in other labs," added Saglamyurek. This discovery will allow for the crucial scaling up of quantum technologies, which has proven the biggest challenge to date in the emerging field.

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quantum computing; quantum physics; physics; optics; quantum computers; computers and internet; encryption; spintronics research

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Physicists create new, simpler-than-ever quantum 'hard drive for light': Physicists have developed a new technique for quantum memories, a crucial element for quantum communication

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Physicists at the University of Alberta in Canada have developed a new way to build quantum memories, a method for storing delicate quantum information encoded into pulses of light.

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IEEE Future Networks is an IEEE Future Directions initiative that strives to address the challenges of next generation wireless technologies.

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Near-infinite programmability, increased flexibility, secure silicon define new MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platform to enable services delivery for the next decade and beyond

SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR), an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks, today announced its new MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platform along with several software innovations to provide the needed programmability, performance and flexibility for rapid service deployment in the cloud economy now and for years to come. Leveraging its vast experience with leading global cloud and service providers, Juniper is unveiling its fifth generation of the MX platform, which is now the industry's only platform to deliver near-infinite programmability, cost efficiency and versatility with performance at scale. It combines the best of software- and hardware-based networking to equip carrier, cloud and enterprise customers for the evolving technological and business demands of next-generation services delivery.

Service providers are at an inflection point where the costs of operating a complex network that can host the new era of resource-intensive applications like 5G and secure SD-WAN-based managed services are overwhelming their ability to monetize them. Also, with the additional influx of machine data coming from IoT sensors, distributed telco edge and cloud computing, networks will become overextended if they remain static, particularly as current infrastructures have become too complex, expensive and vulnerable to cyber threats for service providers to manage the distributed scale and agility required for these new services.

A poll among Juniper service provider customers about the top challenges in being able to offer next-generation services like SD-WAN, IoT and 5G, found:

More than half (55 percent) of respondents ranked the cost of infrastructure build-out as the No. 1 or 2 challenge.

Nearly 40 percent of respondents ranked the complexity of orchestrating a distributed network at No. 1 or 2 challenge.

More than half (55 percent) of respondents ranked investment protection with data-plane programmability as the No. 1 or 2 desired feature set to solve those challenges.

To address these challenges and herald the next generation of routing for the coming wave of 5G, IoT and business services, Juniper designed its MX Series 5G Universal Routing platform with new silicon for near-infinite feature programmability, as well as open hardware-accelerated 5G Control and User Plane Separation (CUPS) for unparalleled performance, scale and freedom of choice, with additions to its universal chassis designed for operational simplicity, improved economics and increased agility.

With Contrail's comprehensive automation and rich software management overlay capabilities, along with MX's subscriber management, SPRING, and enhanced real-time performance monitoring telemetry data, the new capabilities enable customers to create and scale any type of service across a secure automated distributed cloud in a simplified way.

News highlights:

Juniper Penta Silicon: At the heart of the new MX Series 5G Platform is the new Juniper Penta Silicon, a next-generation 16nm service-optimized packet forwarding engine that delivers a 50 percent power efficiency gain (0.5 watts per gigabit) over the existing Junos Trio chipset, which leads to a 3x bandwidth increase for the MX960, MX480 and MX240. Juniper Penta enables end to end secure connectivity at scale with native support of both MACsec and an IPsec crypto engine - an industry-first - that can originate and terminate thousands of IPsec sessions without sacrificing performance. Additionally, Juniper Penta supports flexible native Ethernet support (FlexE). Juniper Penta silicon family will power the new MX Series 5G Platform for years to come by exponentially increasing performance, power efficiency and maintaining industry-leading hardware programmability that can address future innovative protocols.

MX 5G Control User-Plane Separation (CUPS) Hardware Acceleration: As service providers prepare for 5G deployments, the 3GPP CUPS standard allows customers to separate the evolved packet core user plane (GTP-U) and control plane (GTP-C) with a standardized Sx interface to help service providers scale each independently as needed for added flexibility and investment protection. The MX Series 5G platform is the first networking platform to support a standard-based hardware accelerated 5G user-plane in both existing and future MX routers to enable converged services (wireless and wireline) on the same platform while also allowing integration with third-party 5G control planes. Juniper expects this will lower total cost of ownership by as much as three to four times over software-based user plane implementations for MXs deployed in the field.

MX10008 and MX10016 Universal Chassis: Continuing service-scale innovation to usher in the next era of cloud, enterprise and carrier networking, the previously announced PTX and QFX Universal Chassis gains two new MX variants with today's announcement: MX10008 and MX10016. Juniper's Universal Chassis family reduces inventory management complexity by 80 percent and extends use-case versatility for operators with a revolutionary single-chassis design. The 13-RU MX10008 and 21-RU MX10016 Universal Chassis bring industry-leading and space-saving scale for edge routers at 19.2Tbps and 38.4Tbps, respectively. These new additions to Juniper's Universal Chassis family improve per-slot economics for service scale at ~0.6 watts per gigabit, enabling customers to do more with less while simplifying network design and reducing opex. A variety of line cards and software are available to satisfy specific networking use-cases across the data center, enterprise and WAN.

The MX10008 and MX100016 will be available during the second half of 2018. Juniper Penta Silicon-powered line cards for the MX960, MX480 and MX240 will be available in Q1 2019. New CUPS support will be available in the first half of 2019.

Supporting Quotes:
"Cloud is eating the world, 5G is ramping up, IoT is presenting a host of new challenges and security teams simply can't keep up with the sheer volume of cyber attacks on today's network. One thing service providers should not have to worry about among all this is the unknown of what lies ahead. That's why we've continued innovating our flagship MX platform to deliver more speed, flexibility, programmability and security capabilities, giving our customers the peace of mind they need as a variety of demands continue to put pressure on the network. We are building on our heritage of eliminating the biggest barriers to routing that have emerged over the past decade and providing a platform that can grow whichever way the world does. Our commitment to removing complexity from routing has made it possible for our customers to connect in ways that have changed the world."

Manoj Leelanivas, Executive Vice President and Chief Product Officer, Juniper Networks

"The rise of next-generation wireless and wireline services is having a profound impact on the underlying networks needed to make them a reality. We've been a longtime partner with Juniper Networks since the first MX more than a decade ago and are excited to see the unveiling of its next generation MX platform."

Mike Altland, Director, Network Infrastructure Planning, Verizon

"As a major service provider looking at the future of how we connect our customers with evolving use cases, it's important to have a routing platform underpinning it all that's flexible enough to accommodate the unpredictability of the industry right now. 5G, IoT and SD-WAN all present great opportunities for us to create new revenue-generating services but they can also bring many infrastructure challenges. We've been longtime MX users and are excited to see that the new MX 5G platform leverages new silicon with programmability and integrated security, and supports control user-plane separation to provide greater flexibility for certainty in an uncertain networking environment."

David Roy, IP/MPLS NOC engineer, Orange

"Affirmed Networks is committed to providing operators with flexible deployment options as service providers continue to embrace virtualized architectures. Telco operators will be able to deliver higher performance customized 5G, IoT and business services that cater to the unique requirements of different end-user applications, with freedom of choice through open standards-based solutions from Affirmed Networks and Juniper."

Amit Tiwari, Vice President, Strategic Alliances and Systems Engineering, Affirmed Networks

"While the industry is gradually transitioning to cloud-based deployments of network functions and services, high-performance routing hardware and custom silicon continue to be critical elements to address network services at scale. With the announcement of the Juniper Penta Silicon, Juniper continues to advance its routing silicon and platforms in order to ensure network operators can support existing services and applications more efficiently today, and be well prepared for the future."

Heidi Adams, Senior Research Director, IP & Optical Networks at IHS Markit

Additional Resources:

About Juniper Networks

Juniper Networks simplifies the complexities of networking with products, solutions and services in the cloud era to transform the way we connect, work and live. We remove the traditional constraints of networking to enable our customers and partners to deliver automated, scalable and secure networks that connect the world. Additional information can be found at Juniper Networks ( www.juniper.net) or connect with Juniper on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release concerning Juniper Networks' prospects, product availability, future products and expected performance, and expected benefits of our products to users, including programmability, performance, and cost benefits, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act that involve a number of uncertainties and risks. Actual results or events could differ materially from those anticipated in those forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including delays in scheduled product availability, incompatibility of technologies, the company's failure to accurately predict emerging technological trends, and other factors listed in Juniper Networks' most recent report on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements made in this press release are made only as of the date of this press release. Juniper Networks undertakes no obligation to update the information in this release in the event facts or circumstances subsequently change after the date of this press release. Any future product, feature, enhancement or related specification that may be referenced in this press release are for information purposes only, are subject to change at any time without notice and are not commitments to deliver any future product, feature, enhancement or related specification. The information contained in this press release is intended to outline Juniper Networks' general product direction and should not be relied on in making a purchasing decision.

Juniper Networks, the Juniper Networks logo, Juniper and Junos are registered trademarks of Juniper Networks, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and other countries. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

Elliott Burr
Juniper Networks
(408) 936-7823
eburr@juniper.net

Source: Juniper Networks

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Juniper Networks Unveils 5G- and IoT-Ready Routing Platform to Unlock Service-Creation Opportunities

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Near-infinite programmability, increased flexibility, secure silicon define new MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platform to enable services delivery for the next decade and beyond SUNNYVALE, Calif., June 12, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Juniper Networks (NYSE:JNPR), an industry leader in automated, scalable and secure networks, today announced its new MX Series 5G Universal Routing Platform along with several software innovations to provide the needed programmability, performance and flexibility for rapid service deployment in the cloud economy now and for years to come.

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Challenging our competitors for better service. Key Info: NewTmobile.com. Built for Unlimited Data. Save With Our Best Deals. Hot Deals, Low Prices. Taxes & Fees Included. We'll pay $650 to Switch. Find the Hottest Deals. The Latest Accessories.

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Samsung's first 5G home router - the key piece of technology needed to actually bring next-generation wireless services into homes and offices - has officially won FCC approval. Known as SFG-D0100, the millimeter wave-based wireless device is expected to be used in Verizon's early launch of 5G services across several U.S. cities this year, and the FCC documents hint at a possible debut date: late October, 2018.

The SFG-D0100 is shown on the left side of the photo above. Samsung's FCC grant of approval confirms that the device includes 64 antennas across a beamforming 2×2 MIMO array, including 27.5GHz to 28.35GHz millimeter wave support, plus Bluetooth LE - but apparently no integrated 802.11 functionality, suggesting that it will require a separate Wi-Fi router, like some cable modems. Samsung warns users to keep the devices at least eight inches away from people, in compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines.

Verizon has said that it will launch pre-standards 5G in three to five cities this year, including Sacramento, California. Initially, the leading U.S. carrier will only offer "fixed 5G" - high-speed wireless service that can solely be accessed at a home or office using a cable modem-like device - which it believes will challenge cable Internet and TV providers. The company described itself last week as " full steam ahead " on the 5G deployment, hinting at plans to offer unlimited 5G data and a novel over-the-top video subscription service to customers.

While Samsung and Verizon announced a collaboration on an end-to-end 5G solution some time ago, including the tower and indoor elements needed to bring ultra-high-frequency millimeter wave signals into homes, FCC approval of each brand new element is critical to making 5G a reality. As Droidlife notes, the company previously received approval for its tower-mounted 5G Access Unit in February and an outdoor signal router in March, leaving the indoor router awaiting the FCC's nod.

Inseego, a maker of both 4G home routers and mobile hotspots, discussed some of the new 5G equipment design and engineering challenges with VentureBeat in March, noting that the company was working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet an unspecified target launch date. Verizon has previously committed only to a launch in the second half of 2018; however, Samsung requested confidentiality for its SFG-D0100 materials through October 27, 2018. At that point, the unit's external, internal, and test setup photos and a user's manual will become public, suggesting that a launch would be imminent or already underway.

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Samsung 5G home router wins FCC approval ahead of Verizon's 2018 launch

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Samsung's first 5G home router - the key piece of technology needed to actually bring next-generation wireless services into homes and offices - has officially won FCC approval. Known as SFG-D0100, the millimeter wave-based wireless device is expected to be used in Verizon's early launch of 5G ser...

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Superfast "fifth generation 5G" mobile internet could be launched as early as next year in some countries, promising download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than we have now.

But what difference will it really make to our lives? Will we need new phones? And will it solve the "notspot" issue for people in remote areas?

In the first of a five-part series examining the impact 5G could have around the world, Technology of Business tackles the basic questions.

What is 5G exactly?

It's the next - fifth-generation of mobile internet connectivity promising much faster data download and upload speeds, wider coverage and more stable connections.

It's all about making better use of the radio spectrum and enabling far more devices to access the mobile internet at the same time.

What will it enable us to do?

"Whatever we do now with our smartphones we'll be able to do faster and better," says Ian Fogg from OpenSignal, a mobile data analytics company.

"Think of smart glasses featuring augmented reality, mobile virtual reality, much higher quality video, the internet of things making cities smarter.

"But what's really exciting is all the new services that will be built that we can't foresee."

Imagine swarms of drones co-operating to carry out search and rescue missions, fire assessments and traffic monitoring, all communicating wirelessly with each other and ground base stations over 5G networks.

Similarly, many think 5G will be crucial for autonomous vehicles to communicate with each other and read live map and traffic data.

Drones to the rescue! - BBC News

What will stop these self-driving lorries colliding?

More prosaically, mobile gamers should notice less delay - or latency - when pressing a button on a controller and seeing the effect on screen. Mobile videos should be near instantaneous and glitch-free. Video calls should become clearer and less jerky. Wearable fitness devices could monitor your health in real time, alerting doctors as soon as any emergency arises.

How does it work?

There are a number of new technologies likely to be applied - but standards haven't been hammered out yet for all 5G protocols. Higher-frequency bands - 3.5GHz (gigahertz) to 26GHz and beyond - have a lot of capacity but their shorter wavelengths mean their range is lower - they're more easily blocked by physical objects.

So we may see clusters of smaller phone masts closer to the ground transmitting so-called "millimetre waves" between much higher numbers of transmitters and receivers. This will enable higher density of usage. But it's expensive and telecoms companies are not wholly committed yet.

Is it very different to 4G?

Yes, it's a brand new radio technology, but you might not notice vastly higher speeds at first because 5G is likely to be used by network operators initially as a way to boost capacity on existing 4G (LTE - Long-Term Evolution) networks, to ensure a more consistent service for customers. The speed you get will depend on which spectrum band the operator runs the 5G technology on and how much your carrier has invested in new masts and transmitters.

So how fast could it be?

The fastest current 4G mobile networks offer about 45Mbps (megabits per second) on average, although the industry is still hopeful of achieving 1Gbps (gigabit per second = 1,000Mbps). Chipmaker Qualcomm reckons 5G could achieve browsing and download speeds about 10 to 20 times faster in real-world (as opposed to laboratory) conditions.

Imagine being able to download a high-definition film in a minute or so.

This is for 5G networks built alongside existing 4G LTE networks. Standalone 5G networks, on the other hand, operating within very high frequencies (30GHz say) could easily achieve gigbabit-plus browsing speeds as standard. But these aren't likely to come in until a few years later.

Why do we need it?

The world is going mobile and we're consuming more data every year, particularly as the popularity of video and music streaming increases. Existing spectrum bands are becoming congested, leading to breakdowns in service, particularly when lots of people in the same area are trying to access online mobile services at the same time. 5G is much better at handling thousands of devices simultaneously, from mobiles to equipment sensors, video cameras to smart street lights.

When is it coming?

Most countries are unlikely to launch 5G services before 2020, but Qatar's Ooredoo says it has already launch a commercial service, while South Korea is aiming to launch next year, with its three largest network operators agreeing to kick off at the same time. China is also racing to launch services in 2019.

Meanwhile, regulators around the world have been busy auctioning off spectrum to telecoms companies, who've been experimenting with mobile phone makers on new services.

Will I need a new phone?

Yes, I'm afraid so. But when 4G was introduced in 2009/10, compatible smart phones came onto the market before the infrastructure had been rolled out fully, leading to some frustration amongst consumers who felt they were paying more in subscriptions for a patchy service.

This time, says Ian Fogg, phone makers are unlikely to make the same mistake, launching 5G handsets only when the new networks are ready, probably towards the end of 2019. These next generation phones will be able to switch seamlessly between 4G and 5G networks for a more stable service.

Will it mean the end of fixed line services?

In a word, no. Telecoms companies have invested too much in fibre optic and copper wire fixed line broadband to give those up in a hurry. Domestic and office broadband services will be primarily fixed line for many years to come, although so-called fixed wireless access will be made available in tandem.

However good wireless connectivity becomes, many prefer the stability and certainty of physical wires.

Think of 5G mobile as a complementary service for when we're out and about, interacting with the world around us. It will also facilitate the much-heralded "internet of things".

Will it work in rural areas?

Lack of signal and low data speeds in rural areas is a common complaint in the UK and many other countries. But 5G won't necessarily address this issue as it will operate on high-frequency bands - to start with at least - that have a lot of capacity but cover shorter distances. 5G will primarily be an urban service for densely populated areas.

Lower-frequency bands (600-800Mhz typically) are better over longer distances, so network operators will concentrate on improving their 4G LTE coverage in parallel with 5G roll-out.

But commercial reality means that for some people in very remote areas, connectivity will still be patchy at best without government subsidy making it worthwhile for network operators to go to these places.

More Technology of Business

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Phone in the right hand? You're a hacker!

How tech is revolutionising the mining industry

E-waste mining could be big business - and good for the planet.

Follow Technology of Business editor Matthew Wall on Twitter and Facebook

Click here for more Technology of Business features

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What is 5G and what will it mean for you?

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Superfast "fifth generation 5G" mobile internet could be launched as early as next year in some countries, promising download speeds 10 to 20 times faster than we have now. But what difference will it really make to our lives? Will we need new phones? And will it solve the "notspot" issue for people in remote areas?

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IoT in Action with Microsoft Events - San Francisco

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Register for IoT in Action with Microsoft in San Francisco to hear visionary IoT leaders, gain industry insight and collaborate with key IoT solution providers.

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Nadine Hachach-Haram: How augmented reality could change the future of surgery

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If you're undergoing surgery, you want the best surgical team to collaborate on your case, no matter where they are. Surgeon and entrepreneur Nadine Hachach-Haram is developing a new system that helps surgeons operate together and train one another on new techniques -- from remote locations using low-cost augmented reality tools.

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Video Marketing: The Future Of Content Marketing

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Video Marketing: The Future Of Content Marketing

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Fascinating statics included in the article. What are the implications for augmented reality?

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In the last 10 years, the digital landscape has changed significantly. People are phasing out desktop and laptop computers to search the web and interact with content. Instead, they are picking up their mobile phones and tablets. What's more, digital technology is cheaper today than it's ever been before; there are virtually no boundaries on how, when and where people can interact with content.

As such, the landscape of content marketing has changed, as well. Today, content only succeeds if it delivers what consumers want, when and how they want it.

Fortunately, it's easy to keep up with the changing landscape when you invest in cutting-edge forms of content, such as video marketing. In today's fast-paced world, video marketing is one of the few types of online material that provides the value, relevance and flexibility consumers need, all while catering to the on-the-go lifestyle they want.

Here's everything you need to know about video marketing and why it's being hailed as the future of content.
Video Marketing By The Numbers
Not convinced video marketing is the way of the future? Here are a few statistics to help you understand exactly how popular video marketing has become in recent years, according to news shared by HubSpot:

Video is projected to claim more than 80% of all web traffic by 2019.

Adding a video to marketing emails can boost click-through rates by 200-300%.

Embedding videos in landing pages can increase conversion rates by 80%.

90% of customers report that product videos help them make purchasing decisions.

According to YouTube, mobile video consumption grows by 100% every year.

64% of customers are more likely to buy a product online after watching a video about it.

87% of online marketers are currently using video content in their digital marketing strategies.

A third of all the time people spend online is dedicated to watching videos.

Video ads now account for more than 35% of all ad spending online.

59% of company decision makers would rather watch a video than read an article or blog post.

Digital marketing expert James McQuivey estimates that a single minute of video content is the equivalent of 1.8 million words.

Five Smart Reasons To Start Using Video Marketing
As one of the fastest-growing and most in-demand forms of marketing out there, video marketing stands out as one thing all marketers should be using right now. Here are the top five benefits of video marketing:

Video content promotes brand recall.

According to HubSpot, 80% of customers remember a video they've watched in the last month. One of the biggest strengths of video marketing is that it's highly visual and auditory, which means it's easier for many users to remember than text-based content. When customers remember your video marketing content, they also remember your brand, which translates to more sales and leads for you. What's more, customers typically like to share videos they enjoy, which can expand your online reach.

To make your videos as memorable as possible, ensure that you're keeping them in line with your brand strategy. This means keeping colors, fonts, logos and voice the same in your video marketing as they are in your blogs and articles. While videos do things text content doesn't, users should still be able to recognize the style and format of your brand's videos online.

Video marketing can boost your site's SEO.

Sixty-five percent of business decision-makers visit a marketer's website after viewing a branded video. It's clear that quality and relevant video marketing content can dramatically improve your site's SEO by driving people to your homepage. Additionally, video can enhance your conversion rates: HubSpot reports that 39% of business decision-makers contact a vendor after viewing a branded video.

By adding video to your landing pages, website and content offers, it's easy to improve your company's SEO value and improve your click-through rates across the board.

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Video Marketing: The Future Of Content Marketing

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In the last 10 years, the digital landscape has changed significantly. People are phasing out desktop and laptop computers to search the web and interact with content. Instead, they are picking up their mobile phones and tablets.

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How The Internet Of Things Is Changing eLearning: 6 Ways

With the birth of the internet came an entirely new way to learn. Now, instead of taking classes in traditional schools, nearly 6 million students across America are enrolled in online courses. And thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), the frontier for eLearning is expanding and changing once again.

Whether you're an educator, professional on the job hunt, or entrepreneur looking to profit on this groundbreaking industry, the IoT will reshape the eLearning of tomorrow in the following 6 ways.

1. People Will Consume Content Differently

It's estimated that the number of IoT-connected devices in 2018 will surpass the number of mobile devices for the first time in history. It's projected that there will be over 6 billion smartphones and 50 billion IoT-enabled devices in the world by 2020. For reference, the world's population is 7.6 billion and growing. That means everyone-from teachers to students to marketers-will need to change the way they develop and write content.

Even in the past couple of years, the world has become much more visual. For example, video has trumped copy as the preferred way to consume content-and video itself has changed. One study found that adding an interactive aspect to a video gets 40% more engagement than those videos without this feature.

Video is easily integrated into small IoT-enabled devices and can say more at a glance than the written word, so eLearning students and teachers will have to change the way they deliver content. In short, that content needs to do a lot more than optimize for mobile in the coming months and years.

2. The Flexible Will Survive And Thrive

No business succeeds when it stands still-the same goes for teachers, students, and entrepreneurs in eLearning. It's critical to stay up to date with current IoT facts and trends; look at data that shows how, when, and where your audience is spending time online; and capitalize on that.

Achieving these goals might require more nimble movements over time, but that flexibility can help you succeed in this ever-evolving digital landscape.

3. Testing Will Change

With internet access on your phone, pens, and, who knows, maybe even sneakers someday, how will teachers test students in a fair, cheat-proof environment? Perhaps testing will change from memorized question-and-answer exams to research-based projects.

For instance, instead of answering multiple choice questions, students will have to use the internet to locate answers and expand on these findings. With the internet at our fingertips for practically everything, it makes sense to utilize that information in a productive way. As an eLearning teacher, you'll just have to think about the best way to test your students.

4. Expectations Will Shift

The IoT doesn't just change the way people connect to the internet-it also changes the lifestyles, expectations, and habits these individuals form. With Artificial Intelligence (AI) and IoT comes home security, faster coffee, efficient energy use, and even faster streaming.

Smart home automation is a great example of this shift. As one of the biggest trends relating to the IoT right now, home automation gives people convenience and peace of mind like never before. Once people get used to this ease of living, it'll become the new norm for how they expect to access other information too.

When you're developing any new eLearning materials, think about how to make your eLearning courses cheaper, more interactive, and convenient to help attract more students and stand out from other classes.

5. New Majors Will Surface

With rising IoT-related developments and data points, new jobs will surface. Teachers will need to develop entirely new curricula and majors to account for this change-and students will need to look toward the future to plot out career prospects relating to these new fields, especially in technology-centered careers.

6. Job Competition Will Be Global

eLearning is a globalization of education; people from anywhere can learn in virtual classrooms and get degrees. With the IoT also bringing the world closer together by connecting everyone to the web, it's safe to assume that jobs themselves will become more competitive and more students will be turning to eLearning to get the affordable and accessible education they need.

Specific skills, advanced accreditation, and guidance will be in high demand. eLearning teachers may want to consider diversifying their classes and coursework while offering the best learning materials compared to their own competition. Doing so may help their students get an edge up on soon-to-be globally competitive career fields.

It's incredible to imagine where the world will be after another 20 years of technological advancement. Stay ahead of the curve in eLearning with the merge of the IoT by remembering these points.

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6 Ways The Internet Of Things Is Changing eLearning - eLearning Industry

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With the birth of the internet came an entirely new way to learn. Now, instead of taking classes in traditional schools, nearly 6 million students across America are enrolled in online courses. And thanks to the Internet of Things (IoT), the frontier for eLearning is expanding and changing once again.

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Get to your development goal with hardware, software, and data solutions that work together seamlessly, at scale - and securely. From the cloud right out to the edge, Intel® IoT Technology offers a complete ecosystem for the connected future.

A Smarter World-for Every Enterprise

Moving forward is easier when you don't have to innovate from scratch. Our complete dev kits, comprehensive code libraries and more start you off with a suite of flexible solutions that scale quickly. Intel offers SDKs, tools and samples to unlock core technologies for deep learning, computer vision, robotics and more for your platform, runtime, or language.

Create cutting edge display solutions by innovating and optimizing your in-store applications. Combine digital content streaming, personalized interactions, and media hardware acceleration into a digital signage platform you can manage remotely.

See also:

The factory of the future will be smarter and more automated than ever. Discover IoT solutions offered by Intel that support the rigorous requirements for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), Industrial PCs (IPCs), human machine interfaces (HMIs) and more.

See also:

Expand the capabilities of your smart video system with the latest in HD graphics, real-time video encoding and transcoding, scalable video streaming and storage, video analytics, and artificial intelligence.

Smart home solutions enable you to interact and customize your home through responsive controls, natural language processors, personal assistants, cloud services and networks that simplify everyday tasks.

Automated driving starts with a suite of end-to-end capabilities developed by Intel. Use SDKs to draft and implement scalable, interoperable automated driving solutions, in-vehicle media experiences, and interactive user interfaces.

Move Beyond Proof of Concept and Start Gaining Insight Right Away

Build a functional prototype with a scalable Intel® IoT Gateway that does a lot more than just handle communication between local sensors and remote users. Use these pre-integrated hardware and software solutions to also collect and analyze data from the edge to the cloud-regardless of your performance and scalability requirements, or thermal and space constraints.
Find your gateway solution. >
Industrial solutions can be deployed on the same hardware that is used to develop and prototype solutions! When using the Up Squared* Grove IoT Development Kit professional developers can rapidly develop and deploy solutions without transferring the solutions to other .
Up Squared* Grove IoT Development Kit >
FPGAs are playing a more important role in IoT. Take advantage of hardware and software programmability, security, and high-performance features by using FPGA kits powered by Intel.

View all Intel® FPGA kits >

Get everything you need to prototype your way through business challenges with dev kits that work right out of the box. Choose the kit that matches your unique requirements, and in one package you'll have a platform for developing and deploying, complete with IDE, sensors, libraries, and cloud connectors.

View all IoT Developer Kits. >

Learn more about cloud services. >

Software Development Kits (SDKs)

Developers can leverage a variety of SDKs to help enable their IoT solutions. Intel offers a number of SDKs, including:

Use this SDK to develop and deploy vision-oriented solutions for autonomous vehicles, digital surveillance cameras, robotics, and mixed-reality headsets.

Use this SDK to develop media applications on Windows* and embedded Linux* for fast video playback, encoding, processing, and video conferencing.

This SDK allows you to offload compute-intensive parallel workloads to Intel® Graphics Technology.

Use this SDK to develop and train deep-learning solutions using your own hardware.

Accelerate math processing routines to increase application performance and reduce development time

Implement applications onto FPGAs easily, and write hardware-accelerated kernel functions in OpenCL™ C.

An IDE that Supports Consistency and Portability

Purpose-built for rapid code development in IoT environments, the Intel® System Studio is an Eclipse*-based IDE for developing in C++ or Java.

The IDE comes with built-in capabilities to easily integrate sensors via the UPM and MRAA libraries, templates, code libraries, samples, platform awareness, and other tools that work across the Intel® IoT Platform. Designed for IoT, the IDE is fine-tuned for embedded application performance, allows for easy sensor integration and is great for prototyping or production development.
UPM Sensor Library. >
This cloud based IDE solution integrates with Intel® boards and libraries for C++ development to enable streamlined prototyping of Intel® architecture based commercial applications. Enhanced IDE capabilities include: support for Ubuntu* and Wind River Linux* operating systems, support for multiple sketches running concurrently, Amazon Web Services (AWS)* and Microsoft Azure* integration, built in SDK support, and the exporting of Arduino Creat*e projects to Intel® System Studio 2018 Beta.

Sensors & Supporting Software that Just Works

Gain access to hundreds of sensors and sensor kits for both prototyping and industrial-grade applications, purpose-built for just about any conceivable application. Thanks to the sensor library framework and platform detection, you'll also get code samples that remain portable throughout the development cycle and as you scale up the enterprise.

Educational Tools

Get support throughout the development lifecycle in the form of education, instructional materials, and community.

This includes How-tos, live and on-demand tutorial videos, and documentation.
Visit the IoT Developer Zone

Be among the first to learn about roadshows, webinars, conferences, hackathons, and workshops that offer hands-on practical experience.

If you'd like to learn more about IoT solutions and development:

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A Scalable Path to Commercial IoT Solutions

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Fast Track Your Development Cycle from Prototype to Production Get to your development goal with hardware, software, and data solutions that work together seamlessly, at scale - and securely. From the cloud right out to the edge, Intel® IoT Technology offers a complete ecosystem for the connected future.

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Setting up an Intel® IoT Gateway using the Intel® IoT Developer Kit and Intel® IoT Gateway Software Suite

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Setting up an Intel® IoT Gateway using the Intel® IoT Developer Kit and Intel® IoT Gateway Software Suite

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IoT - Setting up an Intel® IoT Gateway using the Intel® IoT Developer Kit and Intel® IoT Gateway Software Suite

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This guide contains all the information you need to assemble your own commercial developer kit and begin programming it with the Intel® IoT Developer Kit. You'll use:

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The Website Services & Coordination Staff, US Census Bureau

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This interactive dataviz from the U.S. Census Bureau allows you to explore the relationship between college majors and occupations. http://go.usa.gov/XQxP

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Enterprise users that rely on password managers should be aware of a recently discovered vulnerability affecting a popular application.

Google Project Zero researcher Tavis Ormandy recently discovered a flaw in the Keeper password manager after a major browser extension, according to the Keeper Security blog. The company, which provides a password manager and digital vault for businesses and individuals, responded quickly to address the issue.

Discovering the Flaw

Ormandy discovered the vulnerability after he created a fresh installation of Windows 10 and noticed that the Keeper password manager was installed by default. The highly respected researcher reported a flaw in the same application last year and saw similar results on the new installation, SecurityWeek reported.

The bug affects Keeper browser extensions that are installed with the desktop application unless users opt out. Attackers can use the flaw to pilfer passwords saved by the app if they can persuade a valid user to access a malicious website.

In the blog post, Keeper CTO Craig Lurey noted that the flaw "fakes user input by using a malicious code injection technique to execute privileged code within the browser extension."

Updating Password Managers

Keeper resolved the flaw and issued an automatic extension update to customers within 24 hours. The company also removed the "Add to Existing" flow feature to resolve the issues.

Edge, Chrome and Firefox users have already received the update through their web browsers. Customers using Safari can run a manual update by visiting Keeper's download page.

According to Lurey, there are no reports of customers impacted by the bug. He also stated that mobile and desktop apps were unaffected and do not require an update.

News of this vulnerability should serve as a fresh reminder to IT managers about the importance of the technologies employees use to keep passwords and data secure.

Creating Strong Security Policies

Well-implemented and secure password managers can provide business benefits and simplify life for users. They eliminate the need for users to remember and type multiple passwords, and the tool will often autocomplete forms, allowing individuals to increase productivity and improve security.

Users still need to remember the password to access their management software. This can present issues, since the rules associated to consumer websites and enterprise systems often necessitate complex passwords that are changed regularly and include a broad range of characters. Fresh password guidelines released over the summer recommended using long, easy-to-remember phrases instead of words with special characters.

It is also worth noting that password managers are just one element of a strong technical approach to information security. Identity and access management solutions can help IT managers understand who is accessing which resources. These systems work with other security tools to detect anomalies, uncover threats and take remediation steps.

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New Vulnerability Found in Password Managers

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Enterprise users that rely on password managers should be aware of a recently discovered vulnerability affecting a popular application. Google Project Zero researcher Tavis Ormandy recently discovered a flaw in the Keeper password manager after a major browser extension, according to the Keeper Security blog.

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The Enemy Within: Overcoming a Company's Greatest Security Vulnerability - Its People

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If analysts have predicted correctly, the global cybersecurity market will soar to $101bn by 2018 and $170bn by 2020. This growth should come as little surprise to anyone in the industry: as the more data is stored and sent digitally, a breach becomes more likely.

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What is a Key Performance Indicator (KPI)?

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A Key Performance Indicator (KPI) is a measurable value that demonstrates how effectively a company is achieving key business objectives. Read our KPI guide to learn the meaning of the term.

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When Americans are asked what has brought the biggest improvement to their lives in the past five decades, they name technology more than any other advancement. And as Americans think about the next 50 years, they expect that technology, along with medical advances, will continue to have a major impact, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted May to June of this year.

The past 50 years have seen major changes in the U.S., from rapid social change ushered in by the civil and equal rights movements of the late 1960s, to biomedical innovations leading to increased success with human and artificial organ transplantation, to the emergence of the information age.

In an open-ended question, respondents were asked, "What would you say was the biggest improvement to life in America over the past 50 years or so?" Technology was cited most (42%), while far fewer respondents mentioned medicine and health (14%), civil and equal rights (10%) or other advancements. Technology was identified as the biggest improvement by whites (47%) and Hispanics (35%), while blacks were about as likely to name technology (26%) as they were civil and equal rights (21%).

The public's perception that the technological revolution has had a lasting impact on American society can be seen in other Pew Research Center studies - notably, a 2016 survey where 22% named the tech revolution as one of the most significant historical events in their lifetimes, behind the Sept. 11 attacks and the election of Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president. A separate 2016 survey found 52% of Americans judge technology to have had a generally positive effect on society overall, with many citing the ways in which technology improved the ease, speed and convenience of sharing information.

Another open-ended question in the same 2017 survey asked Americans to predict the biggest improvements to life over the next 50 years. The top responses were expected improvements from technology (22%) or from medicine and health (20%).

Expectations for biomedical and technological advancements are in keeping with a 2016 Pew Research Center survey in which 81% of U.S. adults said they fully expected artificial organs to be routinely available for transplant, 66% said that most forms of cancer would probably be cured and 48% said humans would definitely or probably use implanted sensors to monitor or adjust all food and medications that enter the bloodstream in the next 50 years.
Note: Methodology can be found here, and question topline can be found here.
Topics: Science and Innovation, Technology Adoption, Emerging Technology Impacts

Mark Strauss is a writer/editor focusing on science and society at Pew Research Center.

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Four-in-ten Americans credit technology with improving life most in the past 50 years

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When Americans are asked what has brought the biggest improvement to their lives in the past five decades, they name technology more than any other advancement. And as Americans think about the next 50 years, they expect that technology, along with medical advances, will continue to have a major impact, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted May to June of this year.

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Donald Knuth, Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Grace Hopper: The United States has produced some of the greatest software engineers who have ever lived.

But outside the United States computer technology and education have become far more accessible over the last 20 years or so, and that means that in China and many other less developed countries there are now plenty of young minds that have been trained to become skilled programmers.

So which countries produce the best coders is an interesting question to ask. Perhaps more importantly why do some countries lead the way?

China and Russia on top

One source of data about programmers' skills is HackerRank, a company that poses programming challenges to a community of more than a million coders and also offers recruitment services to businesses. Using information about how successful coders from different countries are at solving problems across a wide range of domains (such as "algorithms" or "data structures" or specific languages such as C++ or Java), HackerRank's data suggests that, overall, the best developers come from China, followed closely by Russia. Alarmingly, and perhaps unexpectedly, the United States comes in at 28 th place.

China is a vast country with a huge population, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that many people with a great aptitude for programming happen to be born there. The same is also true for Russia.

But that alone can't explain why Chinese and Russian coders rank so highly. And it's unlikely that the results are skewed towards these countries just because coders from them happen to like to participate in HackerRank challenges. That's because Chinese and Russian coders often outperform other countries in other coding events as well, including Google Code Jam, an international programming competition hosted and administered by Google.

While Chinese and Russian coders perform well across many of the fifteen domains for which HackerRank poses challenges, it's also worth noting that coders from specific countries excel in specific domains: Japanese coders are the best for artificial intelligence and Hong Kong produces the best Python programmers, while the best Ruby programmers are in Finland and Denmark is tops for SQL programmers. There are other surprises too. The best database programmers are from Switzerland, Ukraine produces the best security coders, Sri Lanka is the strongest for distributed systems, and France is tops for C++.

HackerRank

Getting an early start

Let's consider first why China and Russia produce such a wide range of skilled programmers. "One hypothesis is the way education in those countries is focused," says Heraldo Memelli, HackerRank's lead technical content manager. "At an early age people learn mathematics, sciences and programming. Great programmers can come from anywhere, and the fact that they learn mathematics earlier shows up later in the results of these challenges."

Shimi Zhang, a highly ranked Chinese competitive programmer, backs this hypothesis. "Math and computer science are very popular in China, and parents and students pay much attention to those topics along with other technology and science topics," he says. And, he points out, that level of competition for education means that Chinese students start studying from a very early age, and when they learn to code they tend to study intensively.

"Chinese students are very hard-working right from primary school, because there are not enough high quality education resources for all smart students," says Zhang. "They have to work really hard to get into a good middle school, high school and good universities. Many students maintain this habit when it comes to learning how to program."

There are differences, too, in the way that college students learn programming in the United States and in China, but Zhang thinks the American system has the edge. "[M]ost fundamental courses in universities in China are taught by lecturers, not professors, so the quality of these courses are not as high as in U.S. universities. And students in the U.S. can join research groups in their second or third year, but in China this only happens in top Universities."

Despite the United States having what Zhang considers to be a better university system, it seems that this is not enough to outweigh the benefits of starting early and competing with their peers.

More hackathons needed

What lessons can American universities looking to improve programming education learn from China's example? HackerRank's Memelli thinks it may be a good idea to add more competitive problem solving to the curriculum, or even outside it. "One thing that comes to mind is that U.S. educators could supplement what is taught in schools by organizing hands-on coding challenges, online hackathons and so on," he says.

By contrast, Zhang says that American students are already good at practical projects that involve solving real problems to build products. Chinese students, by contrast, have less opportunity to do test their skills on real-world problems so they spend more time in academia, focusing on fundamentals. "This actually helps [Chinese students] build a solid fundamental skillset before they go into industry," he says. "It is true that China is producing top programmers, but U.S. students are still really good at solving real challenges and changing our world."

Centers of excellence

It may be that China and Russia excel in a wide range of programming domains - and coding competitions as well - because of the way that their educational systems work. But what accounts for a particular country's strength in one specific domain? Why, for example, does Finland excel at Ruby?

The reason may be because of some "quirk" in that country, believes Memelli. "It's difficult to know for sure, but some countries' high rankings in a specific domain may come down to the school curriculum in that country, or the fact that a particular company or industry is important in that country, or that for some reason a particular programming language is popular there," says Memelli.

To Memelli's last point,particular skills are likely to proliferate where they are needed. So if one country needs a large number of artificial intelligence specialists to support a particular industry it's likely that there will be plenty of people there who learn, and practice, those skills.

That may sound obvious, but it does have an important implication when it comes to recruiting developers with the talents you need, or deciding where to base a particular project's operations. The bottom line is this: particular coding skills are not evenly distributed around the world. Until they are it makes sense to know where to look to find the best people.

Related video: Transforming development in the race to innovate

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Where to find the world's best programmers

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Donald Knuth, Ken Thompson, Dennis Ritchie, Grace Hopper: The United States has produced some of the greatest software engineers who have ever lived. But outside the United States computer technology and education have become far more accessible over the last 20 years or so, and that means that in China and many other less developed countries there are now plenty of young minds that have been trained to become skilled programmers.

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Statista releases annual "Made in" quality label index

Global ranking of countries with implications for international trade

More than 43,000 consumers from 52 countries surveyed

Germany leads ranking, Switzerland takes second place

USA only ranked 8th - Trump presidency tarnishes image of "Made in USA"

"Made in EU" secures bronze medal: collective label held in surprisingly high regard even outside Europe

Never before have so many goods been exported than over the course of this decade. The global volume of exports has increased fivefold since 1990. Statista, one of the world's leading databases for business-relevant facts and information, sought to find out which countries around the globe enjoy the best reputation as countries of manufacture and exporting nations and therefore surveyed some 43,000 consumers about labels such as "Made in Germany" or "Made in USA". The result is the Made-In-Country Index 2017 - a global ranking of countries and an indicator of the power of the individual nations' brand images.
Hamburg/New York/London, March 27, 2017 - "Made in Germany" is the most highly regarded quality label for goods and services around the world, outshining other major exporting nations' trust marks such as "Made in USA" or "Made in UK". This is one of the findings from Statista's Made-In-Country Index (MICI). The global ranking of countries allows for revealing analyses of the image that countries around the world have of certain products.

In early 2017, Statista, in cooperation with Dalia Research, surveyed over 43,000 consumers from 52 countries, in what is one of the world's largest and most comprehensive studies on international trade. Statista thus establishes a reliable and comparable standard for the assessment of national quality labels, which will be updated over the coming years.

The idea behind the index was to find answers to the following questions: How do consumers worldwide rate products from any other given country? Which "Made in" label ranks highest with global consumers? And finally, which countries are front runners with regard to single criteria such as design, sustainability, or price/performance ratio?

Germany is "Made in" World Champion

Here are the results: "Made in Germany" takes first place and is therefore the world's leading quality label. It was originally introduced 130 years ago in Great Britain to protect the nation's market from cheap imports and warn domestic consumers of counterfeit products from Germany. Ever since then, the popularity of "Made in Germany" has risen steadily. Today it is more powerful than ever. The label's first-place position is mainly based on the positive ratings in the product categories of "quality" and "security standards" along with the overall popularity of "Made in Germany" across many countries in the world: Germany holds the number one position in 13 countries.

Switzerland is in second place and received very high ratings from around the world in the categories of "status symbol" and "authenticity" in particular. Italy excels with regard to design, while Japan received the best "advanced technology" ratings of all countries. China outshines others regarding "price/performance ratio".

(Download this chart here: https://www.statista.com/chart/8654/mici-the-worlds-most-respected-made-in-labels/)

"Made in EU" Highly Respected around the Globe

The results for the "Made in EU" label, which was established as late as in 2003 by the EU commission, are in fact remarkable as it ranked third in the global ranking. "Made in EU" primarily owes its positive reputation to consistently high global ratings. Thus, not only consumers from European Community countries such as, for instance, Sweden and Great Britain, have faith in the label, but also respondents from outside the EU. "Made in EU" accordingly took top places in almost all South American countries (e.g. Argentina and Colombia). In total, the label made it into the top 3 eight times, especially due to its high ratings in the categories of "quality" and "technology". This sum of high ratings compensates for the fact that it was ranked first by consumers from just one country (Algeria).

USA: Trump Has Negative Impact on Nation's Foreign Trade

The high-tech country USA, on the other hand, experienced a wholly different development. The world's largest economy alone accounts for about ten percent of the volume of global trade. Recent news about the negotiations of free trade agreements, tariffs, or border controls were therefore hotly discussed. Moreover, projects that date back to the Obama administration such as NAFTA and TTIP are currently critically assessed. This may be one of the reasons why the United States of America did not make it into the top group of the Made-In-Country Index. All in all, the USA ranks eighth and are thus behind countries such as Great Britain, Sweden, and Canada.

The United States is furthermore among those countries, whose global reputations have worsened the most over the course of the past twelve months. But the USA is not the only example of the fact that political upheavals do have a noticeable effect on the image of certain countries of manufacture. Turkey's and Greece's scores are also linked to recent political developments that damage both countries' reputations.

(Download the map here: https://www.statista.com/chart/8649/mici-where-made-in-usa-has-the-best-reputation/)

Domestic Products Are Often the Most Highly Regarded Ones

The MICI 2017 supports the assumption that countries do rate themselves highly. Germany, the USA, and Great Britain serve as examples as respondents from these countries rated their own countries highest ( see world map). Neighboring countries, on the other hand, are often rather critically looked at: an example of low scores for products "Made in Neighboring Country" is the rating for French products in Germany and the Netherlands, while "Made in China" ranks last in Hong Kong.

"A highly regarded 'Made-in' quality label can serve a protective function. A country's brand can, on the other hand, be negatively affected by political and economic events. In that case, economic consequences will follow immediately," comments Statista CEO Friedrich Schwandt regarding the results of the Made-In-Country Index 2017. "Our index shows that 'Made-in' is a brand that has to be managed and strengthened just like any other brand. With our index, many nations can see the fruits of their successful foreign trade activities. To others it illustrates the work that still needs to be done in that regard."
The Made-In-Country Index 2017 report can be downloaded . This website also features an interview with the study's project manager Nicolas Loose - which you may directly quote from - along with many infographics about the individual country rankings. If you would like to receive the full report, please send an email to thorsten.wiese@statista.com
About Statista's Made-in-Country Index

In early 2017, Statista, in cooperation with Dalia Research, asked some 43,000 consumers from 52 countries for their judgements about of 50 "Made-in" labels (49 countries plus "Made in EU"). During the final evaluation, all data was weighted by volume of imports: ratings of US consumers, for instance, were weighted more heavily than those of Peru. Respondents represent 90 percent of the global population. All results can be found on https://www.statista.com/page/Made-In-Country-Index.
About Dalia Research
About Statista

Statista GmbH operates Statista.com, a leading data and business intelligence portal. Statista provides its customers with considerable efficiency and cost benefits with regard to locating business-relevant information, primarily in the form of statistics, on a single highly-relevant platform. The portal offers a vast pool of data in German, English, French, and Spanish, which is collected in accordance with customer needs and expanded on a daily basis. The platform today already gives access to some one million statistics from over 18,000 sources covering more than 600 industries and offers - in three equal parts - data from Statista's own collections, data from partners, and data from publicly available sources. Based on this data Statista constantly develops new, innovative data-based products such as, for instance, national rankings (e.g. "Best Employer", "Best Law Firm", etc.). Furthermore, Statista designs up-to-date infographics to the specifications of its customers. For more information about Statista please visit www.statista.com.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Berlin, Dalia harnesses the app economy and advanced data science to distribute millions of micro surveys worldwide to gather and analyze real time data on consumer attitudes, public opinion and market trends. Backed by some of Europe's leading venture capital firms, including Balderton Capital and Wellington Partners, Dalia has generated over a billion answers from people spread across 96 countries with the resulting data cited in over 2.000 news articles globally ( www.daliaresearch.com).

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Statista releases annual "Made in" quality label index Global ranking of countries with implications for international trade More than 43,000 consumers from 52 countries surveyed Germany leads ranking, Switzerland takes second place USA only ranked 8th - Trump presidency tarnishes image of "Made in USA" "Made in EU" secures bronze medal: collective label held in surprisingly high regard even outside Europe Never before have so many goods been exported than over the course of this decade.

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EHR Security and Intel® Healthcare IT Encryption Solutions

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Solution Brief: Intel Healthcare IT discusses a practical, multilayered solution organizations can use to achieve a privacy and security practice.

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• "The Consequences of Financial Myopia" Jay Mooreland. The Emotional Investor. Apr 2015.

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human rights in an information age: a philosophical analysis

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droits de l'homme (droit international) - philosophie

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droits economiques et sociaux - aspect moral

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human rights - moral and ethical aspects

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technologie de l'information - aspect social

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Human Rights in an Information Age: A Philosophical Analysis

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How can we balance new information technology practices with human rights? In Human Rights in an Information Age, Gregory Walters analyses Canadian and global information highway policy and practices regarding the Internet, e-commerce, public health and safety, privacy and security, and informati...

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Internet of Things project failure and success 2017: the facts behind the data

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Internet of Things project failure and success 2017: the facts behind the data

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Cisco Survey Reveals Close to Three-Fourths of IoT Projects are Failing

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Internet of Things project failure and success 2017: the facts behind the data

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Why the majority of IoT projects are failing - data and analysis to achieve Internet of Things success.

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 Nielsen Norman Group: The Distribution of Users’ Computer Skills: Worse Than You Thinkby JAKOB NIELSEN on November 13, 2016Topics: Behavior Patterns Psychology and UX

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 Nielsen Norman Group: The Distribution of Users’ Computer Skills: Worse Than You Thinkby JAKOB NIELSEN on November 13, 2016Topics: Behavior Patterns Psychology and UX

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The Distribution of Users’ Computer Skills: Worse Than You Think

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Across 33 rich countries, only 5% of the population has high computer-related abilities, and only a third of people can complete medium-complexity tasks.

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Closing the cybersecurity skills gap - ISACA Now

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The Cybersecurity Skills Crisis in Numbers

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Trustwave helps businesses fight cybercrime, protect data and reduce security risk through cloud and managed security services, integrated technologies and a team of consultants, ethical hackers and security researchers.

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Behind every new hack or data breach, there's a company scrambling to put out the fire. That's good news for job seekers with cyber security skills. Employers can't hire them fast enough.

The ISACA, a non-profit information security advocacy group, predicts there will be a global shortage of . And for every ten cyber security job ads that appear on careers site two million cyber security professionals by 2019. Every year in the U.S., 40,000 jobs for information security analysts go unfilled, and employers are struggling to fill 200,000 other cyber-security related roles, according to cyber security data tool Indeed, only seven people even click on one of the ads, let alone apply.

It's easy to see why these jobs are in demand. I know I've lost count of major data breaches , and the stakes for companies are high. Recent research by Cisco showed that 29% of breached organizations lost revenue. And breaches can impact companies of all types, from large corporations to small hospitals. On the black market, health care records reportedly apiece.

One of the most in-demand cyber security roles is security analyst, says Bill Bonifacic, who leads the cyber security practice at recruiting firm blueStone Recruiting . Security analysts work to prevent and mitigate breaches on the ground. In 2012 there were security analyst jobs in the U.S., with median earnings of $86,170. Three years later, there were such analysts making $90,120.

Another hot job is security manager, says Bonifacic. Security managers develop and implement overarching processes to keep information private. Often you'll need a professional certification to be considered for such a role, like a CISM (Certified Information Security Manager) or CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

Compensation for the most senior roles in cyber security, like chief information security officer, can reach $400,000, says Bonifacic. Cyber security jobs commanded a $6,500 premium over other IT jobs in a 2015 study by analytics firm Burning Glass.

If you're interested in a cyber security career, where should you look? Large health care, financial and global manufacturing firms need armies of cyber security professionals, according to Bonifacic, as do professional services firms like Deloitte and EY.

And what type of experience stands out on a resume? If you're coming from a large company that hasn't been in the news for a data breach, that bodes well. Abbott, a health care firm with 75,000 employees that makes medical devices and pharmaceuticals, falls into this category. Bonifacic says, "If you were running security at Abbott, you're going to do very well."

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The Fast-Growing Job With A Huge Skills Gap: Cyber Security

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Behind every new hack or data breach, there's a company scrambling to put out the fire. That's good news for job seekers with cyber security skills. But employers can't hire them fast enough. There could be a global shortage of two million cyber security professionals by 2019.

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Information Technology Research - Information Systems Research| ISACA

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Research products for IT governance, control, assurance and security professionals. Latest research information covering the critical roles of IT in business.

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Millennials are on track to become the most educated generation in history -and the phenomenon is global. The average rate of people completing higher tertiary education in eight of the OECD's 12 largest economies increased by nearly 10 percentage points between 2000 and 2012, from 27.7% at the start of the millennium to 37.4%.

These figures-explored in Indeed's Labor Market Outlook 2016-don't just illustrate the increase in the number of degrees in the world, but also the large jump in the amount of money people are spending on education. Yet even as people spend more to learn more, the trend does not always result in graduates who are ready for the workplace. In fact, employers often struggle to recruit the talent they need.

Nearly one-third of millennials lack work-related computer skills

In the US, 32% of people aged 16 to 29 have no work-related computer experience. This means that even though millennials have grown up on the internet, some may not be developing the tech skills needed in today's workplaces.

What does this mean for employers? The simple answer is that they will likely need to play a greater role in developing talent.

Traditionally, businesses have supported educational institutions as a means of cultivating skills in the workforce. But while time-honored initiatives such as funding programs and facilities may increase brand awareness among students, their effectiveness as a training tool is difficult to measure.

Meanwhile, 61% of US employers currently offer a form of tuition reimbursement-demonstrating a commitment to continuing education. If employers want to see a workforce with more of the skills they need, then they may need to strengthen that commitment and enact more targeted educational efforts.

New educational models are one way the skills gap is closing

The good news is that today's rapidly changing educational landscape can provide employers with the tools they need to close the skills gap left by more traditional approaches. For instance, when it comes to fostering needed skills, online learning platforms such as Khan Academy and Codecademy can help employees pick up new talents quickly. Massively Open Online Courses (MOOCs) like Coursera and Udacity offer courses and certifications in conjunction with employers and academic institutions to make previously exclusive education more accessible.

And for many, this kind of education is leading to employment. Course Report, one provider of online and in-person bootcamps, says that 75% of their graduates report (PDF) going to work in a job that required the skills they learned in their course.

As the concept of online learning has developed, so the range of training on offer has broadened. For instance, the Udemy platform offers not only tech training, but also courses on key business tools such as Excel, useful in so many contexts, but also Google Analytics which is essential for today's digital marketers.

For generations, high-skill professions have relied on years of undergraduate and graduate education to qualify large swaths of their workforce. But that may all be changing. And as alternative models of education emerge, employers can find their place in the evolving ecosystem. Starbucks College Achievement Plan is one oft-cited example of how education both attracts, retains and develops great talent-a benefit many other employers are working to establish as well.

For more valuable employer insights, download our report Labor Market Outlook 2016: Uncovering the Causes of Global Jobs Mismatch.

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32% of Millennials Lack Work-Related Computer Skills - Indeed Blog

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Millennials are on track to become the most educated generation in history -and the phenomenon is global. The average rate of people completing higher tertiary education in eight of the OECD's 12 largest economies increased by nearly 10 percentage points between 2000 and 2012, from 27.7% at the start of the millennium to 37.4%.

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A Conversation about Communicating Science

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A Conversation about Communicating Science

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Neil deGrasse Tyson - A Conversation about Communicating Science

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The Moon, the Tides and why Neil deGrasse Tyson is Colbert's God A Conversation about Communicating Science Recorded: January 20, 2011 http://www.thesciencenetwork.org Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson is the Director of the Hayden Planetarium in New York City, host of the PBS series NOVA Science Now and co-host (with comedienne Lynne Koplitz) of the radio show Star Talk.

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Integrated Health Model Initiative (AMA)

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Integrated Health Model Initiative (AMA)

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IHMI

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AMA to Unleash a New Era of Patient Care

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New collaborative initiative brings health and technology stakeholders around a common data model.

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The next evolution of wireless is coming in 2020, and it's going to change the world when it launches! Here's everything you should know about 5G, in one video. (Hint: It's all about self-driving cars and insanely fast wifi speeds!)

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Charting the Course to 5G

Set to arrive within the next three years, 5G could account for as many as 1.1 billion connections by 2025. By then, 5G networks are likely to cover one third of the world's population. The impact on the mobile industry and its customers will be profound.

5G is more than a new generation of technologies it denotes a new era in which connectivity will become increasingly fluid and flexible. 5G Networks will adapt to applications and performance will be tailored precisely to the needs of the user.

Working closely with the mobile operators pioneering 5G, the GSMA is engaging with governments, and vertical industry's including the automotive industry, financial services, healthcare providers, transport operators, utilities and other industry sectors to develop business cases for 5G.

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The future is here and IP is at the centre of it. The strategic importance of IP-based solutions is clear; having all-IP based infrastructure and services enables operators to deliver a broader, deeper communications portfolio - incorporating voice, data, video and other rich communication services.

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Hyperconnectivity

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About the 2017 ETSI Summit

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. Maximum room capacity has been reached. For further information, please contact ETSI events at events@etsi.org.

This year's ETSI Summit will offer a unique opportunity to tackle the many open questions relating to the 5G network infrastructure and the multiple technological developments that will be necessary to meet the requirements of 5G.

The previous ETSI 5G Summit held in April 2016 examined many of the topics relating to 5G, particularly the new use cases that will be supported by the 5G network, as well as the spectrum and radio access aspects. That work would be incomplete without considering the complete 5G end to end architecture.

This 2017 ETSI summit will focus on 5G network infrastructure: the technological solutions that will be needed in order to enable true scalable mobility and to fulfil the ambitious 5G requirements, in terms of performance, reliability, energy efficiency and security. During the event, we will:

examine how the limitations of the current network architecture may prevent the realization of the 5G requirements,

hear from 3GPP about their plans for standardization beyond the air interface, and learn their prioritization of work across their four main requirements groups: enhanced mobile broadband, massive IoT, critical communications, and network operations,

examine the state of development of new or upcoming technology solutions which could influence near-term and longer term 5G work - work which is ongoing both inside and outside of ETSI,

hear from ETSI's partners in standardization, those we work directly with inside 3GPP, and other important organizations who will help shape our future 5G networks.

Standardization, both plans and status, will be the thread running through all of our discussions.

Who should attend, and why?

The annual ETSI Summit brings together key decision makers from ETSI members, including operators, manufacturers, service providers, regulators and policy makers, end-user industry sectors and researchers. It is a unique event, perhaps the only event in the calendar where high-level management can exchange and openly debate about standardization priorities, helping to shape the work of ETSI in the years to come.

Each year we focus on a specific but important aspect of ETSI's work, perhaps none being as important as the 2017 ETSI Summit topic: 5G network infrastructure standardization.

The event is open to all upon registration.

Programme Committee

Bruno Chatras, ETSI NTECH Chairman, ETSI NFV Vice-Chairman, Orange Labs Networks

Gerry Foster, 5G Innovation Centre (5GIC), Institute of Communications Systems, University of Surrey

Simon Hicks, ETSI General Assembly Chairman, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, UK

Diego Lopez, ETSI NFV Chairman, Telefonica S.A.

Georg Mayer, 3GPP CT Chairman, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd

Andy Sutton, former ETSI NGP Chairman, BT

Dirk Weiler, ETSI Board Chairman, Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co.

David Boswarthick, Director of CSC, ETSI

David Boswarthick, Director of CSC, ETSI
Member of the Programme Committee
David is currently responsible for the ETSI team supporting the technical organization (TBs and ISGs). Relevant projects include NFV, MEC, NGP and other key activities such as enabling the creation of IoT/M2M standards in collaboration with the European Commission particularly for domains such as Smart Cities. He has been extensively involved in the standardization activities of Machine to Machine, mobile, fixed and convergent networks in both the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI) and the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). David holds a BEng Honours Degree in Telecommunications Engineering, Plymouth Polytechnic UK, and Master's Degree (DEA) in Networks and Distributed systems from the University of Nice and Sophia Antipolis, France.

Bruno Chatras, ETSI NTECH Chairman, ETSI NFV Vice-Chairman
Member of the Programme Committee
Bruno Chatras is a senior standardization manager at Orange Labs Networks and a member of the Orange experts' community on Future Networks. He is the Chairman of the ETSI Technical Committee on Network Technologies (NTECH) and a Vice-Chairman of the ETSI Industry Specification Group on Network Functions Virtualisation (ETSI NFV). Bruno joined France Telecom / Orange in 1985, where he started his carrier by developing GSM standards. Since then he held several management positions within Orange, where he led the Intelligent networks R&D Unit and has been Vice-Chairman of the ETSI Technical Committee on NGN and ITU-T Rapporteur for Intelligent Networks.

Laurent Ciavaglia, IRTF Network Management Research Group (NRMG) Co-chair
Laurent Ciavaglia works at Nokia Bell Labs in Paris, France inventing new technologies for networks, turning concepts into real-life innovations. Recently, he is having fun (and some headaches) trying to combine network management and artificial intelligence. Laurent has been involved in and led several European research projects, such as UNIVERSELF developing a unified management framework for autonomic network functions ( www.univerself-project.eu). Laurent serves as co-chair of the IRTF Network Management Research Group (NRMG), and participates in the IETF, essentially in the OPS area. Previously, he was vice-chair of the ETSI ISG on Autonomics for Future Internet (AFI), working on the definition of standards for self-managing networks. Laurent has been recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of the IEEE SDN initiative Softwarization newsletter, and acts as Standards Liaison Officer for the IEEE ComSoc Technical Committee on Autonomic Communications (TCAC).

Gerry Foster, 5G Innovation Centre, Institute of communications Systems, (ICS), University of Surrey
Member of the Programme Committee
Gerard Foster is a 5G Systems Architect at the 5G Innovation Centre, Institute of communications Systems, (ICS), University of Surrey. Gerard has authored papers in journals and conferences covering communications architecture topics across both fixed and wireless access technologies. His career spans the cellular GPRS, UMTS and LTE generations where he has worked in R&D at GEC, Motorola, Lucent and Teoco, generated more than 30 granted patents and continuously contributed to standards activities at 3GPP, ETSI and the IETF. His current interests include; Next Generation Protocols and Architecture, Content and Context Aware Networks and Telecoms Virtualisation through NFV, SDN and MANO. Gerry is a Chartered Engineer of the IET, and graduated in Communications Engineering from Plymouth University, UK.

Peter Haigh, UK National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC)
Peter Haigh is Technical Director for Telecommunications at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre. He is responsible for understanding the cyber security risk to the UK's telecommunications networks and works with major operators and vendors on improving cyber security practice. Peter is also involved in defining the UK government's approach to secure communications. He attends 3GPP's security working group, and has helped define the security of 3GPP's Mission Critical communications standard. Prior to his current role, Peter has a history of performing cryptographic and security evaluations, including evaluating the Blackberry handset for use by UK government over a decade ago. Peter is a Fellow of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications and studied mathematics at Cambridge University and Nottingham University.

Kaela Loffler, Marketing & Industry Alliances, Netrounds
Member, ETSI Open Source MANO Marketing Task Force
Kaela is the Director of Marketing and Industry Alliances for Netrounds and is responsible for driving engaging external communications and branding strategies, as well as translating market expectations to sales engagement support. Prior to Netrounds, Kaela held roles within business development, marketing, and program management, focusing on OEM and technology alliances. Kaela is also a member of the ETSI Open Source MANO Marketing Task Force. She holds a Master of Business Management degree from the University of British Columbia in Canada.

Georg Mayer, 3GPP CT Chairman
Georg Mayer is the Chairman of 3GPP CT and works for Huawei. His current focus is on the 5G CorNetwork and the coordination of 5G protocol work not only within 3GPP but also towards IETF, ETSI, GSMA and other bodies.
Georg works in telecommunication standards since 1998 and in 3GPP since 2001. Besides other publications he co-authored a book on IMS.

Kevin Smith, ETSI NGP Chairman
Kevin Smith is Senior Technology Strategist, Vodafone Group R&D. Kevin has worked with mobile Internet technologies since 1999, as a developer, enterprise architect and standards contributor. Since 2007 he has represented Vodafone at industry fora, including W3C, OMA, GSMA and IETF; and chaired several cross-operator and multi-vendor initiatives, including OneAPI and GSMA's ENCRY and SMART groups. He is the current chair of ETSI ISG NGP (Next Generation Protocols), driving the need for new Internet protocols that can securely sustain a broad range of 5G scenarios.

John Strassner, MEF Orchestration Area Co-Director
Dr. John Strassner joined Huawei as the CTO of the Software Labs for the Americas Research Division in 2011. He is currently a Distinguished Fellow of the TMF, and a Co-Director for the MEF Orchestration Area. Before joining Huawei, he was a tenured professor computer science; past industry positions included VP and Fellow of Motorola and Cisco, and the CSO of Intelliden (a startup bought by IBM). John's passion is leading and researching disruptive ICT research and solutions that involve autonomics, policy-based management, software architecture and engineering, and AI. John has over 330 refereed journals and publications, and over 68 issued and in-process patents.

Andy Sutton, Former ETSI NGP Chairman, BT
Member of the Programme Committee
Andy Sutton is a Principal Network Architect within BT Architecture and Technology. He is responsible for RAN architecture evolution, mobile backhaul strategy and architecture, and 5G end to end network architecture. He has over 30 years of experience within the telecommunications industry, mainly in radio access, transmission and transport network strategy, architecture and design. During his career Andy has worked for Mercury Communications Ltd, Orange, H3G, EE and BT. Andy is a Visiting Professor with the department of Computing, Science and Engineering at the University of Salford and a research mentor at the 5G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey. He sits on the industry advisory boards of the EU FP8 H2020 iCirrus project and Tweether project. He contributes to International telecommunications standardisation activities and several industry forums. Andy is a founding member of ETSI ISG NGP and was chair of the group during 2016.

Joan Triay, ETSI NFV TSC Chair
Joan Triay is a research and standardization specialist at DOCOMO Euro-Labs, in Munich, Germany, which he joined in 2012, and where he is currently involved in standardization and research activities spanning different areas such as network virtualization, mobile communication networks, and 5G network management. In the ETSI NFV, Joan is currently serving as the Technical Manager, and previously as the Assistant Technical Manager. He joined the ETSI NFV from the very beginning (2013) and has been participating actively in developing the NFV concepts and standards. Before joining NTT DOCOMO, Joan was in charge of managing the research activities at i2CAT Foundation, in Barcelona, Spain. Prior to that, he also held different research positions in the academia community including visiting researcher positions in USA and UK. Joan holds a Ph.D. in Telematics Engineering (Computer Networks) (2011) from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain.

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ETSI Summit on 5G Network Infrastructure

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION: REGISTRATION IS CLOSED. Maximum room capacity has been reached. For further information, please contact ETSI events at events@etsi.org. This year's ETSI Summit will offer a unique opportunity to tackle the many open questions relating to the 5G network infrastructure and the multiple technological developments that will be necessary to meet the requirements of 5G.

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NSF investments in the next generation of data networks spread across various research programs as well as infrastructure investments in advanced testbeds. Research in 5G spans a comprehensive array of areas from advanced physical layers to the support of emerging applications in 5G networks.

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Transforming to a Hyper-connected Society and Economy - Towards an "Industry 4.0"

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Volatile markets and global and inter-industrial networks are creating a radically more dynamic market environment which calls for considerably greate...

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mMTC 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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mMTC 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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"The main challenge in mMTC is scalable and efficient connectivity for a massive number of devices sending very short packets, which is not done adequately in cellular systems designed for human-type communications. "

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[1606.03893] Massive Machine-type Communications in 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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Abstract: Machine-type communications (MTC) are expected to play an essential role within future 5G systems. In the FP7 project METIS, MTC has been further classified into "massive Machine-Type Communication" (mMTC) and "ultra-reliable Machine-Type Communication" (uMTC). While mMTC is about wireless connectivity to tens of billions of machine-type terminals, uMTC is about availability, low latency, and high reliability.

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mMTC 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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mMTC 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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"The main challenge in mMTC is scalable and efficient connectivity for a massive number of devices sending very short packets, which is not done adequately in cellular systems designed for human-type communications. "

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[1606.03893] Massive Machine-type Communications in 5G: Physical and MAC-layer solutions

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Abstract: Machine-type communications (MTC) are expected to play an essential role within future 5G systems. In the FP7 project METIS, MTC has been further classified into "massive Machine-Type Communication" (mMTC) and "ultra-reliable Machine-Type Communication" (uMTC). While mMTC is about wireless connectivity to tens of billions of machine-type terminals, uMTC is about availability, low latency, and high reliability.

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5G will bring new opportunities and growth to every industry by combining high network speeds with extremely low latency.

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5G For Humans and Machines: Use Cases and Requirements

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5G For Humans and Machines: Use Cases and Requirements

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Massive Machine Type Communications (mMTC)

It is predicted that 5G technology will produce tremendous economic gains as a result of:

Faster data access

Provide support for numerous amounts of devices that will be diverse within the Internet of Things (IoT).

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IEEE Spectrum: Technology, Engineering, and Science News

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Illustration: Miguel Navarro/Getty Images

We've all been there. You're driving down the highway, just as Google Maps instructed, when Siri tells you to "proceed east for one-half mile, then merge onto the highway." But you're already on the highway. After a moment of confusion and perhaps some rude words about Siri and her extended AI family, you realize the problem: Your GPS isn't accurate enough for your navigation app to tell if you're on the highway or on the road beside it.

Those days are nearly at an end. At the ION GNSS+ conference in Portland, Ore., today Broadcom announced that it is sampling the first mass-market chip that can take advantage of a new breed of global navigation satellite signals and will give the next generation of smartphones 30-centimeter accuracy instead of today's 5 meters. Even better, the chip works in a city's concrete canyons, and it consumes half the power of today's generation of chips. The chip, the BCM47755, has been included in the design of some smartphones slated for release in 2018, but Broadcom would not reveal which.

GPS and other global navigation satellite systems (GNSSs), such as Europe's Galileo, Japan's QZSS, and Russia's Glonass, allow a receiver to determine its position by calculating its distance from three or more satellites. All GNSS satellites-even the oldest generation still in use-broadcast a message called the L1 signal, which includes the satellite's location, the time, and an identifying signature pattern. A newer generation broadcasts a more complex signal called L5 at a different frequency in addition to the legacy L1 signal. The receiver essentially uses these signals to fix its distance from each satellite based on how long it takes the signal to go from satellite to receiver.

Broadcom's receiver first locks onto the satellite with the L1 signal and then refines its calculated position with L5. The latter is superior, especially in cities, because it is much less prone to distortions from multipath reflections than L1.

IIlustration: Broadcom

In a city, the satellite's signals reach the receiver both directly and by bouncing off of one or more buildings. The direct signal and any reflections arrive at slightly different times, and if they overlap, they add up to form a sort of signal blob. The receiver is looking for the peak of that blob to fix the time of arrival. But the messier the blob, the less accurate that fix, and the less accurate the final calculated position will be.

However, L5 signals are so brief that the reflections are unlikely to overlap with the direct signal. The receiver chip can simply ignore any signal after the first one it receives, which is the direct path. The Broadcom chip also uses information in the phase of the carrier signal to further improve accuracy.

Though there are advanced systems that use L5 on the market now, these are generally for industrial purposes, such as oil and gas exploration. Broadcom's BCM47755 is the first mass-market chip that uses both L1 and L5.

Why is this only happening now? "Up to now there haven't been enough L5 satellites in orbit," says Manuel del Castillo, associate director of GNSS product marketing at Broadcom. At this point, there are about 30 such satellites in orbit, counting a set that only flies over Japan and Australia. Even in a city's "narrow window of sky you can see six or seven, which is pretty good," Del Castillo says. "So now is the right moment to launch."

Image: Broadcom

Broadcom had to get the improved accuracy to work within a smartphone's limited power budget. Fundamentally, that came down to three things: moving to a more power-efficient 28-nanometer-chip manufacturing process, adopting a new radio architecture (which Broadcom would not disclose the details of), and designing a power-saving dual-core sensor hub. In total, they add up to a 50 percent power savings over Broadcom's previous, less accurate chip.

In smartphones, sensor hubs take the raw data from the system's sensors and process it to provide only the information the phone's applications processor needs, thereby taking the computational burden and its accompanying power draw off of the applications processor. For instance, a sensor hub might monitor the accelerometer looking for signs that you had flipped your phone's orientation from vertical to horizontal. It would then just send the applications processor the equivalent of the word "horizontal" instead of a stream of complex accelerations.

The sensor hub in the BCM47755 takes advantage of the ARM's "big.LITTLE" design-a dual-core architecture in which a simple low-power processor core is paired with a more complex core. The low-power core, in this case an ARM Cortex M-0, handles simple, continuous tasks. The more powerful but power-hungry core, a Cortex M-4, comes in only when it's needed.

The BCM4775 is just the latest development in a global push for centimeter-level navigation accuracy. Bosch, Geo++, Mitsubishi Electric, and U-blox established a joint venture called Sapcorda Services in August, to provide centimeter-level accuracy. Sapcorda seems to depend on using ground stations to measure errors in GPS and Galileo satellite signals due to atmospheric distortions. Those measurements would then be sent to receivers in handsets and other systems to improve accuracy.

Japan's US $1.9 billion Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) also relies on error correction, but it additionally improves on urban navigation by adding a set of satellites that guarantees one is visible directly overhead even in the densest part of Tokyo. The third of those four satellites launched in August. A fourth is planned for October, and the system is to come online in 2018.

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Superaccurate GPS Chips Coming to Smartphones in 2018

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We've all been there. You're driving down the highway, just as Google Maps instructed, when Siri tells you to "proceed east for one-half mile, then merge onto the highway." But you're already on the highway.

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The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of things which are connected to the Internet. These things include IoT devices and IoT-enabled physical assets. They range from consumer devices such as smart home solutions or pet trackers to sensor-equipped connected livestock and crop, industrial assets such as machines, robots, oil and gas facilities or even workers.

In fact, you can connect everything and everything is indeed a lot. The question is not what you can connect but why you would do so: the purpose, the outcomes. And here is well there are a lot of potential goals which determine what things you want to connect so you can capture data from them (and have sent from, between and/or to them).
IoT is an umbrella term with many use cases, technologies, standards and applications. Moreover, it's part of a bigger reality with even more technologies. The things and data are the starting point and essence of what IoT enables and means. IoT devices and assets are equipped with electronics, such as sensors and actuators, connectivity/communication electronics and software to capture, filter and exchange data about themselves, their state and their environment.

The Internet of Things is the third wave in the development of the Internet.

The connection of IoT 'things' and usage of IoT data enables various improvements and innovations in the lives of consumers, in business, healthcare, mobility, cities and society. The potential goals of IoT are often segmented into IoT use cases: reasons for which IoT is deployed. Examples: health monitoring, asset tracking, environmental monitoring, predictive maintenance and home automation.

There are hundreds of IoT use cases, depending on the industry and/or type of application. Some IoT use cases exist across industries, others are more vertical. An example: asset tracking is a universal use case. It could be a consumer application to know where your pet or skateboard is. But it could also mean tracking containers on a huge cargo ship. Same basic principle, a world of difference regarding technologies and context.
IoT is an essential driver for customer-facing innovation, data-driven optimization and automation, digital transformation, R&D and entirely new applications, business models and revenue streams across all sectors. In this IoT business guide you can learn about the origins, technologies and evolutions of IoT with business examples, applications and research.
The Internet of Things is the logical next step in the evolution of the Internet and is a continuation of M2M (machine-to-machine) networks and technologies, building upon and extending technologies in M2M, mobile technologies, RFID and more.
Forecasts show an expected Internet of Things universe with between 20 and 30 billion connected devices by 2020

IoT stretches further than these roots while encompassing them and became ever more popular due to several factors, including the lower costs of sensors and enabling technologies and networks.

The Internet of Things converges industries and business areas, uniting Information Technology and Operational Technology and contributing to industrial transformation (Industry 4.0) and a wave of use cases in what is called the Industrial IoT and is the largest segment of IoT applications and investments. The main areas of Internet of Things investments (industries and use cases) include manufacturing operations, transportation, smart grid technologies, smart buildings and, increasingly, consumer Internet of Things and smart home automation.
Time to dive deeper. Welcome to your IoT business guide. Please use the table of contents to find the information you need. IoT is an umbrella term for a broad range of underlying technologies and services, which depend on the use cases and in turn are part of a broader technology ecosystem which includes related technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, next-gen cybersecurity, advanced analytics, big data, various connectivity/communication technologies, digital twin simulation, augmented and virtual reality, blockchain and more.
From a business perspective ecosystems, in the broad sense of partnerships, collaborations, channel partnerships, alliances and ecosystems of innovation/collaboration are also key to IoT.

The Internet of Things is the interconnection of endpoints (devices and things) which can be uniquely addressed and identified with an IP (Internet Protocol) address. With the Internet of Things, devices can be connected to the Internet, sense, gather, receive and send data and communicate with each other and applications via IP technologies, platforms and connectivity solutions.

The interconnection of physical devices with embedded sensing and communication possibilities, including sensors and actuators, is not new and has a long history in the sense of M2M networks of which it is a next and broader step. In the Internet of Things, physical endpoints are connected through uniquely identifiable IP addresses; whereby data can be gathered, aggregated, communicated and analyzed (increasingly at the edge of the network: edge computing and fog computing) via embedded electronics and software, IoT nodes and IoT gateways, additional connectivity technologies and the cloud, networks and IoT platforms with a growing integration of AI, IoT and other technologies such as blockchain.

IoT is an additional layer of information, interaction, transaction and action which is added to the Internet thanks to devices, equiped with data sensing, analysis and communication capabilities, using Internet technologies. The Internet of Things further bridges digital and physical realities and powers information-driven automation and improvements on the level of business, society and people's lives.

Captured, aggregated and analyzed data are leveraged for several use cases, including maintenance, human, semi-autonomous and autonomous decisions (whereby data flows don't just come from IoT- enabled devices but also are exchanged between them, occur within them or are sent to them in the form of instructions), scientific research, real-time monitoring, data exchanges, new business models and far more.

The Internet of Things is a reality in business and beyond
In several industries and companies, tangible value creation by leveraging the power of IoT is happening since quite some time as ample real-life IoT examples show.
However, it will still take until the next decennium (2020 and beyond) before hype, roadblocks and misunderstandings regarding the Internet of Things fade away and uncertainties and challenges in several areas are solved. Moreover, a radical new approach to security will be needed.
To understand the benefits, value, context and even technologies of IoT it's important to look at examples across various applications and industries.
Although IoT is often approached as if it were a 'thing' as such one needs to understand the differences from an applications perspective in areas such as the Industrial Internet of Things, the Consumer Internet of Things and, beyond these 'flavors' and terms, the mentioned IoT use cases.
The usage of the Internet of Things happens at different speeds. IoT investments in the manufacturing industry, for instance, are far higher than in any other vertical industry and in the Consumer Internet of Things (CIoT) space (more about IoT in manufacturing).
This is poised to change by 2020 although globally manufacturing will still account for the majority of IoT spend (hardware, software, services and connectivity).

The manufacturing industry, along with transportation and utilities are the three main IoT investment areas and are part of what is known as the Industrial Internet of Things.
Despite challenges, different speeds and the fast evolutions which we will see until the first years of the next decade, the Internet of Things is here.
In business and industry, there are thousands of Internet of Things use cases and real-life Internet of Things deployments across a variety of sectors with the three industries which we just mentioned accounting for a more than significant part of deployments and investments as the image on the right shows.

In the consumer space there are many thousands of devices and applications for a broad variety of purposes.
Predictions regarding the economic impact, sub segments, technologies and number of IoT-connected devices keep evolving as well.
Even if for most people the number of IoT devices is not a relevant metric, it's the one that gets most attention. Over the past few years predictions regarding the number of IoT devices by 2020 have been reviewed downwards.

It has taken over two decades for the 'concept' of the Internet of Things to become a reality that is impacting and will impact many areas of business and society as we will see further.

55% of organizations see IoT as strategic to their business as a means to compete more effectively (IDC, 2016)

Despite being a reality, the Internet of Things in general is still in its early days, regardless of massive attention, impressive forecasts and numbers, and major evolutions and deployments in many areas. However, if you look at the overall potential of IoT we are really just starting. Standards, technologies, maturity levels, devices and applications continue to evolve as various actors in the IoT ecosystem come up with platforms, new data analysis models and even evolving definitions and views to make IoT projects better and smarter. At the same time, challenges regarding regulation, security and data are being tackled - and even a universal IoT definition is still being debated.

The origins of the Internet of Things: how it all started
The idea of the Internet of Things goes back quite some time. We can even go back a very long time but will begin at the end of the previous Millenium where RFID has been a key development towards the Internet of Things and the term Internet of Things has been coined in an RFID context (and NFC), whereby we used RFID to track items in various operations such as supply chain management and logistics.

The roots and origin of the Internet of Things go beyond just RFID. Think about machine-to-machine (M2M) networks. Or think about ATMs (automated teller machine or cash machines), which are connected to interbank networks, just as the point of sales terminals where you pay with your ATM cards. M2M solutions for ATMs have existed for a long time, just as RFID. These earlier forms of networks, connected devices and data are where the Internet of Things comes from. Yet, it's not the Internet of Things.
In the nineties, technologies such as RFID, sensors and a few wireless innovations led to several applications in the connecting of devices and "things".
Most real-life implementations of RFID in those days happened in logistics, warehouses and the supply chain in general. However, there were many challenges and hurdles to overcome, as we covered end 1999 in a white paper for a Belgian RFID specialist who targeted the logistics industry (mainly warehousing and industrial logistics as RFID was still expensive).

Gradually, the use of RFID (and along with it, several NFC or "near field communication", wireless technologies), became popular in areas beyond logistics and supply chain management: from public transport, identification (from pets to people), electronic toll collection (see image), access control and authentication, traffic monitoring, retail to - back then - innovative forms of outdoor advertising. That growing usage was, among others, driven by the decreasing cost of RFID tags, increasing standardization and NFC.
The possibility of tagging, tracking, connecting and "reading" and analyzing data from objects went hand in hand with what would become known as the Internet of Things around the beginning of this Millenium.
It was obvious that the connection of the types of "things" and applications - as we saw them in RFID (and in M2M and more) - with the Internet would change a lot. It might surprise you but the concepts of connected refrigerators, telling you that you need to buy milk, the concept of what is now known as smart cities and the vision of an immersive shopping experience (without bar code scanning and leveraging smart real-time information obtained via connected devices and goods) go back since before the term Internet of Things even existed.

Again, it took a long time. Furthermore, we shouldn't reduce the Internet of Things to just these popular and widely known concepts, even if consumer-related attention for IoT without a doubt has led to the grown attention for it as you'll read further.
According to the large majority of sources, the term Internet of Things was coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, the co-founder of the MIT's Auto-ID Center where a standard was developed for RFID, primarily from a retail perspective.
RFID existed years before talked about the Internet of Things as a system, connecting the physical world and the Internet via omni-present sensors. It also already existed when he co-founded the Auto-ID Center (now called the Auto-ID labs) at MIT.

Ashton, who was a marketer at P&G, wanted to solve a challenge he had seen before as Wired reports: empty shelves for a specific product. When shelves are empty, obviously no one can buy what's supposed to be there. It's a typical problem of logistics and supply chain. Ashton found the solution in RFID tags, which were still far too expensive to be able to put them on each product. When the MIT Auto-ID Center was launched, funded by the major global retail brands who understood the challenge and obvious benefits of a solution, he was 'loaned' by P&G and became the executive director at that Center as Wired explains.

The rest is a standard system, solving miniaturization challenges, lowering RFID tags prices and...history.

Defining IoT - many approaches
The Internet of Things is the interconnected sphere of physical devices with the Internet and other networks through uniquely identifiable IP addresses, whereby data is gathered and communicated through embedded sensors, electronics and software.
The IoT is the network of physical objects that contain embedded technology to communicate and sense or interact with their internal states or the external environment (Gartner's definition)

Physical devices are either designed for the Internet of Things or are assets, including living beings, which are equiped with data sensing and transmitting electronics. Beyond this endpoint dimension with devices, sensors, actuators and communication systems, the Internet of Things is also used to describe what is effectively done with the data acquired from connected things.

The Internet of Things describes a range of applications, protocols, standards, architectures and data acquisition and analysis technologies whereby devices and items (appliances, clothes, animals,....) which are equipped with sensors, specifically designed software and /or other digital and electronical systems, are connected to the Internet and/or other networks via a unique IP address or URI, with a societal, industrial, business and/or human purpose in mind. As you can read below, data and how they are acquired, analyzed and combined into information value chains and benefits are key in it. In fact, the true value of the Internet of Things lies in the ways it enables to leverage entirely new sources and types of data for entirely new business models, insights, forms of engagement, ways of living and societal improvements.
Internet of Things is an umbrella term and, as mentioned, often a distinction is made between the Consumer Internet of Things (CIoT) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). We cover both below as they are still often used. However, CIoT and IIoT cover many use cases and applications as well and thus are umbrella terms too. Furthermore, there are overlaps between both.
We see the Internet of Things more from an Internet of Everything perspective, which is again part of a broader context. What this means is explained further below. The Internet of Things is not a thing. Data which is acquired, submitted, processed or sent to devices, in most cases travels across the Internet, fixed lines, across cloud ecosystems or via (tailored) wireless connectivity technologies which are developed for specific applications of IoT (e.g. wireless technologies for the IIoT).

Bridging digital, physical and human spheres through networks, connected processes and data, turned into knowledge and action, is an essential aspect in this equation. In recent years the focus in the Internet of Things has shifted from the pure aspect of connecting devices and gathering data to this interconnection of devices, data, business goals, people and processes, certainly in IIoT.
Most IoT definitions have several aspects in common. Here are the elements they have in common:
Internet of Things Connectivity

All IoT definitions include the connectivity and network aspect: a network of things, devices, sensors, objects and/or assets, depending on the source. It's pretty clear that a dimension of networks and connectedness, we would even say hyper-connectedness, needs to be present in any decent IoT definition. There are several IoT connectivity and network protocols and standards, both wireless and fixed. In most real-life IoT projects it's a combination. Connectivity happens on all levels: at a very close range (e.g. between devices), further away (e.g. between devices and the cloud) or at very large distances. Connectivity standards are also different, depending on the power that is needed and the volumes of IoT data transmitted, adding to the broad range of standards and solutions. Connectivity in the sense of connected devices is the start, connected data is where the value starts.

The Things in the Internet of Things

IoT-enabled assets, devices, physical objects, sensors, anything connected the physical world, appliances, endpoints, the list goes on. They are all terms to describe what is an essential part of a network of things. Some add words such as smart or intelligent to the devices. Let's say that they contain technology that grants them an additional capability of 'doing something': measuring temperature or moisture levels, capturing location data, sensing movement or capturing any other form of action and context that can be captured and turned into data. IoT devices need to be managed. That's where IoT device management comes in: it enables the onboarding, configuration and overall management of IoT devices. IoT device management can be simple (e.g. in consumer applications) and be done using cloud platforms with IoT device management features or proprietary vendor solutions. It can also be complex. As IoT platforms become ever more important often IoT device management is handled on this level as device management is one of the key components of such a platform. Other components of an IoT platform include IoT data management, access control and application (development) enablement. More in this MachNation IoT platform overview. Additionaly, as edge computing becomes more important also take a look at IoT device management at the edge as explained in the MachNation IoT edge scorecard. Some IoT platforms, such as relayr, also support the fog computing architecture.

The Internet of Things and Data

This is part of that intelligent notion but it also brings us far closer to the essence. You can define the Internet of Things by simply describing all characteristics ("what it is") but you also need to look at its purpose ("the why"). Data is a crucial part of this equation, albeit just a first step as data as such is not enough. However, there is no Internet of Things without (big) data.

Communication in the Internet of Things

Data as such is maybe not without value but it sure is without meaning unless it is used for a purpose and it is turned into meaning, insights, intelligence and actions. Maybe you heard about the good old DIKW model (from data to information to knowledge to wisdom - and action)? Well, the data gathered and sensed by IoT devices needs to be communicated in order to even start turning it into actionable information, let alone knowledge, insights, wisdom or actions.

Internet of Things, Intelligence and action

We just touched upon this aspect. However, in most definitions we see that intelligence is attributed to just the network(s) and/or the devices. While we certainly need, for instance, 'intelligent networking technologies' in many cases and while connected devices have a capacity of action, the real intelligence and action sits in the analysis of the data and the smart usage of this data to solve a challenge, create a competitive benefit, automate a process, improve something, whatever possible action our IoT solution wants to tackle. Just as there is no Internet of Things without (big) data, there is no useful Internet of Things deployment without understanding meaning, intelligence, (big) data analytics, cognitive and AI and so on.

There is always a degree of automation, no matter the scope of the project or the type of Internet of Things application. In fact, most IoT applications are essentially all about automation. And that often comes with costs and benefits. Industrial automation, business process automation or the automatic updating of software: it all plays a role, depending on the context. You know the saying: software eats the world. Well, it also drives Tesla cars and soon autonomous vehicles whereby maintenance, upgrades and so forth are all about automation and software, powered by data which are fed by sensors and connected devices.

Meaning and hyper-connectedness is what we miss in many answers on the questions regarding what the Internet of Things is. We stay too descriptive and focused on just the technologies and don't look at purpose and intelligent action enough. Obviously we can say that this isn't strictly about the Internet of Things but more about the Internet of Everything or the Internet of Things ecosystem or something else but for us it's key in order not to confuse the Internet of Things with a bunch of fitness devices that are connected with some app, for instance. Because, although these are the kinds of apps most people speak about, they certainly are where the majority of Internet of Things use cases are and they are the furthest away from the original meaning of the Internet of Things.
While the above mentioned elements come back in all Internet of Things definitions there are a few we miss that are essential in the evolving views regarding the Internet of Things as it moves from devices and data to outcomes and actionable intelligence, and ultimately to a hyper-connected world of digital transformation (DX) and business.
The aspect of hyper-connectivity and integration often lacks. In a context of a reality whereby devices, people, processes and information are more interconnected than ever before; an Internet of Things definition and approach just needs to mention these aspects as the Internet of Things is part of something broader and is more about data, meaning and purpose than about objects. A key element of that hyper-connectivity in the Internet of Things sphere is that sometimes mentioned ongoing bridging of digital and physical environments, along with human environments, processes and data as the glue, enabler and condition to create value when properly used for connected purposes.

Then there is also the possibility to create new ecosystems where connected device usage by groups of people can lead to new applications and forms of community ecosystems. Last but not least and we've mentioned this often before: no Internet of Things without security.
Virtually everyone agrees that in the next decade, in 2020 and beyond, we will decreasingly speak about the Internet of Things.
The Internet of Things is a misnomer in two senses.

1. First, the things don't describe the essence of what it truly means and make it seem like a thing that is composed of connected things. However, as said it is not a thing as it's often referred to in popular media. On top of covering a vast connected ecosystem of myriad technologies, platforms and other components as such, the Internet of Things also fits in a technological and organization context whereby actionable intelligence is at the core of human and business value creation opportunities. The Internet of Things has no purpose nor means to exist without all these aspects.

2. Secondly, after years of future visions around very old concepts and ideas such as connected refrigerators, the current fascination with the possibilities that arise as a result of connecting 'things', the 'connected things' aspect will move to the back and IoT will be seen just as we look at the Internet today: an obvious phenomenon of increased connectivity that is like electricity. What is behind it, the sensors, the devices, the protocols, the essential possibilities, will not matter, except to people who need to realize Internet of Things projects in real life and watch over the technology aspect within frameworks of regulations, meaning and security.

The question and evolution increasingly will not be about the Internet of Things but about the broader digital transformation economy picture with outcomes and integration in mind and de facto overlapping sets of technologies being a given.
To end this part on definitions and descriptions, here is a good illustration of the vast reality of the Internet of Things - and at the same time an illustration of what it means.

The top right section clearly shows the Internet of Things: smart objects with an IP address which can sense (depending on use case, gather data on various parameters such as location, temperature, moisture level and dozens of more possibilities). This data gets sent for processing or analyzed at the source.

The upper left section is the 'Internet of People'. Think about everything you use to connect with the Internet, such as your smartphone. It's in the meeting of this sphere and the Internet of Things that most Internet of Things consumer applications today get born. Several so-called Consumer IoT (CIoT) applications such as wearables can't live without smartphones. Moreover, for several control and monitoring activities you'll need some sort of device such as a tablet, for example in a smart home context.

The sphere at the bottom of the image is composed of all connected objects that do not have an IP address and do not belong to the Internet of Things. They exist since a long time, mainly in the sphere of industrial Internet and we see them migrate to the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). Replacing such devices or tagging them so they become IoT-enabled is a part of what happens in IIoT.

The definition of the Internet of Things is in evolution in several ways:

Industry bodies are updating Internet of Things definitions and descriptions in a field that is still lacking standardization.

The market is evolving and changing views and definitions as well. Whether it concerns analysts or companies, which are very active in the IoT space: many of them have invented their own terms.

There is a shift in the way we think about the Internet of Things. You can define things based upon what they are and what they are not. You can also define them by focusing on their characteristics. And, as far as we're concerned the most important question to answer in a definition: why and how do we use "something"?

We look less at the 'things' and technologies of the Internet of Things and more at the broader reality and context in which the Internet of Things fits. The many use cases and the focus on outcomes (services) become more essential.

While the Internet of Things - and we weigh our words - as a 'reality' has benefits and consequences many can't grasp yet, we need to change the narrative and look at IoT from the holistic perspective of:

1. How it is connected with people, processes, data, business, innovation, meaning, etc.

2. The outcomes and goals from an integrated view, with regards to ecosystems of value, of related technologies and of business and platform ecosystems.

And we need to learn from the many projects, cases and IoT examples out there.
The exponential growth of the Internet of Things
As we saw earlier the Internet of Things still has a long way to go and the growth of connected devices or "intelligent things" will continue to rise exponentially over the coming years, as multiple challenges get solved.
In that sense it is safe to say that, despite the fact that we've been talking about the Internet of Things for a long time and the fact that IoT in many industries is a reality, we are still in the early years. Although it is expected that, as a term and concept, the Internet of Things will dissapear and just become part of a new normal, we are far from there. Note, however, that in a business context it's best to focus on goals and use cases when trying to get projects accepted and done than to speak about the IoT.

With the exponential growth, enabled by what Gartner would call a "nexus of forces", comes growth in many other areas such as traffic, storage, processing capacity, data volumes, network capabilities, you name it.

The Internet of Things exists in many industries, applications and contexts. Some projects are still in the pilot stage while others form the backbone of important processes, operations and innovations. In other words: the Internet of Things is certainly here but the degree in which it is changing the ways we live, work and conduct business depends on the context.
The exact predictions regarding the size and evolution of the Internet of Things landscape tend to focus on the number of devices, appliances and other 'things' that are connected and the staggering growth of this volume of IP-enabled IoT devices, as well as the data they generate, with mind-blowing numbers for many years to come.
It makes it look as if the Internet of Things is still nowhere. Make no mistake though: it is already bigger than many believe and used in far more applications than those which are typically mentioned in mainstream media.

At the same time it is true that the increase of connected devices is staggering and accelerating. As we wrote the first edition of this Internet of Things guide, approximately each single hour a million new connections were made and there were about 5 to 6 billion different items connected to the Internet. By 2020, Cisco expected there would be 20 billion devices in the Internet of Things. Estimations for 2030 went up to a whopping 50 billion devices and some predictions were even more bullish, stating that by 2025 there will be up to 100 billion devices.

The truth is that we will have to wait and see and that by the time we have written about recent predictions, new ones are already published. Moreover, different research means different numbers and it is important to distinguish between IoT devices, IoT endpoints and connected devices although often IoT devices and connected devices are often used interchangeably.

When we first wrote this overview Gartner estimated that by 2020 we would live in a world with over 26 billion connected devices. As the image below indicates Cisco back then predicted that 37 billion intelligent things would be connected to the Internet by 2020 (earlier the company talked about 50 billion) and some even went over 200 billion. At the end of 2016 forecasts ranged anywhere between 20 and 30 billion connected (IoT-enabled) devices in 2020.

According to Juniper Research (data end 2016), the number of connected IoT devices, sensors and actuators will reach over 46 billion in 2021.
Regardless of the exact numbers, one thing is clear: there is a LOT that can still be connected and it's safe to assume we'll probably reach the lower numbers of connected devices (20-30 billion) by 2020.
The variety of sources and pace at which data about the expected number of connected devices is released is so big that we plan a section with forecasts from several sources, nicely dated, so you can stay up-to-date.

There are several reasons why these predictions differ so much. Among them are certainly various uncertainties and challenges regarding the Internet of Things which are further fuelled by impactful events regarding among others security and privacy. And then there is the fact that the Internet of Things obviously also gets hyped by those who have an interest in doing so (such as companies selling Internet of Things solutions). This doesn't mean that the Internet of Things is a hype as such (it has been at the beginning of this Millennium). However, the realities, data and even definitions regarding Internet of Things are so vast that all predictions are really merely attempts, often fitting in a hypish perspective.

Internet of Things: looking beyond the hype of data and predictions
Moreover, it's not that much the growth of connected devices which matters but how they are used in the broader context of the Internet of Things whereby the intersection of connected and IP-enabled devices, big data (analytics), people, processes and purposeful projects affect several industries.
Also the data aspect is critical (again with mind-blowing forecasts) and how all this (big) data is analyzed, leveraged and turned into actions or actionable intelligence that creates enhanced customer experience, increased productivity, better processes, societal improvements, innovative models and all possible other benefits and outcomes. The impact of the IoT from a sheer data volume and digital universe perspective is amazing.
The IoT data deluge also has an impact on IT infrastructure. While several more recent technologies (e.g. edge computing), devices and software (e.g. IoT gateways moving towards the edge and the latest generations of IoT platforms, specifically IoT edge platforms) help tackle this challenge, they certainly won't be enough.
Expect artificial intelligence, big data analytics and ever more computing power to play an increasing role, at the edge and across the end-to-end projects, as we're really just at the beginning of that IoT data deluge. And that's not all: as is the case with data overall, most collected IoT data are not used or fully exploited and often sit and wait for the right use case in which they can fit. This will increase the IoT data deluge even further.

According to 2017 research from 451 Research the IoT data storm for now mainly leads to increasing investments in storage infrastructure, network edge/perimeter equipment and server infrastructure. Yet, while companies are processing IoT workloads at the edge today to improve security, process real-time operational action triggers, and reduce IoT data storage and transport requirements as the company found, this will change fast.

According to the Ericsson Mobility Report 2016, there will be approximately 28 billion connected devices by 2021. The report expects the Internet of Things to surpass mobile phones as the largest category of connected devices with 16 billion connected devices being IoT devices (of the the forecasted total of 28 billion, which include for instance smartphones as we mentioned in our article on mobile and mobility.
So, why this exponential growth of the Internet of Things and, admittedly, equally exponential growth of the attention for it, sometimes feeling like a hype?
Well, first of all Internet of Things today is effectively hyped (yet, at the same time very real). Gartner's latest Hype cycle for emerging technologies shows that the Internet of Things is at the peak of inflated expectations (while NFC is reaching the slope of enlightenment).

There are numerous reasons for the growing attention for the Internet of Things. While you will often will read about the decreasing costs of storage, processing and material or the third platform with the cloud, big data, smart (mobile) technologies/devices, etc. there certainly is also a societal/people dimension with a strong consumer element.

A factor that has also contributed a lot to the rise of the Internet of Things, certainly in a context of the industrial Internet of Things and smart buildings, to name a few, is the convergence of IT and OT (Operational Technology) whereby sensors, actuators and so forth remove the barriers between these traditionally disconnected worlds.

The Internet of Things: many terms and many flavors
As companies increasingly started investing in Internet of Things technologies and scalable Internet of Things deployments instead of just pilot projects it quickly became clear that the Internet of Things as a term covered completely different realities which have little in common.
The majority of the Internet of Things hype focused on consumer-oriented devices such as wearables or smart home gadgets. Yet, we can't repeat it enough, there is a huge difference between a personal fitness tracker and the usage of IoT in industrial markets such as manufacturing where the IoT takes center stage in the vision of Industry 4.0 (you can for instance think about IoT-connected or IoT-enabled devices such as large industrial robots or IoT logistics systems).

That's why a distinction was made between the Industrial Internet of Things and the Consumer Internet of Things to begin with. However, here as well there were overlaps and in the end difficulties as always when you start segmenting realities. A broad range of new terms were invented to explain various existing and emerging forms of Internet of Things usage: the Internet of Robotic Things, the Internet of Medical Things, the list goes on.

At the same time some vendors of Internet of Things solutions started coming up with alternative terms. The best known one is Cisco's Internet of Everything, which aimed to stress the role of people, data, processes etc. While all these (and many more) efforts tried to make the Internet of Things more tangible in the end we see that since 2016-2017 most people and firms (including Cisco) simply start talking about the IoT again. The usage of the term Industrial Internet of Things (or Industrial Internet) is also making place for the broader context of Industry 4.0 of which the Internet of Things is a part of the reality which we described.

A deeper look at some of these main Internet of Things 'subsets'

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
The Internet of Things, the Internet of Everything, the Consumer Internet of Things, so many terms that it becomes confusing.
The main value and applications are found in the so-called Industrial Internet of Things or IIoT. In all honesty one of the main reasons why we started talking about the Industrial Internet of Things is to distinguish it from the more popular view on the Internet of Things as it has becoming increasingly used in recent years: that of the consumer Internet of Things or consumer electronics applications such as wearables in a connected context or smart home applications.
The Industrial Internet of Things is defined by the Industrial Internet Consortium as 'machines, computers and people enabling intelligent industrial operations using advanced data analytics for transformational business outcomes" as you can also see in the infographic below.
What industries are covered? Some people mainly look at 'heavy' industries such as manufacturing, oil and gas, transportation. Others also add 'less heavy' smart city or smart agriculture applications into account. Sometimes there is a bit a thin line because of course you can also have very simple applications in smart cities.
What is crucial in the Industrial Internet of Things or IIoT is the mentioned integration (of the worlds of) IT (information technology) and OT (operational technology).
For now, IIoT is the most important segment in the Internet of Things, much more than consumer applications, for instance.
The Industrial Internet of Things is related with Industry 4.0: all Internet of Things applications in Industry 4.0 are forms of IIoT but not all IIoT use cases are about the industries which are categorized as Industry 4.0.
Typical use cases of the Industrial Internet of Things include smart lightning and smart traffic solutions in smart cities, intelligent machine applications, industrial control applications, factory floor use cases, condition monitoring, use cases in agriculture, smart grid applications and oil refinery applications.

So, even if the term is not so much an umbrella term as the Internet of Things is, it still covers many potential applications and use cases.

A lot of organizations are considering IIoT applications and many have already started, certainly in early moving markets such as manufacturing or oil and gas. But others are still waiting or uncertain.
According to research from IDG in 2016, 70 percent of organizations are still in the "consideration", "early discussions" or "planning phase" as the infographic below indicates.
And this despite the many opportunities, among others in regards with business continuity, efficiency, cost reductions etc.
But there are also many challenges, not in the least in regards with industrial data as you can also see in the infographic and the page of Visual Capitalist, who made it.
More about the Industrial Internet of Things
It's important to know that the Industrial Internet of Things is not just about saving costs and optimizing efficiency though. Companies also have the possibility to realize important transformations and can find new opportunities thanks to IIoT.
Those who can overcome the challenges, understand the benefits beyond the obvious and are able to deal with the industrial data challenge have golden opportunities to be innovative, create competitive benefits and even entirely new business models in Industry 4.0.

Below is a presentation that explains the Industrial Internet of Things and also how the IIoT is different than other Internet of Things applications, for instance in the consumer space.

Additional resources on the Industrial Internet of Things

The Consumer Internet of Things (CIoT)
Give or take 5 years ago, consumers rarely saw what the Internet of Things would mean to their private lives. Today, they increasingly do: not just because they are are interested in technology but mainly because a range of new applications and connected devices has hit the market.
These devices and their possibilities are getting major attention on virtually every news outlet and website that covers technology. Wearables and smart watches, connected and smart home applications (with Google's Nest being a popular one but certainly not the first): there are ample of you know the examples.

Although it is said that there is some technology fatigue appearing, the combination of applications in a consumer context and of technology fascination undoubtedly plays a role in the growing attention for the Internet of Things. That consumer fascination aspect comes on top of all the real-life possibilities as they start getting implemented and the contextual and technological realities, making the Internet of Things one of those many pervasive technological umbrella terms. Obviously, the Consumer Internet of Things market is not just driven by new technology fascination: their manufacturers push the market heavily as adoption means news business possibilities with a key role for data.

The Consumer Internet of Things and consumer electronics
With the Consumer Internet of Things we are strictly in a consumer electronics reality.
While some of the applications in this space already are popular (fitness and personal health, for instance), the real growth still needs to come.

Below are some consumer electronics challenges to tackle first:

Smarter devices. Consumers are waiting for smarter generations of wearables and Internet of Things products, which are able to fulfil more functions without being too dependent from smartphones, as is the case with many of such devices today (think the first generations of smartwatches, which need a smartphone).

Security. Consumers don't trust the Internet of Things yet, further strengthened by breaches and the coverage of these breaches. Moreover, it's not just about the security of the devices but also about, among others, the security of low data communication protocols (and Internet of Things operating systems). An example: home automation standard Zigbee was proven easy to crack in November 2016.

Data and privacy. On top of security concerns, there are also concerns regarding data usage and privacy. The lack of trust in regards with data, privacy and security was already an issue before these breaches as we cover in our overview of the consumer electronics market evolutions.

A "compelling reason to buy". The current devices which are categorized as Consumer Internet of Things appliances are still relatively expensive, "dumb" and hard to use. They also often lack a unique benefit that makes consumers massively buy them.

The Consumer Internet of Things market: focus on experiences and benefits
Whereas the focus of the Industrial Internet of Things is more on the benefits of applications, the Consumer Internet of Things is more about new and immersive customer-centric experiences.
It is expected that the market will really start picking up as of end 2017 or 2018, when the Consumer Internet of Things will grow rapidly across several types of devices and applications, once manufacturers are able to meet the various challenges.

As mentioned, the Consumer Internet of Things typically is about smart wearables and smart home appliances but also about smart televisions, drones for consumer applications and a broad range of gadgets with Internet of Things connectivity.
It's important to note that de facto the Consumer Internet of Things overlaps with the use of the Internet of Things across several industries.
On top of examples such as smart meters, as explained above, it is clear that the CIoT offers manufacturers of devices and applications important opportunities to leverage data to build new revenue streams and even new partnerships and ecosystems to leverage this data in various ways. Data privacy and security will remain a challenge for several years to come but at the same time new generations of devices with clear benefits and a focus on the consumer experience will boost the market.

Internet of Things consumer device ownership research
RFID has come a long way. Even if you don't know what it means, you "use" it.
Examples? Electronic door locks, many modern credit cards, identification cards with RFID, the list is long.

RFID is even used so much that end 2014, security firm Norton and Betabrand designer Steven B. Wheeler joined forces to create the world's first RFID (and NFC) blocking jeans to avoid theft of data.

Additional resources on the Consumer Internet of Things

Internet of Things in business: the Internet of Everything (IoE)
The Internet of Everything is a term that was coined by Cisco but is also used by other companies.

The Internet of Things focuses too much on the things and, as mentioned, is also very broadly used. It's why some started distinguishing between the just mentioned Consumer Internet of Things and the Industrial Internet of Things.

Cisco and other prefer to use the term Internet of Everything, partially because of that umbrella term issue, partially because of the focus on things and partially to provide context to their views and offerings. But it's not just marketing. The Internet of Everything or IoE depicts crucial aspects of IoT, namely people, data, things and processes; in other words: what makes a business. It's this mix that matters. Moreover, the classic illustration of the Internet of Everything also made clear what, for instance, machine to machine or M2M is all about.

We've based ourselves on that classic depiction and added the dimensions of value and data analysis.

More about the Internet of Everything

Internet of Things and robots: the Internet of Robotic Things (IoRT)
Are you ready for another term? Here we go: meet the Internet of Robotic Things, aka IoRT. What is about?
One of the major characteristics of the Internet of Things is that it enables to build far stronger bridges between physical and digital (cyber) worlds. You see it in all IoT use case and in the Industrial Internet of Things you see it in what's called the Cyber Physical Systems.

Yet, in most case, the focus is predominantly on the 'cyber' part whereby data from sensors essentially are leveraged to achieve a particular outcome with human interference and with a focus on data analytics and 'cyber' platforms. The way it happens, as ABI Research, who came up with the IoRT concept (which is real today) puts it is that essentially many applications and business models are built upon passive interaction.

The Internet of Robotic Things market is expected to be valued at USD 21.44 Billion by 2022
By adding robotics to the equation and turning devices (robots) in really intelligent devices with embedded monitoring capabilities, the ability to add sensor data from other sources, local and distributed intelligence and the fusion of data and intelligence in order to allow these devices determine actions to take and have them take these actions, within a pre-defined scope, you have a device that can control/manipulate objects in the physical world.
Sounds complex or too futuristic? Examples in the space of Industry 4.0 (with collaborative industrial robots), warehouse automation (Amazon Robotics) and even personal robots for cleaning and so forth make it more tangible. It's still early days for the IoRT but the projects and realizations in this next stage are real. IoRT is not tied to the consumer and industrial IoT distinction, it's ubiquitous. Definitions, sources, market data and the mentioned examples via the button below.

The Internet of Robotic Things

Internet of Things business across industries: sectors and use cases

Cross-Industry Internet of Things investments, which represent use cases common to all industries, such as connected vehicles and smart buildings, will rank among the top segments by 2020 (IDC)
Previously we mentioned how the Internet of Things today already is a reality in several industries, more so than in consumer applications. However, the landscape evolves fast.

The Internet of Things is used in various industries for numerous use cases which are typical for these industries. On top of that, there is a long list of Internet of Things use cases that is de facto cross-industry.

As the Internet of Things is embraced and deployed at different speeds throughout consumer and industrial sectors, we take a look at some of the main industries and use cases which drive the Internet of Things market and Internet of Things projects.
Note that the biggest and/or fastest growing use cases are not always related to the biggest and/or fastest growing industries in terms of Internet of Things spending.
While it is expected that in terms of use cases there will be high growth in consumer-related use cases such as personal wellness and smart home applications, the largest majority of spending is and will be done by enterprises.
Among the reasons for this phenomenon:

The costs and scope of the investments. A full-blown, enterprise-wide Internet of Things project in industrial settings such as manufacturing or logistics is far more expensive than a smart home implementation.

The shifts in the major Internet of Things use cases and industries. Remember that the Internet of Things mainly started as an industrial and business sector phenomenon. Industries with many existing physical assets can realize fast cost savings and efficiencies of scale. That's why today they spend more in Internet of Things projects than consumer segments where we see more 'new' devices, rather than existing assets.

The Consumer Internet of Things catching up. As industries keep leading the current waves of Internet of Things spending until 2020, the fact that they started first and the advent of ever more consumer use cases and better (safer and more useful) solutions means that gradually consumer Internet of Things catches up with Industrial Internet of Things spending.

The rise of cross-industry Internet of Things applications and of scenarios whereby consumers and businesses meet each other in business-driven initiatives (for instance, the push for telematics in insurance, the push for smart meters in utilities) has a levelling effect on the adoption of the Internet of Things and on spending.

According to Internet of Things spending data and forecasts, published early 2017 by IDC, the 3 main industries in terms of IoT spending in 2016 were, respectively, manufacturing, transportation and utilities. Consumer Internet of Things spending ranked fourth.
While globally in the period until 2020, manufacturing will remain the major industry (except in Western-Europe) there will be global changes in this top 3. Among the fastest growing industries in the period until 2020 are insurance, healthcare, retail, consumer and, as mentioned, cross-industry initiatives.

Obviously, there is a difference between Internet of Things spend and number of Internet of Things projects.

A report by IoT Analytics, really a list of 640 real-life Internet of Things projects, indicates that from the perspective of number of projects connected industry ranks first but is closely followed by smart city implementations (where we mentioned the report), which rank second.

Why this difference? On top of the fact that various firms use various approaches and definitions (even if you compare spending forecasts instead of spending and projects as we do here), there is the very simple fact that many smart city projects tend to be far cheaper than industrial counterparts. In most smart city projects, low data bandwidth is needed and equipment, depending on use cases is far cheaper. As an example: the - for now - cheapest connectivity technology over longer ranges, non-cellular LPWAN such as LoRa and Sigfox, is predominantly found in smart city projects.

More on IDC'S forecasts
Given the "origins" of the Internet of Things (remember RFID) and the most typical (early) use cases, manufacturing (for now) is still taking the lead.
Global manufacturers will invest $70 billion on Internet of Things solutions in 2020 (BI Intelligence)

According to the same IDC data we mentioned earlier, published early 2017, the manufacturing industry was good for a total Internet of Things spend of $178 billion in 2016, which is more than twice as much than the second largest vertical market (in spend), transportation.

Gartner analyst Jim Tully said that there were 307 million installed units at the time of the Q&A in the manufacturing industry where systems with sensors have always been embedded into manufacturing and the automation processes. In a May 2015 forecast on the worldwide growth of the Internet of Things market (poised to grow 19% in 2015) IDC forecasted that the Internet of Things market in manufacturing operations will reach $98.8 billion in 2018. Drivers: efficiency optimization and "linking islands of automation".

According to a February 2015 report by PwC, the majority of US manufacturers has deployed devices to collect, analyze/measure and act upon data. The infographic which came with the report, mentioned data from a survey conducted in February 2014. According to that survey 34.6 percent of respondents had already implemented devices and sensors to gather this data and another 9.6 percent was about to implement Internet of Things devices within a year. Only 24 percent of all respondents from the US manufacturing industry said they had no plans to implement devices to collect, analyze and act upon data.

66 percent of early-movers in manufacturing say the Internet of Things is now critical to competitive advange (Verizon, source see below)

US manufacturers were using Internet of Things Technology in the manufacturing plant (32 percent), followed by the warehouse, the extended supply chain and the customer environment.

When looking at the usage of the Industrial Internet of Things and manufacturing, also note the importance of cyber-physical systems (sometimes used interachangeably with IIoT, which is not correct) and the notion/reality of digital twins in the Industrlal Internet and Industry 4.0.

Internet of Things in manufacturing: use cases
Internet of Things use cases in manufacturing cover a broad range of applications, including:
The graphic from Verizon's " State of the Market: Internet of Things 2016 ", below shows some data and benefits across several use cases.

More about the Internet of Things in manufacturing
Retail is moving up fast, both in operations and customer-facing circumstances as Tully says.
In its mentioned forecast on the worldwide growth of the Internet of Things market, IDC also emphasized retail in an ongoing effort to digitize the consumer experience. Digital signage in retail outlets is in fact the big driver in 2015, IDC found. Also remember how the term Internet of Things was first mentioned in a context of supply chain management in retail and consumer goods environment. It is mainly in the optimization of processes and of logistics that the Internet of Things offers immediate benefits to retailers. However, obviously the customer-facing and inventory-related aspects matter a lot too.
The use of the Internet of Things in retail, among others, changes customer experience, leads to better customer insights, enables new collaborations and business models and further blurs the line between digital and physical in an in-store context.
Retailers are working with the Internet of Things for several innovative and immersive approaches, ranging from virtual closets and self-checkouts to smart shelves (inventory accuracy) and connected vending machines.

More about the Internet of Things in retail
The Internet of Things is already used across several government activities and layers as digital transformation efforts rank high on the government transformation priority list. Obviously, the government sector is a very vast ecosystem and so are the many Internet of Things use cases in government.
On top of the use of the Internet of Things for national, regional, supra-national, local and government-related services (often delivered by government agencies or regulated, semi-regulated and state-sponsored service providers), the Internet of Things sooner or later often involves government. Think about regulations, for instance. Or the role of governments in energy. And let's not forget security and safety.

Smart cities and citizen-facing public services
Probably the best-known usage of the Internet of Things in a government context concerns smart cities, in reality mainly smart city applications.
Smart city projects are what people hear about most and they get a lot of attention, among others because smart city applications are close to the daily lives of residents. Another reason why smart cities are often mentioned is that de facto smart city projects account for a big portion of Internet of Things deployments. Think about smart waste management (often a local matter), smart parking and environment monitoring.

More about smart cities
Another area where we see the Internet of Things popping up is in citizen-facing public services.
To a large extent smart city uses cases overlap with Internet of Things use cases in public services as one of the key tasks of a city is to serve the citizens. However, with public services we also go beyond the local/urban level. The degree of overlap depends on the way government services are organized in a particular country or region. Internet of Things initiatives in citizen-facing public services include the already mentioned local ones but also smart energy (often with state-sponsored partners), for instance.

More about IoT and public services

Infrastructure, healthcare, safety and security

Public services brings us to infrastructure. Again, this is a broad category which can be organized by several partners in the government ecosystem. Smart grid is an example, smart roads another one (in cases where road infrastructure is a national or 'shared' matter). But also think about applications such as toll collection.

Next there is safety and security. On a national level this certainly also includes defense and the industrial-military complex. On more regional levels we see applications such as smart lighting (there is a link between lighting of public spaces and crime), various forms of identity control, surveillance and so on. Last but not least, there is the role of the Internet of Things in security alerts, fighting natural disasters etc.

That brings us to healthcare, another sector going through digital transformation, and closely related with government. Healthcare is organized differently across the globe, from funding to healthcare insurance and actual care. However, there is always a government component. Healthcare is a key Internet of Things market.

Moreover, governments have a role in public health which can be enhanced by taking initiatives using the Internet of Things and in collaboration with private an state-sponsored partners. The same goes for public safety by the way. An example: collaborations between governments and insurance firms, leveraging telematics.

The omnipresence of the Internet of Things in government - opportunities, regulation and challenges
There are really hundreds of ways in which governments leverage and can leverage the Internet of Things to improve citizen experience, realize cost savings and, not to forget, generate new revenue streams.
The latter is quite important as many IoT projects have an impact on the funding of cities. A simple example: if you have a perfectly working smart parking solution in a city, you lose revenues for all the obvious reasons. So, it's not just a matter of technologies but also of finding creative ways to turn enhanced citizen experience and citizen services in a global picture that is beneficial for everyone.

This takes time, planning and, as you can imagine, given the complexity of the government ecosystems, lots of alignment and coordination.

In some countries and on supra-national levels initiatives are taken and funding is foreseen across a range of 'smart' initiatives where often also cities and government agencies can benefit from in the scope of projects within a designated area and an agenda with a clear goal. At the same time, governments get increasingly active in the area of Internet of Things security and regulation, as said, is always nearby. As an example, take the connected car of the future. It's pretty clear that governments will be hugely involved in this and it's less obvious than it may seem. Just to give you an idea: in some countries, traffic regulations are already a complete mess because of the arrival of fast electrical bikes. You can imagine what will happen once vehicles are connected and 'smart'.
The Internet of Things plays an important role in facility management, among others including data centers and smart buildings.
The integration of IT (Information Technology) and OT (Operational Technology) plays an important role in this regard as it did in the fast rise of Industrial Internet of Things. Thanks to the Internet of Things and this IT/OT convergence, facility managers and building professionals can realize various goals. These depend on the nature and scope of the facility/building.

Smart buildings are among the fastest growing cross-industry Internet of Things use cases in the period until 2020. Moreover, research indicates that data collection from buildings and other structures such as HVAC is already high. Last but not least, the market and evolutions of the BMS ( Building Management System) are strongly impacted by the Internet of Things. According to research, the Internet of Things is one of the dominant drivers in both spending and evolutions in the BMS market, which is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 16.7 percent between 2017 and 2023 according to one of the many studies regarding that BMS market.

As the graphic below indicates, building management systems are becoming the centers of connectivity in a world of ever more endpoints in buildings which are leveraged by several building management systems but whereby the BMS plays a central and connecting role as in the end it's all about analytics and actions, whereby the building owner wants a central platform which the BMS will be and de facto already largely is.

Building management system evolutions
Leveraging data from IoT-enabled facility assets, along with new Internet of Things platforms and facility management, with embedded capabilities, are leading to possibilities and benefits in building management areas such as:

Smarter building security systems.

Smarter Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).

Safer and more comfortable/healthy workplaces and buildings.

Facility service quality optimization.

Cost reductions, also in a green building context and in reduction of energy and water consumption.

Better planning, operational efficiencies and enhanced resource allocation.

Predictive maintenance and facility maintenance planning.

Facility equipment control, configuration and regulation.

Building management and building automation.

Energy efficiency.

Light and room control, comfort.

This list is far from comprehensive. As there are various sorts of buildings, each with their own challenges, infrastructure, technologies and most of all goals the landscape of building automation and management is very broad.
In light and room control alone there are several controls such as blind controls, AC unit controls and literally dozens more.

The overall building automation and management landscape exists since far before the Internet of Things existed and is composed of various specializations, each with their standards (e.g. KNX in room control or BACnet in building management systems), certification programs for green buildings (ecology and energy/ecology regulations are key drivers) and for OT channel partners, technologies, networks, solutions and of course goals (the goal of an IoT-enabled office space, building or even meeting room is not the same of a hospital, even if there are always overlaps) .
However, with the Internet of Things these worlds are converging (and the standards already evolved to IP). This is a challenge and opportunity for the various players who all have their skillsets but rarely are able to offer the full picture.
HVAC, for example, requires entirely different capabilities than power management or building management systems. That's why companies like Schneider Electric have developed partner and system integrator certification programs for various smart building specializations whereby the so-called EcoXperts (EcoXpert is the name of the partner program) can learn new skills, connect, expand into new domains and even go for multiple certification badges as the Internet of Things is increasingly dominating all building domains. Some of the players in these segments have a more mechanical background, others an electrical background and still others, such as system integrators, a background of customization and software (PLCs).
Among these providers we find:

Light and room control experts.

Experts in very specific areas such as HVAC.

Players in the broader building management field, mainly in large buildings.

Electrical contractors who are often more involved with smaller and medium buildings where they can offer smart energy solutions or, for instance specialize in home automation.

Experts in critical power, which you typically find in airports, hospitals and other buildings where quality and reliability of power is critical in all senses.

The image below from sustainable cleaning and facilities management company havencab shows a few components in the bigger smart building component picture.

Building management and Internet of Things
The Internet of Things has been present in healthcare in many forms and shapes since several years.
With remote healthcare monitoring and medical/hospital asset tracking, monitoring and maintenance as typical examples of these initial applications, the face of the Internet of Things in healthcare is changing fast.

Among the evolutions and drivers of the Internet of Things in healthcare:

An increasing consciousness and engagement from the consumer/patient side leads to new models, leveraging personal healthcare devices.

In a more integrated perspective, data from biosensors, wearables and monitors are used in real-time health systems and to save time for caregivers, detect patterns, be more aware and increase quality of care.

A broad range of innovations in fields such as smart pills and ever better delivery robots help in making healthcare more efficient and in saving resources, while also increasing quality of care.

Whether it's on the level of caregivers and healthcare providers, healthcare payers, the pharmaceutical industry, the patient (who should come first and demands it) or other stakeholders in the broader healthcare picture: we are moving from ad hoc and early Internet of Things deployments and use cases to a far more important role of the Internet of Everything in healthcare.

The graphic below shows the importance of remote monitoring as the main use case in healthcare from a spending perspective until 2020 and ongoing growth in the years after that with some vital sign monitor devices, followed by ways how healthcare providers and healthcare payers plan to leverage the Internet of Things and, finally smart healthcare market growth data, based on IDC, Technavio and Grand View Research.

Some evolutions and forecasts in healthcare IoT in numbers:

Research shows that by 2019, 89% of all healthcare organizations will have adopted IoT technology and that the Internet of Things will be essential in the initiatives of healthcare payers and providers in 2017 and 2018.

Among the main perceived benefits of healthcare IoT in the future are increased workforce productivity (57%), cost saving (57%), the creation of new business models (36%) and better collaboration with colleagues and patients (27%). The key benefits as reported in March 2017, however, are increased innovation (80%), visibility across the organization (76%) and cost savings (73%).

Other research shows that wearables will play a key role in health care plans, clinical IoT device data will free up clinician's time significantly by 2019 (up to 30%) and there will be an increasing role for IoT-enabled biosensors and robots for medication and supplies delivery in hospitals by 2019 as the graphic below shows.

More data, use cases and evolutions regarding the Internet of Things in healthcare via the button below.

The Internet of Things in healthcare
Facing huge challenges and transformations for several reasons, utility firms have 299 million units installed according to Gartner's Tully. On top of utilities in the traditional sense there is also a lot happening in oil and gas and in energy.

Among the many typical use cases in utility firms: smart meters to improve efficiency in energy, from a household perspective (savings, better monitoring etc.) and a utility company perspective (billing, better processes and of course also dealing with natural resources in a more efficient way as they are not endless) and smart grids (which is about more than the Internet of Things).
Connected cars and all the other evolutions in the automotive industry are driving the market as well.
Again, according to the same research by IDC, connected vehicles is the hottest US market in the overall picture. The connected car is one of those typical examples where the Consumer Internet of Things and Industrial Internet of Things overlap.
Other industries include healthcare, transportation (where "smart devices" and sensors have existed for quite some time), logistics, agriculture and more.
Add to that the consumer context and you know why it is such a hot topic. Stay tuned for more detailed overviews per industry with various examples of applications in practice and with various use cases per sector.

Internet of Things trends
In the previous section we mentioned several predictions for the coming years regarding various aspects of the Internet of Things (also check out the sections and additional links for forecasts in specific industries, technologies and so forth).
We summarized some predictions, looking at the top trends for 2017 which Ovum released in March 2017 and added several more.

Below are some general takeaways of our +20 trends for 2017 (and beyond):

LPWA technologies go mainstream with several use cases and projects.

Security and regulatory compliance both become top priorities (and are linked).

Larger organizations deploy more as-a-service-models and at the same time more IoT as-a-service solutions are embraced.

Blockchain and Internet of Things convergence is on the rise but inherent flaws in blockchain will need to be fixed.

Artificial intelligence and analytics become increasingly important in the growing IoT reality.

In the Industrial Internet, IT and OT integration grows but is hindered by cybersecurity concerns.

The Consumer IoT market picks up and starts its rapid increase towards the second half of the year.

Wearables will be a fast growing segment outside of the Consumer context, among others in healthcare and industrial markets.

Industries/sectors where a lot of experimentation has been happening such as governments (smart cities) and retail will drop several pilot projects and focus more on IoT use cases with immediate benefits.

Industry 4.0 and manufacturing invest most in IoT and drive the growth of the Internet of Robotic Things, fog computing and 5G.

More IoT trends for 2017

Internet of Things projects and examples
On top of looking at Internet of Things use cases and applications within specific industries it's worth the while to see how it is leveraged in practice, regardless of sector.
When looking for use cases you will mainly find examples of scenarios and goals within which Internet of Things deployments can be categorized. These use cases tend to use a different taxonomy, depending on the research firm or company that uses them.

Internet of Things examples in the sense of actual cases and real-life deployments help you see the business rationale behind implementations. As said, do check them out, regardless of industry as the sought benefits and results are often relatively universal.

Below are a few examples we've explained previously, check them out! You can also check out a list.

Internet of Things examples
This manufacturing example essentially revolves around the ability to create pro-active and additional (new) services and revenues thanks to the Internet of Things.
It explains how ABB Robotics, the industrial robotics division of ABB, connected the robots it sells to customers and thanks to this connection enhances customer service and much more, tapping into the power of actionable data and insights. The case is based upon information from Jasper (Cisco).

Read the case
This Internet of Things case fits in a smart city application (remember that smart cities aren't just about the Internet of Things nor even about just technologies).
More specifically, this Internet of Things example zooms in on a challenge regarding environment and air quality monitoring in the city of Glasgow. It's interesting from the perspective of the goals but most of all from the viewpoint of an - additional - mobile component, which greatly enhanced the city's possibilities to monitor better and in more circumstances than before. This case is based upon a case study of Spain-based Libelium.

Read the case
The Internet of Things is often used in an environmental context and the monitoring of potential dangers, from volcano eruptions as you can see in our example regarding flood monitoring.
Keeping an eye on rising water levels and gathering the data in order to warn people and the necessary local instances faster in case of a potential flood is what this particular case is all about. It has a grassroots dimension and shows how the measurement of several parameters (also, for instance groundwater levels) can lead to systems for the greater good without breaking the bank.

Read the case
If you think that the Internet of Things and digital transformation are not for industries that have been around for ages, think again.
With a range of challenges, not in the least regarding IP connectivity, the underground mine of Chelopech in Bulgaria was transformed into an Internet of Everything and Industrial Internet example with several outcomes such as a whopping increase of production, enhanced safety for miners, communication possibilities and savings, previously impossible maintenance and problem solving possibilities and rapid insights in production overall. As the CEO of Dundee Precious Metals, owner of the gold and copper mine, put it in 2016, the mining industry needs disruptive innovation too. And while that's happening in Chelopech and other mines of Dundee and others (Rio Tinto, Glencore and so forth), many mines still need to embark on the journey. Maybe the case offers some inspiration.

Read the case
The Internet of Things is often used to develop new services, revenue streams and, ultimately, even business models.
It's the essence of Industry 4.0 and digital transformation. We tackled the Internet of Things in smart buildings and smart facility management before. Here is a case that combines the potential to tap into new revenue streams in the scope of facility management.

Dutch construction/building and property development company Heijmans understood the potential of smart facility management and smart buildings in office buildings. So, it started collaborating with a few other companies, including a natural ecosystem partner in the scope of office buildings, namely a cleaning firm, to work out a solution that doesn't only add services for its existing and future customers but also makes the lives of office workers (digital workspaces), cleaners, facility managers and senior management easier across a variety of tasks and needs per identified target segment.

This resulted in a solution that offers a range of control, planning, maintenance and efficiency tools for each of the mentioned four target groups. For the company itself it's a way to expand its portfolio, up-sell and tap into new revenue streams for customers and anyone needing this kind of solution.

Read the case

IoT technology: cloud, fog computing and edge computing

As so much data is created and increasingly will be created with the Internet of Things, the decentralized ways in which these data are generated need different aproaches, among others in the ways they are transported, processed and analyzed, driving (automated) actions.
One of these approaches is fog computing, a system-level architecture (and form of edge computing) that extends the computing, network and storage capability of the cloud to the edge of the network.
This is especially important when a large geographical area is involved, when data needs to be processed extremely fast and data is collected at the extreme edge as Cisco calls it, for instance on oil rigs or in ships.

Fog computing is not the only technological aspect to deal with the reality regarding data, bandwidth, processing and analysis requirements of IoT projects.

There are also numerous other technologies, among others regarding connectivity as we see below, that are involved. Other technological components include the middleware, the sensors, actuators and other hardware, the cloud, the networks which we tackle below and so forth. In the future also the 5G wireless networks which bring new mobile approaches and solutions for some of the mentioned challenges will boost IoT but that is for 2020 and beyond.

The terms fog computing and edge computing today are used interchangeably although there are differences between both.
The global edge computing market is expected to reach USD 6.72 billion by 2022 at a CAGR of 35.4%

With the huge challenges and opportunities on the unstructured data front in mind it's key to look at the evolutions in edge computing, certainly in more industrial applications where analytics close to the point of origin will become more and more important as data volumes rise, everything moves to the edge, networks become more intelligent and resources need to be allocated well, avoiding too much sending back and forth of big data sets.
The continuing rise of edge computing in IoT (and mainly industrial IoT) is one of the main evolutions for the IoT in 2018 and the years after that.

According to IDC, spending on edge infrastructure will reach up to 18 percent of all IoT infrastructure spend by 2020 which is a lot as there is quite some IoT infrastructure.

Gartner expects that by 2022, 50 percent of all enterprise-generated data will be created and processed outside a traditional centralized data center or cloud, including ever more IoT data (edge computing stretches beyond IoT).

Among the main drivers of the growth of edge computing in IoT are the increase of IoT devices, the growing scale of IoT projects, the IoT data deluge, the growing adoption of IoT overall, the resulting pressure on resources such as networks and bandwidth and, perhaps most important, the need for fast data analysis across myriad IoT use cases.

More on IoT and the rise of edge computing with data, drivers and explanations on the differences between fog and edge in our article on edge computing and IoT in 2018 and beyond via the button below.

Edge computing and IoT

IoT device technologies: sensors and actuators
Previously we have spoken about connected devices and IoT device and the 'things' in the Internet of Things.
While most people think about IoT devices such as smart meters, smart home appliances, fitness trackers, smart light bulbs, smart alarm systems and, in business and industry, for example robots and cobots, connected industrial assets, smart streetlighting or intelligent building controls, to name a few, the things that really matter in IoT, including these devices, contain several technological components, which make them function as explained in our article on the first layers of the IoT technology stack, being those things, IoT gateways (see next) and IoT platforms (also see next).

There are obviously lots of parts in any IoT device: sensors, actuators, boards, antennas, chips, micro-electro-mechanical systems and so forth. We won't go that deep and look at the most important ones: sensors and actuators.

Both sensors and actuators are what is called transducers. A transducer converts a specific signal which comes in a specific form of energy into another signal in a different form of energy.

Sensors convert signals in areas such as heat, humidity, pressure, presence of gases, pressure, acceleration and so forth into a digital signal that gets sent to a control and/or data aggregation system such as a sensor hub or gateway. They are the start of all IoT data capture and thus must be accurate. The exact types of sensors (there are over a hundred) depend on what you want to achieve. In some IoT use cases, projects or devices you only have a few sensors (per connected device), in others there are often thousands.

The data which are a result of the sensing and converting of any given state or change of state in temperature, presence of gases, location and so forth usually go from the sensor hub or IoT gateway to the cloud or a datacenter. However, given the described movement to the edge and the increasing functions of IoT gateways and IoT platforms a lot of IoT data processing and preparation (including analysis) can happen close to the devices (the edge) or in the mentioned gateways and platforms.

Actuators in a sense are the opposite of sensors. They receive a signal or feel a force or change of state (in a non-IoT context this can also be a manual actions), which makes them set in motion an operation in the physical world. Examples include the switching on of sprinklers when heat is detected, turning off heating and ventilation systems, triggering a robot to take an action, putting a vibration or location-related correction system in action, anything really. Just as there are many types of sensors, there are many types of actuators for various potential purposes. Actuators are what enable semi-autonomous or autonomous decisions take place in the physical part of the cyber-physical system.

The data received by IoT actuators are digital (electric) in nature and include a control system. The instructions get turned into another type of signal and energy, from switching things on or off, rotations, pressure and so forth. Typically actuators then also report data back so the taken action is known and, combined with other data, can be used for more insights, analysis or simply alerts.
The combination of smart sensors and actuators is what really makes IoT fulfil many real-life applications.
More about IoT devices, sensors and actuators in the mentioned article on the first layers of the IoT technology stack via the button below.

IoT technology stack: IoT devices, sensors, actuators, gateways and platforms

IoT gateways: connecting devices and (processed) data with networks, the cloud, IoT platforms, datacenters and applications

IoT gateways function as bridges between the 'things' of the Internet of Things, including the data they generate through sensors on one hand and networks, cloud, IoT platforms, data centers, and ultimately applications leveraging this and other (aggregated and analyzed) data, on the other hand.
IoT gateways play an important role in the encryption, decryption, pre-processing and even analysis of data. They function as intelligent bridges with ever more types and features.
IoT gateways are hardware, software or a mix of both. There are several types of IoT gateways whereby the functions and possibilities they offer as said increase. This is because there are ever more IoT devices, an increasing volume of IoT data and, last but not least, a shift in the way data gets analyzed to the edge as previously explained. If you have more data and more complex and diverse ways to leverage more data and build IoT projects this means that your whole technology environment changes to deal with various IoT workloads where it fits best. And, thus, IoT gateways are moving beyond their initial scope as some sort of filter and bridge on the intersection of IoT devices and data on one hand and the networks, cloud services or datacenters where they usually get stored and/or analyzed.

A typical 'newer' form of IoT gateways is an edge gateway. This has to do with the mentioned rise of edge computing and thus analysis BEFORE the cloud, network or datacenter.
In practice most IoT data still gets analyzed in datacenters according to 2017 research. However, little under half of companies do IoT data processing (data analysis, data aggregation or data filtering at the edge) as you can read in this article on the impact of IoT on IT infrastructure. And this has an impact on IoT gateways.
Do note that there are various types of IoT gateways depending on the reasons why they are used and/or the industry. You can find IoT gateways in smart vending machines, in home automation applications (aggregating and orchestrating data communications between smart home devices and sensors on one hand and cloud services on the other), for the Industrial IoT (IIoT gateways) and so forth.

More about IoT gateways via the button below where you also find images that are more advanced than the one above and more evolutions in the landscape of IoT and IIoT gateways.

The IoT gateway

Connectivity and network technologies
Time for a look at the Internet of Things connectivity aspect. In order to transmit data between devices and from devices to platforms, the cloud or any other destination, network technologies are needed.
In some applications, for instance in smart home solutions, this is relatively easy as there are several general and several proprietary connectivity solutions in typically rather simple use cases.

Connectivity is traditionally divided into solutions for PAN (Personal Area Network), LAN (Local Area Network), WAN (Wide Area Network), MAN (Metropolitan Area Network) and (less) in NAN (Neighbourhood Area Network).

These are concepts we know from computer networking in general since quite some years. To connect from a PAN to a LAN and a WAN or, let's say, the Internet you need a gateway.
Today, various connectivity solutions enable to do so but in a not so distant past you needed smartphones, mobile networks and other solutions that weren't not made for IoT didn't guarantee enough safety or quality.
The rise of LPWAN companies such as Semtech (LoRA), Sigfox and so forth needs to be seen from that perspective whereby the focus was on having enough bandwidth, low power consumption and so forth at cheaper prices than existing possibilities. Building specific networks, among others, what made non-cellular LPWAN solutions successfull.

Today that landscape continues to evolve and change. New 3GPP standards, the shift to 4G LTE in the industry and beyond are some of these evolutions. Wireless IoT protocols and technologies are expected to become more important in the IoT network layer overall. However, it is and remains a reality that keeps changing.
Among the reasons why wireless network technologies become more important is their flexibility as compared with wired networks.
Wireless IoT connections and the use of wireless IoT network protocols and technologies are key in the IoT network layer

That's what Nicolas Windpassinger, author of the Internet of Things book 'Digitize or Die' says. If we take a look at the many wireless protocols and network technologies, Nicolas classifies them in five categories whereby he takes their range as a starting point. Obviously, the various technologies within the five wireless IoT network layer segments which he visually represented in the infographic below and further explores in his book have different ranges and different characteristics on other levels such as data rates and much more.

To categorize the several wireless technologies and protocols on the network level, Nicolas removes one of the previous mentioned types of networks and also adds one: proximity or body area networks, an increasingly important segment, certainly as the 4th platform is nearing.

Nicolas classifies the many wireless Internet of Things protocols and technologies as follows:

Proximity or body area networks: Near Field Communications and RFID.

Wireless PAN: from Bluetooth and Zigbee to Z-Wave, Enocean and WirelessHART, to name a few.

Wireless LAN: the various flavors of Wi-Fi, including Wi-Fic HaLow which was presented by the Wi-Fi Alliance for IoT purposes and DASH7.

Wireless NAN: Wi-SUN and JupiterMesh.

Wireless WAN: anything LPWAN, from non-cellular LPWA (Sigfox, LoRa etc) to cellular technologies and standards in the 2G, 3G and 4G space and beyond.

Classification of wireless network technologies for IoT
In the Industrial Internet of Things the majority of networks concerns fixed line connections such as DSL, cable modem, Ethernet and PSTN.
However, here as well the picture is evolving. According to ABI Research, for instance, one quarter of all new IIoT connections will be wireless whereby LPWA is expected to be the fastest grower until 2021 and there is a shift in the wireless area from 2G to 4G LTE.

Industrial IoT network technologies and evolutions
In many, more advanced, Internet of Things use cases and examples, de facto a mix of connectivity technologies is needed.
Once more, everything depends on the context and the offering is vast: from fixed networks and wireless IP networks to low-rate wireless personal area networks, low-power wide area wireless solutions and even satellite; there is a (mix of) connectivity solution(s) for all cases.
Moreover, within each type of connectivity solutions there are often various players, each with their own characteristics and specifications.
As an example: in low-power wide area connectivity (LPWA), used in applications that need a long battery life, have limited data needs and have to cover a broader area, there are several non-cellular (outside of the licensed mobile spectrum) actors of which LoRA, Sigfox, Ingenu and Weightless (SIG) are among the better known ones. However, there are also newer cellular solutions (licensed spectrum of mobile operators) with again various forms and flavors: NB-IoT (NarrowBand IoT or CAT-NB1), LTE-M (CAT-M1) and so forth. In the cellular space we also need to mention 5G, as well as 3G and so forth as you'll see in the example below. The same diversity goes for connectivity solutions in short-range conditions and so on.
That's why several IT solution providers, telecom operators and so forth in practice offer a mix of connectivity solutions to enable their customers to leverage the Internet of Things for their specific needs.
The IoT connectivity puzzle is getting more standardized but it is not getting easier as new technologies and standards such as new Bluetooth versions (Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth MESH), new cellular mobile solutions, other forms of Wi-Fi etc. arise on top of an already vast ecosystem of all sorts of connectivity solutions, based upon various standards which are used in a specific context, such as Zigbee (see example below), Z-Wave and so many more, including vendor-specific approaches, certainly in the smart home space.
What's important to know is that there is no one size fits all solution in any type of connectivity: the use case and application drives the needs.
More on LPWA (licensed and unlicensed band)
Here is an example of why you often need various types of connectivity in practice.
We've covered an example of an IoT case in the area of air quality monitoring whereby vehicles drive around to complement air quality data from fixed systems previously.

If you look at the connectivity solutions that are used in the case you see two types of connectivity.

1. One is Zigbee, one of the connectivity solutions built upon the 802.15.4 standard for low-rate wireless personal area networks. As the image indicates in this case it is used to send the 'sensed' environmental data in the box on top of the van to a sensor hub in the glove box of the vehicle.

2. The second one is 3G, the cellular standard, which is used to send the gathered information to the cloud and the application it powers.

And we can even add another technology: GPS (which enables tracking). You understand that the more complex the case (think about large-scale industrial applications), the more different connectivity solutions can be needed.

More on Internet of Things connectivity
Since a few years there is a real 5G race going on. 5G is the next generation of cellular mobility after 4G and comes with a different architecture and far higher data transfer speeds while offering the kind of bandwidth that is needed for live virtual reality streams and autonomous vehicles.
The final specifications of 5G will be ready by end 2019 but already several large industrial IoT companies are looking at the possibilities and adoption of 5G as the center of a heterogeneous network environment. 5G is not designed for IoT, it is designed for ubiquitous connectivity with data rates in the range of gigabits per second.

While it is expected that 5G will only become mainstream towards the end of the next decade and the decade after that the promises and expectations are use, also in and for IoT.

According to research company IDC the broad enablement of IoT use cases thanks to 5G by 2021 will drive 70 percent of the largest 2000 public companies across the globe to spend $1.2 billion on connectivity management solutions. The market potential of 5G as such is huge as are the possibilities it offers, redefining the very concept of mobility and boosting the ubiquitous connectivity of IoT too.

5G is not just about higher data transfer rates, it is also about reliability, latency and what is known as edgeless computing. You can read more about what that means for IoT and how 5G fits in the context of existing cellular network technologies for IoT and other wireless IoT standards via the button below.

More on Internet of Things connectivity

Below are a few more links to Internet of Things connectivity topics and predictions we've tackled on this site.

Internet of Things platforms

In order to build an Internet of Things solution, different components are required. There are the connected or tagged devices, equipped with sensing and data capabilities. There is the challenge of connectivity which we just tackled, there is the question of analytics. You need a strategy. Security cannot be an afterthought. The list goes on.
Another component which becomes increasingly important is the IoT platform. The term is used for many sorts of platforms but we look at so-called IoT Application Enablement Platforms, what real IoT platforms are. They combine several functions in one software solution and are offered by hundreds of vendors, including big players such as Amazon, Microsoft, SAP and IBM, to name a few.
IoT platforms are especially important in enterprise markets and come in many flavors and shapes. According to IDC (data November 1, 2017) by the end of 2020 almost half of all the new IoT applications that will be built by enterprises will leverage an IoT platform that offers outcome-focused functionality, based on comprehensive analytics capabilities.

In 2017 the market was expected to grow by 116 percent as you can see below. It is also forecasted that many large organizations are deciding on the choice of an IoT platform that meets their needs in 2018 and 2019 so the growth certainly isn't finished. The fact that IoT platforms are so important, that so many organizations are preparing purchases in 2018 and 2019 and that large-scale IoT projects are on the rise have an important impact on the market of IoT platform providers. Some companies, such as Hitachi Vantara, have even redesigned their IoT strategy in 2017, whereby getting a part of the IoT platform market is an essential driver.
Some takeaways from the mentioned 2017 IoT platform market report

Open data and interoperability become even more important.

IoT platform growth remains huge with high double-digit numbers until at least 2025.

The main drivers to acquire Internet of Things platforms are better, faster and cheaper development and deployment.

There is a growing interest in open source IoT platforms.

The market will go through a stage of consolidations as vendors rush to offer more complete solutions which can also be leveraged in vertical industry situations.

IoT platforms come in many forms and shapes. On top of more general and horizontal IoT platforms there are specialized IoT platforms for specific consumer-oriented applications and use cases, for use cases in areas such as building management and facility optimization, energy management, oil and gas, transportation, utilities, manufacturing and other industrial applications (Industrial IoT or IIoT platforms) and within those increasingly for edge applications (edge IoT platforms), for verticals such as smart cities (smart city IoT platforms) and so forth.

IoT platforms

The Internet of Things and IPv6
The Internet of Things and IPv6 go hand in hand. IPv6 (IP stands for Internet Protocol) is a key step in the evolution of the Internet and the Internet of Things.
IPv6 allows for 100 possible Internet addresses for every atom on the face of the Earth

What are we talking about? It's a known fact since really many years that the number of available IPv4 addresses doesn't suffice anymore. As the Internet continues to grow and with the rise of the Internet of Things, IPv6 essentially makes sure that we don't run out of IP addresses (which are needed in IoT too) and the growth of the Internet doesn't stop. With IPv4 IP addresses would become a scarce good with all the necessary consequences.

Simply said, IPv6 guarantees that all things, whether it concerns all the 'traditional' Internet stuff out there or the many devices in the Internet of Things, will have their IP addresses. Why? Well, the latest version of the Internet protocol, v6, simply allows far more IP addresses and thus enables the identification, location and communication of more devices on the Internet.

The math: IPv4 is good for more or less 4.3 billion addresses (it's 32-bit), IPv6 (128-bit) allows for 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456 possible internet addresses or 100 for every atom on the face of the Earth as BT's Tim Rooney calculated.

Wikipedia has a pretty good overview of the various challenges and other facts regarding IPv4 and IPv6 in case you're interested.

Internet of Things and the Internet of Services
In more than one way the Internet of Things is really an Internet of Services, not just regarding the services that are needed by organizations for the Internet of Things projects they want to realize but also in the context of the goals of deployments as a service to the stakeholders and the as-a-service economy
The global Internet of Things services market will grow with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24% until 2021

There is a growing need for Internet of Things services by organizations. Today, many Internet of Things projects, certainly in the Industrial Internet of Things, revolve around process automation and data analytics.

There is also a demand for Internet of Things services in other areas than services around automation, information management and data analytics. And in the context of, for instance, smart homes, smart cities and smart healthcare there is a need for specialist services. In practice and in big projects many service providers even need to collaborate as you cannot be a specialist in everything. Collaboration is key.

At the same time many de facto Internet of Things deployments in real life are about the development of better data-driven services, both in the sense of enhanced customer service and in the sense of tapping into new revenues by developing services in more pro-active and sometimes even disruptive ways, moving companies from a product to a service business model. Our list of Internet of Things cases gives some good examples of this evolution.

Internet of Things services outlook

Internet of Things and security
The Internet of Things still is a security nightmare although one needs to differ and not generalize but rather look at various cases.
Nevertheless, both in consumer applications and industrial applications, there are many questions that need to be solved.

Both data controllers and data processors also have several duties with regards to the protection and security of personal data when these are processed in IoT projects in new regulations. Moreover, there are ever more legal and regulatory compliance rules whereby not just personal data get protected but also where IoT and emerging technologies are regulated and security also takes center stage.
The Consumer IoT space is probably most talked about from the security viewpoint as there are several issues and as security concerns seriously impact the market.
Consumers lack awareness about the potential risks associated with emerging connected devices (Gary Davis, Intel Security)

When Accenture looked at the slowing down of the consumer electronics market at the occasion of the Consumer Electronics Show 2016, the company observed that in order to bridge the gap between the current decreasing growth of the consumer electronics market and the next stage of increasing growth, which is expected to be driven by consumer applications in the IoT space and wearables, vendors need to address these security challenges.

The many security challenges regarding the Internet of Things are not just in the consumer electronics space. In business applications, the security challenges of a hyper-connected Internet of Things reality are at least as high, not to mention the impact on IT infrastructure and data capabilities.
Connected devices and the internet of Things are increasingly used for large scale attacks.
Gartner estimates that more than 20% of enterprise security attacks will involve Internet of Things connections by 2020, and threat growth is expected to outstrip security spending

Several DDoS attacks have been reported throughout 2016, including the up to 620 Gbps DDoS attack which made the website of well-known security journalist Bryan Krebs go down end September 2016. The attack received a lot of attention, also because it was related with other issues such as free speech (Krebs was attacked by hackers after exposing a network of hackers for hire, the attack was so intensive that Akamai had to stop protecting Kreb's website against DDoS attacks and Google put the site in its Project Shield).

Fears are high that soon such attacks and even more intensive ones will become the norm. And it's not just about DDoS attacks. Ransomware is also moving to the Internet of Things and security experts warn for cascade effects of exploited vulnerabilities in the connected reality which the IoT is. On top of the security challenges, compliance and data privacy also need to be tackled.

An Internet of Things business plan must encompass security, from start to finish and beyond
In the Internet of Things, sensors communicate with each other and through gateways, connected to an Internet of Things platform, the various applications of the company are fed and triggered.
Obviously such a platform needs to be highly secure as do the communications between sensors, gateways and the platform.

Some aspects of the Internet of Things security concerns

Vulnerabilities in the devices.

Difficult or non-existing procedures to patch IoT devices.

A lack of awareness in and support from the boardroom.

Too much focus on saving costs in Internet of Things projects and not investing in essential security controls.

Not enough attention for security overall and for the 'perimeter of everything' which is simply needed in the Internet of Everything.

Lack of standardization across networks and application programming interfaces (APIs).

Old devices and rogue vendors.

Consumer education and awareness.

Standardization and protocols (although serious efforts are being done).

Before embarking on an Internet of Things project journey, it's important to realize that security is not an afterhought and is an end-to-end part of any digital strategy.
Many IoT enterprise security professionals still are not monitoring IoT devices in real time, a situation that is expected to change throughout 2017 and 2018 as security gets more attention and Internet of Things platforms with IoT device monitoring are leveraged rapidly.
Other evolutions and facts you can expect on an Internet of Things security level include:

Continued breaches as the industry players step up the security pace to become trusted partners.

More sophisticated threats and a more sophisticated usage of devices that are out there already and need an urgent solution.

A potential delay in the Consumer Internet of Things picking up.

Changes in the ecosystems used to deploy Internet of Things projects.

An increasing choice for the most secure connectivity options, depending on the use case.

Different ways of handling data and on securing the endpoints where data is generated.

Organizations will invest more in device discovery, onboarding and monitoring to gain visibility and be able to do real-time monitoring.

Internet of Things future forecasts: focus on security The Industrial Internet of Things and the integration of IT and OT comes with specific security challenges, as do many IIoT use cases and technological/human elements which are typical in industrial Internet.
Cybersecurity is one of the key reasons slowing down Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) adoption. Check out the evolutions, challenges and solutions with additional resources on IIoT and security.

Security and the Industrial Internet of Things
IoT security gets so much attention now that it is expected to temporarily have an impact on IoT productivity gains of companies as they are pushed and poised to invest far more in security.
Moreover, regulations are coming as we tackle next and it's not just companies that deploy IoT projects that are investing more in security. The whole IoT ecosystem with hardware manufacturers, solution providers and integrators is inevitably looking - and in some instances - forced to look at security in a higher degree.

On top of security, there is also the question of physical safety as mentioned. Some technologies, such as blockchain, are also looked into as ways to provide a more reliable and trustworthy IoT. However, IoT security doesn't just encompass data or transactions of course.

It requires that holistic approach. According to November 1, 2017 data from IDC in its worldwide IoT 2018 top 10 predictions the company states that by 2020, the potential cybersecurity and physical safety concerns which are associated with IoT devices will pressure CIOs at the world's largest 2000 public companies to Increase spending on IoT security by up to 25%, which explains the mentioned temporarily neutralizing of business productivity gains.

More resources about the Internet of Things and security

Internet of Things and regulations
As data has become a key business asset in the digital transformation economy and the Internet of Things, as well as the many related technologies, revolve around connected data and how it's leveraged, new regulatory frameworks are planned and/or deployed. This is certainly related with security concerns, among others on the level of data privacy and data protection risks.
The Internet of Things leverages personal data across several use cases. Think about driverless cars, wearables for private or healthcare applications, telematics in insurance, IoT and marketing, the smart home, the list is endless.
The protection of personal data, with potentially significant fines in case of breaches and non-compliance, is a cornerstone of the General Data Protection Regulation or GDPR.
This EU Regulation affects all organizations which process personal data of EU citizens ('data subjects' who have more and stronger data subject rights than ever before), no matter where the organization physically resides or the processing is done. In other words: it's crucial to prepare for GDPR compliance in general but also with regards to the Internet of Things. Why? Because with the Internet of Things comes a range of technologies, devices, use cases, applications and processes which are pretty specific and amazingly overlooked. If you HAVE or PLAN to deploy an Internet of Things project that involves personal data from EU citizens in any way you MUST know the GDPR and be ready for it. In the scope of IoT projects with personal data processing especially look at whether you might need a data protection impact assessment.

A second piece of legislation, also in the EU, that will impact what can and can't be done with the Internet of Things is the ePrivacy Regulation. This text for now is not final yet but once it is will have significant consequences as it covers privacy across electronic communication channels and the draft text explicitly mentions the Internet of Things.
As other regions and specific vertical industries are about to be confronted with regulations regarding IoT and related technologies, awareness, preparation and information is crucial.
It takes work but we wrote a guide on the Internet of Things in the scope of the GDPR and the ePrivacy regulation which will be updated as other legislation and regulations are added, to get you started. There are also intentions to, for instance, regulate robots and AI.

On the positive side (and security nor data breach avoidance can't be an afterthought in any Internet of Things project) the regulatory changes also will drive the adoption of the Internet of Things in both consumer and business/industry applications, where data, privacy and security remain key challenges as you could read in the previous section in security and the Industrial Internet of Things because here is the thing: without trust nothing goes.

The Internet of Things and regulation: GDPR, ePrivacy and more

Distributed ledger technology: blockchain and the Internet Of Things
Internet of Things applications and blockchain (or distributed ledger technology) are expected to go hand in hand.
As both are distributed and blockchain is conceived for applications involving transactions and interactions with new forms of contracts as other benefits, it is expected that the technology behind blockchain can serve as a basis to keep a ledger of IoT devices, how/what they communicate and data on their state.

Distributed ledger technology (the technology that essentially is behind 'the' blockchain which powers Bitcoins but can be used for many other reasons) is seen as a way to enhance compliance in the Internet of Things.

Accountability and audit trails thanks to the use of distributed ledger technology, however, are not the only benefits of the converge of blockchain and the Internet of Things.
In an infographic, IBM mentions 3 key benefits of using blockchain for the Internet of Things:
According to the company blockchain is a game-changer for IoT. End 2016 Forrester Research also zoomed in on the benefits, possibilities and evolutions.

Blockchain and IoT

Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and machine learning

We previously mentioned how the convergence of IoT, artificial intelligence and big data analytics opens the door to next generation technologies. These include new applications in visualization technology and Brain Computing Interfaces.

AI technologies and solutions are being woven into a broader and wider array of applications and use cases, including IoT applications and use cases

Yet, artificial intelligence and cognitive is bound to play an increasing role in IoT. This is the case in many areas and for many reasons. Below are a few.

As we move to autonomous decisions at the edge in multiple industrial markets such as the building management space, AI inevitably becomes a necessity. The same goes for areas such as the Internet of Robotic Things, autonomous processes in manufacturing and Industry 4.0, the list goes on.

The increase of IoT data and multiplication of data sources overall in areas such as healthcare and life sciences, to name a few, leads to an avalanche of data whereby only AI can help make sense out of all this data and turn IoT and sensor data into actionable intelligence. In fact, AI is the only way to make sense of unstructured data to begin with and is leveraged in ever more applications where unstructured data meet engagement. If we compare the sheer volumes of data today with what IoT is still about to add the consequences are clear.

Just as is the case in other data-intensive areas and even more so in IoT, AI is the only way to move from data to tangible value in an ocean of information that is sensed, sent, analyzed and leveraged with analysis at the edge in many industrial applications.

Enterprises will be using AI and machine learning to make sense of IoT data

There are more areas of convergence and collaboration between artificial intelligence and machine learning on one hand and IoT on the other but it's clear that AI and IoT simply go hand in hand in myriad applications. This is also understood by executives. According to the 2017-2017 edition of the previously mentioned IoT Barometer, IoT will not just become far more integrated but also push the adoption of artificial intelligence while doing so. A large majority of executives (79 percent) agree that in the period from 2017 until 2022 over half of organizations will use artificial intelligence and machine learning to make sense of IoT data.

The convergence of AI, IoT and big data analytics leads to next generation technologies and possibilities

If we take a look at the forecasts with regards to the market of artificial intelligence and cognitive systems which is poised to reach $57.6 Billion in 2021 according to September 2017 data from IDC, there is an interesting sentence from research director David Schubmehl at the end of the press release that kind of nails it for us: "We are seeing cognitive and AI technology and solutions weaving into an ever broader and wider array of applications and use cases".

The Internet of Things in business context: sell/realize the use case and outcome
While IoT matters a lot, it's important to remember that usually business people don't talk about the Internet of Things to their bosses in the scope of their work and project plans. If they do, it's best to stop it unless the CEO and CFO are IT experts.
Business execs often don't even speak about the use cases in terms of more...terms, such as smart cities or smart grids. In the end, they know that they need to digitally transform, that the Internet of Things is a truly disruptive game-changer but their job is to solve challenges , innovate and optimize in function of activities and goals. Simply put: few LOB executives will try to sell an IoT project to the CEO and there aren't that many that will try to convince the board or the CFO regarding the benefits of a smart metering project. But, to take the latter example, they will certainly succeed if they come up with a way to reduce costs, gain valuable insights, develop new revenue streams and increase customer satisfaction, for instance, certainly if they did the math.

How important is the Internet of Things really?
The Internet of Things will change our lives and organizations dramatically, just as cloud computing and big data have been a major shift, the Internet and mobile devices revolutionized the world, robots and AI (artificial intelligence) impact and will impact our lives deeply, blockchain is a major game-changer and Industry 4.0 will significantly alter the face of manufacturing and of industrial markets.
But there is a catch. It's easy to say that the Internet, mobile phones, smartphones and social media changed many things as they are here since many years. It's far harder to say how - and how fast and where - exactly the Internet of Things will change our lives. We see how it does in organizations, in healthcare where IoT is key in digital health and so forth.

However, for the IoT and more 'recent' realities such as Industry 4.0 and the latest forms of AI, it is still very early days Moreover, these days there are many people who think that technology will solve all challenges, which it rarely does. Some even seem to think that because you can add things to the IoT you should everything which you can. It's part of the hype and IoT solution provider efforts. Yet, as phenomena such as digital transformation and even the Internet show things don't always tend to change that fast nor in the directions some would like it. With the Internet of Things (and others), there are also regulatory measures, security issues, questions regarding job losses and far more.

While the Internet of Things no doubt really is part of a set of technologies and use cases that will change many things (from cities and cars to houses and factories) we're not there yet and don't know how fast and how it will happen. There isn't a single prediction about a basic aspect of the IoT such as the number of connected devices by year x, that has come true over a longer period and adjustments to forecasts until now have always been reductions.

The IoT in essence remains about connecting material things to the Internet. As we covered, these things include devices, machines, sensors and objects, as well as contextually relevant condition and status monitors of living things such as animals and people in novel ways. Anything that is attached as an endpoint with a unique Internet adress (IP address) to the Internet and can sense and send data is part of the IoT. An endpoint is what makes an object uniquely identifiable on the IoT. It can be (part of) a system, a device, a tag which is attached to an animal or a sensor and communication system connected to a human being.

Yet, the main benefit of the Internet of Things is the capability to leverage data and turn them into actions and insights in previously unseen ways. To do so, the Internet of Things works in an ecosystem of several technologies and partnerships. And that is where the real value of IoT starts.
Developing an Internet of Things strategy with these things in mind is crucial.
The Internet of Things in an infographic

Below is an infographic by Goldman Sachs on the Internet of Things which pretty well summarizes several of its aspects and evolutions.

Top image: Shutterstock - Copyright: jamesteohart - All other images are the property of their respective mentioned owners.

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The Internet of Things (IoT) - essential IoT business guide

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Internet of Things (IoT) demystified. IoT is the network of physical items, equipped with electronics, transducers such as sensors and actuators, connectivity and software to capture, filter and exchange data about themselves and their environment for various IoT use cases and business purposes. An IoT business guide.

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What are the key drivers, challenges and activities on the road to 5G? | IHS Markit

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What are the key drivers, challenges and activities on the road to 5G?

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Ready or not, the Internet of Things is taking over the world. Every day, more and more objects have some sort of network connection: from coffee makers to security cameras, from air quality sensors to connected cars, there isn't a single area of our life that won't be touched by IoT devices in the next decade.

In fact, technology giant Ericsson predicts that in 2018, there will be more IoT gadgets than mobile devices. For many companies, now is the time to start thinking about the long-term implication of this new landscape.

So what does the IoT have in store for companies and their customers ? Here are 13 stats that show how this space will influence consumer behavior, transform major industries and change business forever.

How many devices are we talking about?

1. 's projection is even bigger. The company forecasts 200 billion connected devices by 2020. (TWEET THIS STAT)

2. like industrial sensors, connected manufacturing machines, in-store analysis devices and workspace management applications are already on the market. These B2B IoT devices will fundamentally transform the way organizations do business with other companies. an exponential increase in this space-from 2.5 billion connections in 2017 to 5.4 billion devices in 2020. Sparklabs predicts (TWEET THIS STAT)

How much money is involved in the IoT?

1. current economy. According to General Electric , the IoT will add $10 to $15 trillion to worldwide GDP growth by 2030-the equivalent of China's entire(TWEET THIS STAT)

2. predicts that total business spending on IoT solutions will reach $6 trillion by 2021. Business Insider (TWEET THIS STAT)

How will the IoT affect our world?

1. The same report also predicts that the IoT will lead to a 15 percent productivity increase in delivery and supply chain performance. (TWEET THIS STAT)

2. forecasts that by 2020, 75 percent of new cars will come with built-in IoT connectivity. Business Insider (TWEET THIS STAT)

The IoT is growing at an unprecedented pace

Investing heavily in IoT and connected device programs doesn't guarantee success . Companies need to accurately define what the IoT is, get a better understanding of how this technology transforms customer expectations and develop a plan to use customer feedback as they develop new products.

Our upcoming webinar with Kevin Ashton , renowned IoT expert, will show you how to develop, iterate, and market viable IoT products and solutions. Save your spot today .

If you liked this article, you might like:

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13 stunning stats on the Internet of Things

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Ready or not, the Internet of Things is taking over the world. Every day, more and more objects have some sort of network connection: from coffee makers to security cameras, from air quality sensors to connected cars, there isn't a single area of our life that won't be touched by IoT devices in the next decade.

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Spectral images, which contain more color information than is obtainable with a typical camera, reveal characteristics of tissue and other biological samples that can't be seen by the naked eye. A new smartphone-compatible device that is held like a pencil could make it practical to acquire spectral images of everyday objects and may eventually be used for point-of-care medical diagnosis in remote locations.

Potential applications of the new device include detecting oxygen saturation in a person's blood, determining the freshness of meat in the grocery store and identifying fruit that is the perfect ripeness. The spectrometer could also make it easier to acquire spectral data in the field for scientific studies.

In The Optical Society (OSA) journal Biomedical Optics Express, the researchers describe how to make the new pencil-like spectrometer and demonstrate its ability to acquire spectral images of bananas, pork and a person's hand. The new device can detect wavelengths from 400 to 676 nanometers at 186 spots simultaneously.

"The easiest way to use a spectrometer is to wave it over the part of the body or object being examined," said first author Fuhong Cai, Hainan University, China. "However, many home-made portable spectrometers use a smartphone camera to acquire data and a phone cradle that contains other necessary optics. The cradle can be hard to align correctly and makes it awkward to wave the smartphone over the body."

Rather than using a smartphone camera to acquire images, the new spectrometer uses a commercially available complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) camera that wirelessly transmits images to a smartphone. This approach allowed the researchers to assemble a cylindrical spectral imaging device weighing just 140 grams (about 5 ounces) that is about the length of smartphone and just over 3 centimeters in diameter.
Using off-the-shelf components
The new pencil-like spectrometer uses all commercially-available components that can be purchased for less than $300 (US). The light source is an array of white LEDs, which connects to an off-the-shelf optical lens tube with the CMOS detector and other optical components necessary for spectral imaging.

One can use the pencil-like spectrometer simply by moving it across the target area by hand. This manual push-broom scanning process builds up a series of spectral images that are sent to a smartphone or computer where software stitches the spectral images together into a 3D spectral image data cube.

The researchers tested the spectrometer by using it to detect banana ripeness and levels of myoglobin -- the iron-containing protein that gives meat its color -- in a piece of pork. They also used it to scan a person's hand, obtaining a 16-second video containing 200 spectral images. From the 3D spectral images, the researchers could distinguish five fingers and the palm and saw differences in hemoglobin distribution in various parts of the hand.

The researchers are also interested in using their compact imaging spectrometer for environmental monitoring. "We're developing distributed spectral cameras that could be used for a wide range of ocean surveys, such as detecting dissolved organic matter in water or pigments that indicate early signs of harmful algal blooms," said Cai. "Since the imaging spectrometer can connect to any type of camera, we are also examining the idea of attaching it to the camera of an autonomous vehicle to create a remote ocean sensing system."
Optimizing the system
Although using commercially-available components to make the prototype means that anyone can assemble the device, it also places some limits on resolution and sensitivity. For example, the prototype can only resolve wavelengths that differ by at least 17 nanometers.

"We expect significant spectral resolution improvements in the future by using an improved camera with a long focal length lens," said Dan Wang, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, China, a member of the research team. "These improvements would expand the applications for the device."

The researchers also plan to develop software to make the spectral imager even more useful. "We want to develop ways to use machine learning algorithms to analyze the massive amounts of data that could be collected with the portable spectra imager," said Sailing He, Zhejiang University, China, a member of the research team. "We also want to create software for smartphones that uses spectral imaging data to measure meat freshness, for example."

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medical imaging; medical devices; today's healthcare; medical technology; consumer electronics; telecommunications; photography; mobile computing; information technology

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Wireless handheld spectrometer transmits data to smartphone: Easy-to-use spectrometer costs less than $300, holds promise for remote medical diagnostics

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Spectral images, which contain more color information than is obtainable with a typical camera, reveal characteristics of tissue and other biological samples that can't be seen by the naked eye. A new smartphone-compatible device that is held like a pencil could make it practical to acquire spectral images of everyday objects and may eventually be used for point-of-care medical diagnosis in remote locations.

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IT Security | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

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Information Security is the ongoing process of exercising due care and diligence to protect information and information systems from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification or destruction. It's main objective is maintaining the information under the principles of Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability.

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HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information.

The law has emerged into greater prominence in recent years with the proliferation of health data breaches caused by cyberattacks and ransomware attacks on health insurers and providers.

The act, which was signed into law by President Bill Clinton on Aug. 21, 1996, contains five sections, or titles.
Title I: HIPAA Health Insurance Reform
Title I protects health insurance coverage for individuals who lose or change jobs. It also prohibits group health plans from denying coverage to individuals with specific diseases and pre-existing conditions, and from setting lifetime coverage limits.
Title II: HIPAA Administrative Simplification
Title II directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish national standards for processing electronic healthcare transactions. It also requires healthcare organizations to implement secure electronic access to health data and to remain in compliance with privacy regulations set by HHS.
Title III: HIPAA Tax-Related Health Provisions
Title III includes tax-related provisions and guidelines for medical care.
Title IV: Application and Enforcement of Group Health Plan Requirements
Title IV further defines health insurance reform, including provisions for individuals with pre-existing conditions and those seeking continued coverage.
Title V: Revenue Offsets
Title V includes provisions on company-owned life insurance and the treatment of those who lose their U.S. citizenship for income tax purposes.

In healthcare circles, adhering to HIPAA Title II is what most people mean when they refer to HIPAA compliance. Also known as the Administrative Simplification provisions, Title II includes the following HIPAA compliance requirements:

National Provider Identifier Standard. Each healthcare entity, including individuals, employers, health plans and healthcare providers, must have a unique 10-digit national provider identifier number, or NPI.

Transactions and Code Sets Standard. Healthcare organizations must follow a standardized mechanism for electronic data interchange (EDI) in order to submit and process insurance claims.

HIPAA Privacy Rule. Officially known as the Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, this rule establishes national standards to protect patient health information.

HIPAA Security Rule. The Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information sets standards for patient data security.

HIPAA Enforcement Rule. This rule establishes guidelines for investigations into HIPAA compliance violations.

What is the purpose of HIPAA?

HIPAA, also known as Public Law 104-191, has two main purposes: to provide continuous health insurance coverage for workers who lose or change their job, and to reduce the administrative burdens and cost of healthcare by standardizing the electronic transmission of administrative and financial transactions. Other goals include combating abuse, fraud and waste in health insurance and healthcare delivery and improving access to long-term care services and health insurance.

HHS expanded the act when it put the HIPAA omnibus rule in place in 2013 to implement modifications to HIPAA in accordance with guidelines set in 2009 by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health ( HITECH) Act. These guidelines concern the responsibilities of business associates of covered entities. The omnibus rule also increased penalties for HIPAA compliance violations to a maximum of $1.5 million per incident.

The HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR), which enforces HIPAA, issued guidance in 2016 clarifying that cloud service providers and other business associates of healthcare organizations are covered by the HIPAA privacy, security and breach notification rules. HIPAA violations can prove quite costly for healthcare organizations.

The HIPAA Breach Notification Rule within the omnibus set of regulations requires covered entities and any affected business associates to notify patients following a data breach.

In addition to the notification costs, healthcare organizations can encounter fines after HIPAA audits mandated by the HITECH Act and conducted by the Office for Civil Rights. Providers could also face criminal penalties stemming from violations of the HIPAA privacy and security rules.

In 2010, the Federal Trade Commission extended the breach notification rule and its enforcement to healthcare organizations not covered by HIPAA, including vendors of electronic health records (EHRs) and EHR-related systems.

OCR undertook its first round of HIPAA audits of healthcare organizations in 2012 and 2013. Those pilot audits carried no fines or penalties.

A considerably wider, formal round of desk and in-person audits of about 200 healthcare-covered entities and business associates began in 2016 and continued into 2017. These audits were expected to carry fines or corrective plans.

OCR further strengthened the HIPAA security rule in 2016 by releasing a crosswalk between aspects of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Cybersecurity Framework to identify cybersecurity gaps and align HIPAA with national cybersecurity standards.

Organizations can lower their risk of regulatory action through HIPAA compliance training programs. OCR has six educational programs on complying with privacy and security rules. A number of consultancies and training groups offer programs, as well. Healthcare providers may also choose to create their own training programs, which often encompass each organization's current HIPAA privacy and security policies, the HITECH Act, mobile device management processes and other applicable guidelines.

While there is no official HIPAA compliance certification program, training companies offer certification credentials to indicate an understanding of the guidelines and regulations specified by the act.

HIPAA Privacy Rule

The Standards for Privacy of Individually Identifiable Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Privacy Rule, establishes the first national standards in the United States to protect patients' personal or protected health information ( PHI).

HHS issued the rule to limit the use and disclosure of sensitive PHI. It seeks to protect the privacy of patients by requiring doctors to provide patients with an account of each entity to which the doctor discloses PHI for billing and administrative purposes, while still allowing relevant health information to flow through the proper channels.

The privacy rule also guarantees patients the right to receive their own PHI, upon request, from healthcare providers covered by HIPAA.

Who is covered by and must follow HIPAA?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule applies to organizations that are considered HIPAA-covered entities, including health plans, healthcare clearinghouses and healthcare providers. In addition, the HIPAA Privacy Rule requires covered entities that work with a HIPAA business associate to produce a contract that imposes specific safeguards on the PHI that the business associate uses or discloses.

What information is protected?

The HIPAA Privacy Rule protects all individually identifiable health information that is held or transmitted by a covered entity or a business associate. This information can be held in any form, including digital, paper or oral. This individually identifiable health information is also known as PHI under the Privacy Rule.

What is considered protected health information under HIPAA?

PHI includes:

a patient's name, address, birth date and Social Security number;

an individual's physical or mental health condition;

any care provided to an individual; or

information concerning the payment for the care provided to the individual that identifies the patient, or information for which there is a reasonable basis to believe could be used to identify the patient.

The HIPAA Privacy Rule does not consider employment records -- including information about education, as well as other records subject to or defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act -- as PHI.

For de-identified data, however, there are no restrictions to its use or disclosure. De-identified data does not identify or provide information that could identify an individual.

Administrative requirements

The Privacy Rule lays out certain administrative requirements that covered entities must have in place.

These requirements include the following:

A privacy official must be appointed who is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures at a covered entity.

Employees, including volunteers and trainees, must be trained on policies and procedures.

Appropriate administrative, technical and physical safeguards must be maintained to protect the privacy of PHI in a covered entity.

A process for individuals to make complaints concerning policies and procedures must be in place at a covered entity.

If PHI is disclosed in violation of its policies and procedures, a covered entity must mitigate, to the furthest extent actionable, any harmful effects.

HIPAA penalties

Under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, falling victim to a healthcare data breach, as well as failing to give patients access to their PHI, could result in a fine from OCR.

The minimum penalty for:

Unknowingly violating HIPAA is $100 per violation, with an annual maximum of $25,000 for repeat violations.

Reasonable cause for violating HIPAA is $1,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $100,000 for repeat violations.

Willful neglect of HIPAA, but the violation is corrected within a given time period, is $10,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $250,000 for repeat violations.

Willful neglect of HIPAA, and the violation remains uncorrected, is $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million for repeat violations.

The maximum penalty for all of these is $50,000 per violation, with an annual maximum of $1.5 million for repeat violations.

Covered entities and individuals who intentionally obtain or disclose PHI in violation of the HIPAA Privacy Rule can be fined up to $50,000 and receive up to one year in prison. If the HIPAA Privacy Rule is violated under false pretenses, the penalties can be increased to a $100,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.

HIPAA Security Rule

The Security Standards for the Protection of Electronic Protected Health Information, commonly known as the HIPAA Security Rule, establishes national standards for securing patient data that is stored or transferred electronically.

The rule requires the placement of safeguards, both physical and electronic, to ensure the secure passage, maintenance and reception of PHI. When addressing the risks and vulnerabilities associated with PHI and electronic protected health information (ePHI), health care organizations should ask three key questions.

Can you identify the sources of ePHI and PHI within your organization, including all PHI that you create, receive, maintain or transmit?

What are the external sources of PHI?

What are the human, natural and environmental threats to information systems that contain ePHI and PHI?

OCR enforces the HIPAA Security Rule, which aims to protect patient security, while still allowing the health care industry to advance technologically.

Under HHS' meaningful use program for certified health IT, healthcare organizations receiving federal incentive payments must attest to following privacy and security procedures based on HIPAA.

HIPAA omnibus rule

The HIPAA omnibus rule, in a health information technology context, is a rule enacted by OCR to modify the HIPAA Privacy, Security and Enforcement Rules to implement statutory amendments under the HITECH Act.

The HIPAA omnibus rule marked the most extensive changes to the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules since they were first implemented. Changes include the following:

Strengthening the privacy and security protection for individuals' PHI.

Modifying the Breach Notification Rule for unsecured PHI, and putting in place more objective standards for assessing a healthcare provider's liability following a data breach.

Modifying the HIPAA Privacy Rule to strengthen the privacy protections for genetic information.

Outlining OCR's data privacy and security enforcement strategies, as updated for the EHR era and as mandated by the HITECH Act.

Holding HIPAA business associates to the same standards for protecting PHI as covered entities, including subcontractors of business associates, in the compliance sense.

Stipulating that, when patients pay by cash, they can instruct their provider not to share information about their treatment with their health plan.

Setting new limits on how information is used and disclosed for marketing and fundraising purposes.

Prohibiting the sale of an individual's health information without their permission.

Making it easier for parents and others to give permission to share proof of a child's immunization with a school.

Streamlining an individual's ability to authorize the use of his health information for research purposes.

Increasing penalties for noncompliance based on the level of negligence, with a maximum penalty of $1.5 million per violation.

Guaranteeing that organizations can operate with certainty that their privacy and security policies comply with all the applicable regulations.

The 563-page rule, released Jan. 17, 2013, went into effect March 26, 2013.

HIPAA business associate

HIPAA defines a business associate as any organization or person working in association with or providing services to a covered entity who handles or discloses PHI or personal health records ( PHR).

Examples of business associates include accounting or consulting firms that work with covered entities, such as hospitals or doctors, or any number of other organizations that have or could have access to PHI or PHR.

Updates made to the HIPAA regulation by the HITECH Act require business associates to comply with HIPAA mandates regarding the handling and use of PHI.

As of Feb. 18, 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services can audit business associates for HIPAA compliance.

Examples of HIPAA business associates

According to the HHS, examples of HIPAA business associates include:

When a health plan uses a third-party administrator to help with claims processing.

If a certified public accounting firm provides accounting services to a healthcare provider and has access to protected health information.

When a hospital has a consultant perform utilization reviews.

When a healthcare clearinghouse translates a claim from a nonstandard format to a standard format for a healthcare provider, and then sends the process transaction to a payer.

When a physician uses an independent medical transcriptionist's services.

When a pharmacy benefits manager manages a health plan's pharmacist network.

Mobile application developers could also be considered HIPAA business associates because many healthcare mobile applications handle PHI.

HHS gave a scenario where an app developer would be considered a HIPAA business associate: A patient is told by her provider to download a health app to her smartphone. The app developer and the provider have a contract for patient management services that includes remote patient health counseling, patient messaging, monitoring the patient's food and exercise, and EHR integration and application program interfaces. Furthermore, the information the patient inputs into the application is automatically incorporated in the EHR.

Under HIPAA, a HIPAA business associate agreement (BAA) is a contract between a HIPAA-covered entity and a HIPAA business associate (BA). The contract protects PHI in accordance with HIPAA guidelines.

Effective Feb. 18, 2010, in accordance with the HITECH Act, a BA's disclosure, handling and use of PHI must comply with HIPAA Security Rule and HIPAA Privacy Rule mandates. Under the HITECH Act, any HIPAA business associate that serves a healthcare provider or institution is subject to audits by OCR within HHS, and it can be held accountable for a data breach and penalized for noncompliance.

HIPAA business associate contract requirements

According to HHS, HIPAA business associate contracts or other written arrangements should:

Describe how the business associate is permitted and required to use PHI.

Require that the business associate not use or disclose PHI, other than as specified in the contract or as required by law.

Require the business associate to use appropriate safeguards to ensure the PHI is used as detailed in the contract.

Require the covered entity to take reasonable steps to cure any breach by the HIPAA business associate if and when they know of one. If this is unsuccessful, the covered entity is required to terminate the contract with the business associate.

Report the event to the OCR if terminating the contract with the business associate is impossible.

Report to the HHS OCR if there is a problem in terminating the contract with the business associate.

With these new regulations in mind, a HIPAA business associate agreement should explicitly spell out how a BA should report and respond to a data breach, including data breaches that are caused by a business associate's subcontractors. In addition, HIPAA business associate agreements should require a BA to demonstrate how it should respond to an OCR investigation.

HIPAA-covered entity

A HIPAA-covered entity is any organization or corporation that directly handles PHI or PHR. The most common examples of covered entities include hospitals, doctors' offices and health insurance providers.

Covered entities are required to comply with HIPAA and HITECH mandates for the protection of PHI and PHR.

Continue Reading About HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Margaret Rouse asks:

What are the biggest HIPAA concerns that your organization faces?

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What is HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) ? - Definition from WhatIs.com

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HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996) is United States legislation that provides data privacy and security provisions for safeguarding medical information. The law has emerged into greater prominence in recent years with the proliferation of health data breaches caused by cyberattacks and ransomware attacks on health insurers and providers.

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APA.org Article About Understanding Terrorism

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APA.org Article About Understanding Terrorism

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"Psychologists are amassing more concrete data on the factors that lead some people to terrorism—and using those insights to develop ways to thwart it."

"Horgan found that people who are more open to terrorist recruitment and radicalization tend to:

Feel angry, alienated or disenfranchised.

Believe that their current political involvement does not give them the power to effect real change.

Identify with perceived victims of the social injustice they are fighting.

Feel the need to take action rather than just talking about the problem.

Believe that engaging in violence against the state is not immoral.

Have friends or family sympathetic to the cause.

Believe that joining a movement offers social and psychological rewards such as adventure, camaraderie and a heightened sense of identity."

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Psychologists are amassing more concrete data on the factors that lead some people to terrorism-and using those insights to develop ways to thwart it.

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Many manufacturing jobs require a physical presence to operate machinery. But what if such jobs could be done remotely? This week researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) presented a virtual-reality (VR) system that lets you teleoperate a robot using an Oculus Rift headset.

The system embeds the user in a VR control room with multiple sensor displays, making it feel like they are inside the robot's head. By using gestures, users can match their movements to the robot's to complete various tasks.

"A system like this could eventually help humans supervise robots from a distance," says CSAIL postdoctoral associate Jeffrey Lipton, who was lead author on a related paper about the system. "By teleoperating robots from home, blue-collar workers would be able to tele-commute and benefit from the IT revolution just as white-collars workers do now."

The researchers even imagine that such a system could help employ increasing numbers of jobless video-gamers by "game-ifying" manufacturing positions.

The team demonstrated their VC control approach with the Baxter humanoid robot from Rethink Robotics, but said that the approach can work on other robot platforms and is also compatible with the HTC Vive headset.

Lipton co-wrote the paper with CSAIL director Daniela Rus and researcher Aidan Fay. They presented the paper this week at the IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS) in Vancouver.
How it works
There have traditionally been two main approaches to using VR for teleoperation.

In a "direct" model, the user's vision is directly coupled to the robot's state. With these systems, a delayed signal could lead to nausea and headaches, and the user's viewpoint is limited to one perspective.

In the "cyber-physical" model, the user is separate from the robot. The user interacts with a virtual copy of the robot and the environment. This requires much more data, and specialized spaces.

The CSAIL team's system is halfway between these two methods. It solves the delay problem, since the user is constantly receiving visual feedback from the virtual world. It also solves the the cyber-physical issue of being distinct from the robot: once a user puts on the headset and logs into the system, they will feel as if they are inside Baxter's head.

The system mimics the "homunculus model of mind" -- the idea that there's a small human inside our brains controlling our actions, viewing the images we see and understanding them for us. While it's a peculiar idea for humans, for robots it fits: "inside" the robot is a human in a control room, seeing through its eyes and controlling its actions.

Using Oculus' controllers, users can interact with controls that appear in the virtual space to open and close the hand grippers to pick up, move, and retrieve items. A user can plan movements based on the distance between the arm's location marker and their hand while looking at the live display of the arm.

To make these movements possible, the human's space is mapped into the virtual space, and the virtual space is then mapped into the robot space to provide a sense of co-location.

The system is also more flexible compared to previous systems that require many resources. Other systems might extract 2-D information from each camera, build out a full 3-D model of the environment, and then process and redisplay the data.

In contrast, the CSAIL team's approach bypasses all of that by taking the 2-D images that are displayed to each eye. (The human brain does the rest by automatically inferring the 3-D information.)

To test the system, the team first teleoperated Baxter to do simple tasks like picking up screws or stapling wires. They then had the test users teleoperate the robot to pick up and stack blocks.

Users successfully completed the tasks at a much higher rate compared to the "direct" model. Unsurprisingly, users with gaming experience had much more ease with the system.

Tested against state-of-the-art systems, CSAIL's system was better at grasping objects 95 percent of the time and 57 percent faster at doing tasks. The team also showed that the system could pilot the robot from hundreds of miles away, testing it on a hotel's wireless network in Washington, DC to control Baxter at MIT.

"This contribution represents a major milestone in the effort to connect the user with the robot's space in an intuitive, natural, and effective manner." says Oussama Khatib, a computer science professor at Stanford University who was not involved in the paper.

The team eventually wants to focus on making the system more scalable, with many users and different types of robots that can be compatible with current automation technologies.

The project was funded in part by the Boeing Company and the National Science Foundation.

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=UUPLAYER_MITCSAIL&time_continue=5&v=4a-W3Od5-t8

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robotics research; engineering; virtual environment; solar energy; robotics; artificial intelligence; virtual reality; computer modeling

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Teleoperating robots with virtual reality: Making it easier for factory workers to telecommute

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Many manufacturing jobs require a physical presence to operate machinery. But what if such jobs could be done remotely? This week researchers from MIT's Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL) presented a virtual-reality (VR) system that lets you teleoperate a robot using an Oculus Rift headset.

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Software enables robots to be controlled in virtual reality

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Software enables robots to be controlled in virtual reality

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Virtual reality reduces phantom pain in paraplegics

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Virtual reality reduces phantom pain in paraplegics

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Virtual reality technology as a useful tool for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease

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Virtual reality technology as a useful tool for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease

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Plain language summary

Review question

The purpose of this review was to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) exercise interventions for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to investigate whether VR exercise resulted in greater improvements compared to 1) active control interventions, and 2) passive control interventions, on gait, balance, global motor function, activities of daily living, quality of life, cognition, exercise adherence, and the occurrence of adverse events.

Background

PD is a neurodegenerative condition that places a high burden on patient quality of life and independence. As part of a multidisciplinary approach to treatment, regular exercise is encouraged and has been shown to relieve both motor and non‐motor symptoms.

VR technology, a promising new rehabilitation tool, stimulates movement by means of computer‐based games in a VR environment. Both commercial VR systems, such as Nintendo Wii or Xbox Kinect, and customised VR tools specifically designed to address PD symptoms, are frequently used. VR exercise exhibits potential advantages over regular exercise by allowing for individualised skill practice in a motivating and engaging interactive environment.

Study characteristics

We conducted the literature search up until 26 November 2016. We identified 8 studies involving a total of 263 participants with PD. All trials aimed to improve either gait or balance function. Most of the studies compared VR with physiotherapy.

Key results

VR interventions may lead to greater improvements in step and stride length compared with physiotherapy interventions. We found limited evidence that improvements in gait, balance, and quality of life were similar to those found in active control interventions. No adverse events were reported. Fewer studies compared VR with passive control interventions, and evidence was insufficient to determine how VR compares with no active intervention. At present, only a few studies have been done, making generalisation of the findings difficult. Further study is needed to confirm and expand the evidence base for VR in PD.

Quality of the evidence

In general, the quality of the evidence was low or very low. This was the result of small sample sizes and a large amount of heterogeneity between trials with regard to study design and outcome measures used.

Abstract

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that is best managed by a combination of medication and regular physiotherapy. In this context, virtual reality (VR) technology is proposed as a new rehabilitation tool with a possible added value over traditional physiotherapy approaches. It potentially optimises motor learning in a safe environment, and by replicating real‐life scenarios could help improve functional activities of daily living.

Objectives: The objective of this review was to summarise the current best evidence for the effectiveness of VR interventions for the rehabilitation of people with PD in comparison with 1) active interventions, and 2) passive interventions. Our primary goal was to determine the effect of VR training on gait and balance. Secondary goals included examining the effects of VR on global motor function, activities of daily living, quality of life, cognitive function, exercise adherence, and the occurrence of adverse events.

Search methods: We identified relevant articles through electronic searches of the Cochrane Movement Disorders Group Trials Register, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) (the Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro), online trials registers, and by handsearching reference lists. We carried out all searches up until 26 November 2016.

Selection criteria: We searched for randomised and quasi‐ randomised controlled trials of VR exercise interventions in people with PD. We included only trials where motor rehabilitation was the primary goal.

Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently searched for trials that corresponded to the predefined inclusion criteria. We independently extracted and assessed all data for methodological quality. A third review author was responsible for conflict resolution when required.

Main results: We included 8 trials involving 263 people with PD in the review. Risk of bias was unclear or high for all but one of the included studies. Study sample sizes were small, and there was a large amount of heterogeneity between trials with regard to study design and the outcome measures used. As a result, we graded the quality of the evidence as low or very low. Most of the studies intended to improve motor function using commercially available devices, which were compared with physiotherapy. The interventions lasted for between 4 and 12 weeks.

In comparison to physiotherapy, VR may lead to a moderate improvement in step and stride length (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30 to 1.08; 3 studies; 106 participants; low‐quality evidence). VR and physiotherapy interventions may have similar effects on gait (SMD 0.20, 95% CI ‐0.14 to 0.55; 4 studies; 129 participants; low‐quality evidence), balance (SMD 0.34, 95% CI ‐0.04 to 0.71; 5 studies; 155 participants; low‐quality evidence), and quality of life (mean difference 3.73 units, 95% CI ‐2.16 to 9.61; 4 studies; 106 participants). VR interventions did not lead to any reported adverse events, and exercise adherence did not differ between VR and other intervention arms.

The evidence available comparing VR exercise with a passive control was more limited. The evidence for the main outcomes of interest was of very low quality due to the very small sample sizes of the two studies available for this comparison.

Authors' conclusions: We found low‐quality evidence of a positive effect of short‐term VR exercise on step and stride length. VR and physiotherapy may have similar effects on gait, balance, and quality of life. The evidence available comparing VR with passive control interventions was more limited. Additional high‐quality, large‐scale studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Editorial Group: Cochrane Movement Disorders Group.

Publication status: New.

Citation: Dockx K, Bekkers EMJ, Van den Bergh V, Ginis P, Rochester L, Hausdorff JM, Mirelman A, Nieuwboer A. Virtual reality for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2016, Issue 12. Art. No.: CD010760. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD010760.pub2. Link to Cochrane Library. [ PubMed: 28000926 ]

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national center for biotechnology information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
united states national library of medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Virtual reality technology as a useful tool for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease - PubMed Health - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The purpose of this review was to determine the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) exercise interventions for rehabilitation in Parkinson's disease (PD). We aimed to investigate whether VR exercise resulted in greater improvements compared to 1) active control interventions, and 2) passive control interventions, on gait, balance, global motor function, activities of daily living, quality of life, cognition, exercise adherence, and the occurrence of adverse events.

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Dual virtual reality/treadmill exercises promote brain plasticity in Parkinson's patients

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Dual virtual reality/treadmill exercises promote brain plasticity in Parkinson's patients

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Virtual reality training may be as effective as regular therapy after stroke

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Virtual reality training may be as effective as regular therapy after stroke

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Using virtual reality therapy to improve arm and hand movement after a stroke is equally as effective as regular therapy, according to a study published in the November 15, 2017, online issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

"Virtual reality training may be a motivating alternative for people to use as a supplement to their standard therapy after a stroke," said study author Iris Brunner, PhD, of Aarhus University, Hammel Neurocenter in Denmark. "Future studies could also look at whether people could use virtual reality therapy remotely from their homes, which could lessen the burden and cost of traveling to a medical center for standard therapy."

The study involved 120 people with an average age of 62 who had suffered a stroke on average about a month before the study started. All of the participants had mild to severe muscle weakness or impairment in their wrists, hands or upper arms. The participants had four to five hour-long training sessions per week for four weeks. The participants' arm and hand functioning was tested at the beginning of the study, after the training ended and again three months after the start of the study.

Half of the participants had standard physical and occupational therapy. The other half had virtual reality training that was designed for rehabilitation and could be adapted to the person's abilities. The participants used a screen and gloves with sensors to play several games that incorporated arm, hand and finger movements.

"Both groups had substantial improvement in their functioning, but there was no difference between the two groups in the results," Brunner said. "These results suggest that either type of training could be used, depending on what the patient prefers."

Brunner noted that the virtual reality system was not an immersive experience. "We can only speculate whether using virtual reality goggles or other techniques to create a more immersive experience would increase the effect of the training," she said.

Journal Reference:

Iris Brunner, Jan Sture Skouen, Håkon Hofstad, Jörg Aßmus, Frank Becker, Anne-Marthe Sanders, Hanne Pallesen, Lola Qvist Kristensen, Marc Michielsen, Liselot Thijs, Geert Verheyden. Virtual Reality Training for Upper Extremity in Subacute Stroke (VIRTUES). Neurology, 2017; 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004744 DOI: 10.1212/WNL.0000000000004744

Cite This Page:

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medical education and training; gene therapy; today's healthcare; music; behavior; caregiving; virtual reality; video games; computer modeling

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Virtual reality training may be as effective as regular therapy after stroke

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Using virtual reality therapy to improve arm and hand movement after a stroke is equally as effective as regular therapy, according to a study published in the November 15, 2017, online issue of Neurology® , the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

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Plain language summary

Review question

We wanted to compare the effects of virtual reality versus an alternative treatment or no treatment on recovery after stroke using arm function and other outcomes such as walking speed and independence in managing daily activities after stroke.

Background

Many people after having a stroke have difficulty moving, thinking, and sensing. This often results in problems with everyday activities such as writing, walking, and driving. Virtual reality and interactive video gaming are types of therapy being provided to people after having a stroke. The therapy involves using computer‐based programs designed to simulate real life objects and events. Virtual reality and interactive video gaming may have some advantages over traditional therapy approaches as they can give people an opportunity to practise everyday activities that are not or cannot be practised within the hospital environment. Furthermore, there are several features of virtual reality programs that might mean that patients spend more time in therapy: for example, the activity might be more motivating.

Study characteristics

We identified 72 studies involving 2470 people after stroke. A wide range of virtual reality programs were used, with most aimed to improve either arm function or walking ability. The evidence is current to April 2017.

Key results

Twenty‐two trials tested whether the use of virtual reality compared with conventional therapy resulted in an improved ability to use one's arm and found that the use of virtual reality did not result in better function (low‐quality evidence). When virtual reality was used in addition to usual care or rehabilitation to increase the amount of time the person spent in therapy there were improvements in the functioning of the arm (low‐quality evidence). Six trials tested whether the use of virtual reality compared with conventional therapy resulted in improved walking speed. There was no evidence that virtual reality was more effective in this case (low‐quality evidence). Ten trials found that there was some evidence that virtual reality resulted in a slightly better ability to manage everyday activities such as showering and dressing (moderate‐quality evidence). However, these positive effects were found soon after the end of the treatment and it is not clear whether the effects are long lasting. Results should be interpreted with caution as, while there are a large number of studies, the studies are generally small and not of high quality. A small number of people using virtual reality reported pain, headaches, or dizziness. No serious adverse events were reported.

Quality of the evidence

The quality of the evidence was generally of low or moderate quality. The quality of the evidence for each outcome was limited due to small numbers of study participants, inconsistent results across studies, and poor reporting of study details.

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality and interactive video gaming have emerged as recent treatment approaches in stroke rehabilitation with commercial gaming consoles in particular, being rapidly adopted in clinical settings. This is an update of a Cochrane Review published first in 2011 and then again in 2015.

Objectives: Primary objective: to determine the efficacy of virtual reality compared with an alternative intervention or no intervention on upper limb function and activity.

Secondary objectives: to determine the efficacy of virtual reality compared with an alternative intervention or no intervention on: gait and balance, global motor function, cognitive function, activity limitation, participation restriction, quality of life, and adverse events.

Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Stroke Group Trials Register (April 2017), CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, and seven additional databases. We also searched trials registries and reference lists.

Selection criteria: Randomised and quasi‐ randomised trials of virtual reality ("an advanced form of human‐computer interface that allows the user to 'interact' with and become 'immersed' in a computer‐generated environment in a naturalistic fashion") in adults after stroke. The primary outcome of interest was upper limb function and activity. Secondary outcomes included gait and balance and global motor function.

Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently selected trials based on pre‐defined inclusion criteria, extracted data, and assessed risk of bias. A third review author moderated disagreements when required. The review authors contacted investigators to obtain missing information.

Main results: We included 72 trials that involved 2470 participants. This review includes 35 new studies in addition to the studies included in the previous version of this review. Study sample sizes were generally small and interventions varied in terms of both the goals of treatment and the virtual reality devices used. The risk of bias present in many studies was unclear due to poor reporting. Thus, while there are a large number of randomised controlled trials, the evidence remains mostly low quality when rated using the GRADE system. Control groups usually received no intervention or therapy based on a standard‐care approach. Primary outcome: results were not statistically significant for upper limb function (standardised mean difference (SMD) 0.07, 95% confidence intervals (CI) ‐0.05 to 0.20, 22 studies, 1038 participants, low‐quality evidence) when comparing virtual reality to conventional therapy. However, when virtual reality was used in addition to usual care (providing a higher dose of therapy for those in the intervention group) there was a statistically significant difference between groups (SMD 0.49, 0.21 to 0.77, 10 studies, 210 participants, low‐quality evidence). Secondary outcomes: when compared to conventional therapy approaches there were no statistically significant effects for gait speed or balance. Results were statistically significant for the activities of daily living (ADL) outcome (SMD 0.25, 95% CI 0.06 to 0.43, 10 studies, 466 participants, moderate‐quality evidence); however, we were unable to pool results for cognitive function, participation restriction, or quality of life. Twenty‐three studies reported that they monitored for adverse events; across these studies there were few adverse events and those reported were relatively mild.

Authors' conclusions: We found evidence that the use of virtual reality and interactive video gaming was not more beneficial than conventional therapy approaches in improving upper limb function. Virtual reality may be beneficial in improving upper limb function and activities of daily living function when used as an adjunct to usual care (to increase overall therapy time). There was insufficient evidence to reach conclusions about the effect of virtual reality and interactive video gaming on gait speed, balance, participation, or quality of life. This review found that time since onset of stroke, severity of impairment, and the type of device (commercial or customised) were not strong influencers of outcome. There was a trend suggesting that higher dose (more than 15 hours of total intervention) was preferable as were customised virtual reality programs; however, these findings were not statistically significant.

Editorial Group: Cochrane Stroke Group.

Publication status: New search for studies and content updated (conclusions changed).

Citation: Laver KE, Lange B, George S, Deutsch JE, Saposnik G, Crotty M. Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2017, Issue 11. Art. No.: CD008349. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD008349.pub4. Link to Cochrane Library. [ PubMed: 29156493 ]

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national center for biotechnology information

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
united states national library of medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Virtual reality for stroke rehabilitation - PubMed Health - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

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Review question We wanted to compare the effects of virtual reality versus an alternative treatment or no treatment on recovery after stroke using arm function and other outcomes such as walking speed and independence in managing daily activities after stroke. Background Many people after having a stroke have difficulty moving, thinking, and sensing.

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Keiju Medical Center: Innovative Healthcare Solution

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Intel® Xeon® processor E5 family helps Keiju Medical Center build a flexible medical care environment.

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Can virtual reality be used to manage pain at a pediatric hospital?

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Can virtual reality be used to manage pain at a pediatric hospital?

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Augmented-reality technology could help treat 'lazy eye'

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Augmented-reality technology could help treat 'lazy eye'

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When signals between the brain and one eye go awry, input from the other eye can become predominant, a condition called amblyopia or "lazy eye." Amblyopia is common and it is typically treated by forcing the less dominant eye to adapt, either through lab-based training or wearing an eyepatch. But new research suggests that people may be able to use wearable augmented-reality technology to reduce this visual discrepancy as they go about everyday activities.

The findings are published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

"With this altered-reality system, participants interact with the natural world that is changed through real-time image processing. The system delivers altered but complementary video to each eye in real time, forcing participants to make use of the visual inputs to both eyes cooperatively," explains lead researcher Min Bao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The altered-reality system can be considered as a special type of the augmented-reality technology, in which some aspects of the scene are altered before the video is delivered to the observer but no unnatural and nonexistent object (e.g. an arrow or a web page) is superimposed. Using augmented reality to alter visual input in this way avoids some limitations of lab-based training:

"This method manipulates the visual world electronically so as to incorporate training into everyday life," says Bao.

And the findings showed that improvement in ocular balance endured over a 2-month follow-up period:

"Several 3-hour adaptation sessions produced effects that strengthened when people returned to their normal visual environment after the training ended," Bao explains.

In their first experiment, Bao and colleagues recruited 10 adult participants who showed significant interocular imbalance. During a 5-day adaptation stage, the participants had a daily 3-hour training session, in which they wore an augmented-reality headset that showed them a slightly altered version of their surrounding environment in real time. The images presented to each eye were identical except for unique patches that were pixelated in each image. The training essentially forced participants to weight the input from each eye equally to be able to process and perceive the complete scene. Participants completed the adaptation training sessions in the laboratory as they engaged in typical everyday activities, such as watching movies, playing video games, eating, and walking.

To gauge change in ocular dominance over time, the researchers had participants complete a binocular-rivalry task before the adaptation phase, at the beginning of each training session in the adaptation phase, and at follow-up sessions 24 hours, 2 days, 3 days, 1 week, 3 weeks, 2 months, and 4 months after the last training session. In each trial of the task, the participants saw two images simultaneously, one presented to each eye. Each image featured a striped grating pattern, with the pattern in one image oriented in a different direction from the pattern in the other image. After seeing the images, participants pressed a key to indicate the direction of the pattern they saw (tilted counterclockwise from vertical, tilted clockwise from vertical, or mixed).

When different images are presented to each eye, people tend to perceive the images as alternating back and forth and they typically report seeing the image presented to their dominant eye a greater proportion of the time. Thus, the task should reveal any changes in ocular dominance over time.

And participants did show training-related changes in ocular dominance over time. The results indicated that the stimuli shown to the stronger eye became less dominant over time, effectively increasing participants' interocular balance.

Importantly, interocular balance continued to improve in the 2 months after training ended and the researchers continued to observe training-related improvement at the 4-month follow-up.

In another experiment, 18 participants who were actually diagnosed with amblyopia participated in a similar training procedure. Again, they showed improvement throughout the training phase and in the weeks that followed. On average, their improvement in visual acuity was equivalent to being able to read an additional 1.5 lines down on the standard logMAR eye chart.

Findings from a third group of participants indicated that the weaker eye showed improvement in various functions- such as dichoptic motion coherence, visual acuity, and interocular phase combination -- as a result of training.

Bao and colleagues first introduced this novel method for reshaping ocular dominance via augmented-reality technology at the annual conference of Vision Sciences Society in 2014. They believe their new findings could have important implications for work in a variety of domains, including clinical ophthalmology, neuroscience, engineering, and product development. They plan to continue this line of research, investigating the exact mechanisms that drive these training-related effects.

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perception; infant and preschool learning; child development; music; educational psychology; relationships; borderline personality disorder; spirituality

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Augmented-reality technology could help treat 'lazy eye'

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When signals between the brain and one eye go awry, input from the other eye can become predominant, a condition called amblyopia or 'lazy eye.' New research suggests that people may be able to use wearable augmented-reality technology to reduce this visual discrepancy as they go about everyday activities.

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A plastic surgery research group has developed an augmented reality system that enables them to create 3D simulations of the desired results of facial reconstructive procedures and project them over the patient's face during surgery, reports a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery -- Global Open®.

Koichi Ueda, MD, PhD, Daisuke Mitsuno, MD, and colleagues of Osaka Medical College, Japan, report the development and initial experience with an augmented reality (AR) system for evaluation of improvements of the body surface, a key consideration in plastic surgery. Initial experience in eight cases suggests that augmented reality could be a useful guide to planning, performing and evaluating the results of facial reconstruction and other procedures.
Development and Initial Experience of Augmented Reality for Plastic Surgery
"Augmented reality is a technology that combines computer-generated images on a screen with a real object or scene," Drs. Ueda and Mitsuno said. "We sought to develop a sophisticated yet simple and modifiable AR technique for use during plastic and reconstructive surgery."

The researchers used a high-definition digital camera to capture 3D image of the facial surface and computed tomography scans to obtain digital information on the underlying facial bones for each patient. These digital data were then manipulated to create 3D simulations of the ideal final results. For example, in a patient with a fractured cheekbone, the reconstruction was simulated by obtaining and reversing an image of the opposite, uninjured bone.

Using a pair of commercially available smart glasses, the surgeon was able to superimpose the 3D digital simulation image of the desired appearance over the patient's face during surgery. The group used free, open source software products to solve various technical problems, including manipulating and displaying the 3D simulations and lining them up (registration) with the surgical field.

The researchers describe their preliminary experience with AR system in eight patients undergoing reconstructive facial surgery. The AR system helped in planning and confirming reconstruction of the underlying facial bones, for example, in a patient with a congenital bone development disorder and another patient with a complex facial fracture. In all cases, the 3D simulation of the body surface provided a visual reference of the final facial appearance.

With each new case, the group made additional technical refinements to address limitations of the AR system. Although the experimental system was not actually used to guide surgery in this initial experience, it helped in visualizing the planned correction and confirming the final outcome.

"In all cases in this study, the body surface contour after the procedure and the ideal postoperative image almost coincided," Dr. Ueda said.

The group plans further studies to confirm the benefits of using the AR system during plastic and reconstructive surgery and to refine the display method for comparing before and after images. Future innovations may include the ability to quantitatively evaluate the improvements in body surface and even to enable simple navigation of internal organs.

Drs. Ueda and Mitsuno believe AR technology could become a useful tool for teaching surgical skills.

They said, "Our findings are not only useful for body surface evaluation but also for effective evaluation of AR technology in the field of plastic surgery."

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cosmetic surgery; cosmetics; today's healthcare; spirituality; perception; k-12 education; virtual environment; medical technology; materials science

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Augmented reality technology may help guide plastic and reconstructive surgery

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A plastic surgery research group has developed an augmented reality system that enables them to create 3D simulations of the desired results of facial reconstructive procedures and project them over the patient's face during surgery, reports a study in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery -- Global Open®.

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Phantom movements in augmented reality helps patients with chronic intractable phantom limb pain

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Phantom movements in augmented reality helps patients with chronic intractable phantom limb pain

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Plain language summary

People with schizophrenia often have problems in their processes of thinking and understanding, resulting in poor insight into their illness and poor organisational skills. These factors along with experiencing unpleasant side effects of medication can contribute to people with mental health problems often not taking their medication, unwilling to follow treatment and non‐attendance at appointments. This can sometimes lead to a loss of contact with the mental health team and relapse. Virtual reality (VR) is a modern, experimental, computerised and real‐time technology that uses visual graphics, sounds and other sensory input which creates an interactive computer world. It includes, for example, the use of sensors attached to the hands and fingers allowing virtual reality users to track their position and movement. Virtual reality creates a computerised environment that simulates real life and everyday activities.This could help people learn in a safe and friendly environment to improve their decisions and attitudes about treatment, so encouraging people to take or comply with their medication.

So far, virtual reality has been used in the assessment and treatment of a range of psychiatric disorders and social anxieties, some of which include, fear of flying, public speaking anxiety, spider phobia, and post‐traumatic stress disorder. There are also a few studies that examine the emotional responses of people with schizophrenia during a computer simulation with characters displaying happy, neutral, and angry emotions. Virtual reality has also been used for people with schizophrenia in social skills training and to improve processes of thinking and understanding. This review investigates the effects of virtual reality in helping support the treatment and taking of medication for people with serious mental illness.

The most recent search for randomised trials was run in September 2013, only three short studies with a total of 156 people could be included. People with schizophrenia were randomised to a) skills training sessions that used virtual reality to deliver the training or b) sessions of skills training using other methods to deliver the training or c) standard care. All evidence from the trials was low quality and no real effects were found. At present, there is no clear evidence for or against using virtual reality for encouraging people with mental illness to take their medication. If virtual reality is used for people with serious mental illness, it will be of an experimental nature.There is a need to gather more good quality information on the effects of virtual reality for people with mental illness and high quality studies need to be undertaken. At this stage, the effects of virtual reality are experimental, novel and innovative but largely untested.

This summary has been written by a consumer, Ben Gray of RETHINK.

Abstract

Background: Virtual reality (VR) is computerised real‐time technology, which can be used an alternative assessment and treatment tool in the mental health field. Virtual reality may take different forms to simulate real‐life activities and support treatment.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of virtual reality to support treatment compliance in people with serious mental illness.

Search methods: We searched the Cochrane Schizophrenia Group Trials Register (most recent, 17th September 2013) and relevant reference lists.

Selection criteria: All relevant randomised studies comparing virtual reality with standard care for those with serious mental illnesses. We defined virtual reality as a computerised real‐time technology using graphics, sound and other sensory input, which creates the interactive computer‐mediated world as a therapeutic tool.

Data collection and analysis: All review authors independently selected studies and extracted data. For homogeneous dichotomous data the risk difference (RD) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated on an intention to treat basis. For continuous data, we calculated mean differences (MD). We assessed risk of bias and created a 'Summary of findings' table using the GRADE approach.

Main results: We identified three short‐term trials (total of 156 participants, duration five to 12 weeks). Outcomes were prone to at least a moderate risk of overestimating positive effects. We found that virtual reality had little effects regarding compliance (3 RCTs, n = 156, RD loss to follow‐up 0.02 CI ‐0.08 to 0.12, low quality evidence), cognitive functioning (1 RCT, n = 27, MD average score on Cognistat 4.67 CI ‐1.76 to 11.10, low quality evidence), social skills (1 RCT, n = 64, MD average score on social problem solving SPSI‐R (Social Problem Solving Inventory ‐ Revised) ‐2.30 CI ‐8.13 to 3.53, low quality evidence), or acceptability of intervention (2 RCTs, n = 92, RD 0.05 CI ‐0.09 to 0.19, low quality evidence). There were no data reported on mental state, insight, behaviour, quality of life, costs, service utilisation, or adverse effects. Satisfaction with treatment ‐ measured using an un‐referenced scale ‐ and reported as "interest in training" was better for the virtual reality group (1 RCT, n = 64, MD 6.00 CI 1.39 to 10.61, low quality evidence).

Authors' conclusions: There is no clear good quality evidence for or against using virtual reality for treatment compliance among people with serious mental illness. If virtual reality is used, the experimental nature of the intervention should be clearly explained. High‐quality studies should be undertaken in this area to explore any effects of this novel intervention and variations of approach.

Editorial Group: Cochrane Schizophrenia Group.

Publication status: New.

Citation: Välimäki M, Hätönen HM, Lahti ME, Kurki M, Hottinen A, Metsäranta K, Riihimäki T, Adams CE. Virtual reality for treatment compliance for people with serious mental illness. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2014, Issue 10. Art. No.: CD009928. DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD009928.pub2. Link to Cochrane Library. [ PubMed: 25300174 ]

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national center for biotechnology information

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united states national library of medicine

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Virtual reality needs to be explored to show its effects for treatment of schizophrenia - PubMed Health - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

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The most recent search for randomised trials was run in September 2013, only three short studies with a total of 156 people could be included. People with schizophrenia were randomised to a) skills training sessions that used virtual reality to deliver the training or b) sessions of skills training using other methods to deliver the training or c) standard care.

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The effectiveness of virtual reality distraction for pain reduction: a systematic review

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The effectiveness of virtual reality distraction for pain reduction: a systematic review

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PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet]. York (UK): Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (UK); 1995-.

Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE): Quality-assessed Reviews [Internet].

Review published: 2010.

Bibliographic details: Malloy KM, Milling LS. The effectiveness of virtual reality distraction for pain reduction: a systematic review. Clinical Psychology Review 2010; 30: 1011-1018. [ PubMed: 20691523 ]

Abstract

Virtual reality technology enables people to become immersed in a computer-simulated, three-dimensional environment. This article provides a comprehensive review of controlled research on the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction for reducing pain. To be included in the review, studies were required to use a between-subjects or mixed model design in which VR distraction was compared with a control condition or an alternative intervention in relieving pain. An exhaustive search identified 11 studies satisfying these criteria. VR distraction was shown to be effective for reducing experimental pain, as well as the discomfort associated with burn injury care. Studies of needle-related pain provided less consistent findings. Use of more sophisticated virtual reality technology capable of fully immersing the individual in a virtual environment was associated with greater relief. Overall, controlled research suggests that VR distraction may be a useful tool for clinicians who work with a variety of pain problems.

Copyright © 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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national center for biotechnology information

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united states national library of medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The effectiveness of virtual reality distraction for pain reduction: a systematic review - PubMed Health - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Virtual reality technology enables people to become immersed in a computer-simulated, three-dimensional environment. This article provides a comprehensive review of controlled research on the effectiveness of virtual reality (VR) distraction for reducing pain. To be included in the review, studies were required to use a between-subjects or mixed model design in which VR distraction was compared with a control condition or an alternative intervention in relieving pain.

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PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Rapid Response Report: Summary with Critical Appraisal
The aim of this report is to review the guidelines regarding the behavioural and psychological interventions for chronic non- cancer pain.

Disclaimer: The Rapid Response Service is an information service for those involved in planning and providing health care in Canada. Rapid responses are based on a limited literature search and are not comprehensive, systematic reviews. The intent is to provide a list of sources and a summary of the best evidence on the topic that CADTH could identify using all reasonable efforts within the time allowed. Rapid responses should be considered along with other types of information and health care considerations. The information included in this response is not intended to replace professional medical advice, nor should it be construed as a recommendation for or against the use of a particular health technology. Readers are also cautioned that a lack of good quality evidence does not necessarily mean a lack of effectiveness particularly in the case of new and emerging health technologies, for which little information can be found, but which may in future prove to be effective. While CADTH has taken care in the preparation of the report to ensure that its contents are accurate, complete and up to date, CADTH does not make any guarantee to that effect. CADTH is not liable for any loss or damages resulting from use of the information in the report.

Copyright © 2016 Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health.

Copyright: This report contains CADTH copyright material. It may be copied and used for non-commercial purposes, provided that attribution is given to CADTH.

Links: This report may contain links to other information available on the websites of third parties on the Internet. CADTH does not have control over the content of such sites. Use of third party sites is governed by the owners' own terms and conditions.

Except where otherwise noted, this work is distributed under the terms of a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International licence (CC BY-NC-ND), a copy of which is available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

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national center for biotechnology information

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united states national library of medicine

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Behavioural and Psychological Interventions for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain: A Review of Guidelines - PubMed Health - National Library of Medicine - PubMed Health

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
PubMed Health. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health. Rapid Response Report: Summary with Critical Appraisal The aim of this report is to review the guidelines regarding the behavioural and psychological interventions for chronic non- cancer pain.

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national center for biotechnology information

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united states national library of medicine

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Virtual and Augmented Reality Systems for Renal Interventions: A Systematic Review. - PubMed - NCBI

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In a comfortable armchair, glass of sherry at her side, Elspeth Ford is getting to grips with her 3D goggles. "Maybe I'll go another other way now," she says, looking left, right, up, down. She breaks into a cheery rendition of the Lambeth Walk.

Elspeth, 79, is a resident at Langham Court, a dementia care home in Surrey, and today she is trialling a virtual reality project, Wayback, that has been designed especially for those living with dementia. Peering into her headset, Elspeth is temporarily transported to 2 June 1953, and a street party for the Queen's coronation. She is enjoying a children's fancy-dress competition. "I love that boy dressed as an Oxo cube," she laughs.

This is the first in what will become a series of virtual reality films set at historic moments, and available free for those with dementia, their families and carers to enjoy together through a mobile phone and a pair of inexpensive 3D goggles. The idea was developed by three advertising creatives with family experience of dementia. For Camilla Ford, Elspeth's daughter, it is an exciting concept. "It gave Mum a huge amount of pleasure and really engaged her," she says. Anxiety - "about what she is meant to be doing" - often stops Elspeth getting involved in activities. "Dementia is debilitating in so many ways; you always need creative ways to give positive experiences. She was immersed in this and it took her back to a time of happy memories, when she was productive and emotionally fulfilled."

Elspeth has had vascular dementia for seven years, and finding a point of contact increasingly involves moving to where she is, rather than trying to bring her into the present, says Camilla. "If she is in a place she can identify with, and we can see it too, we are somehow equalised. We are at a stage where we aren't trying to create memories but to relish positive emotions, dropping the expectation of who Mum was and just being with the person in front of us."

Elspeth sets off for lunch with her son Dominic, still smiling. It is unlikely, says Camilla, that her mother will remember what has made her feel happy. "The point is that she feels uplifted, not necessarily that she knows why."

Dan Cole, one of Wayback's creators, agrees. "If the film can open some memories, start a conversation or bring a smile, that's a success," he says. The idea began to form after a drive around Camden, north London, with his father, then in the early stages of Alzheimer's. "It was his old stomping ground and he kept recognising places and telling me little tales; the pub his dad drank in, where he hung about with his mates, even an alley where he once got into a scrap," says Dan. "In that fleeting moment it was so clear in his mind. I could ask questions. He could tell me things."

The effects on his father's mood, and on Dan's sense of connection with him, lasted longer. "It was the idea you could move forward by going back, maybe use those memories as a starting point for a shared experience." The resulting film was made over two days in a north-London street (satellite dishes and other modern trappings digitally removed) with a volunteer cast and crew of 187 and painstakingly sourced period props, costumes and menu (fish-paste sandwiches, notes one Langham Court resident approvingly). Dan's father, who died three years ago, is among the dedications at the end. The music - beyond the Lambeth Walk - is by Frankie Laine and Guy Mitchell. "My dad's favourites," says Dan.

Married couple Ronald and Anne Graham-Clarke are watching the film together. "Oh, this is fun. I feel as if I'm at the party," says Ronald, 89. Both he and Anne, 84, are chuckling. She taps her foot to the music. Afterwards, Anne tells Sarah Hoare, one of Langham Court's directors, about watching the coronation at home in Scotland with her parents and sister. "My family bought a TV for the first time to watch it. It was my parents' wedding anniversary too. It was a great party."

Anne's response, says Hoare, is a wonderful example of virtual reality's potential. "She completely came out of herself because she was relaxed and enjoying herself. I have never actually seen her laugh before."

Langham Court's philosophy is based on the Butterfly Household model, devised by Dr David Sheard, a dementia specialist and CEO of Dementia Care Matters, who is supporting Wayback. "People living with dementia become more feeling beings than thinking beings," he says. "Feelings endure and are more to be trusted when facts diminish." Facilitating a trip back in time - "to their undamaged longer-term memories" -can, he says, unlock the happy emotions that accompany them. "Wayback offers the opportunity to live in the moment, to go back in time and to just 'be' again and to feel validated."

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'Oh, this is fun. I feel as if I'm at the party.' Anne and Ronald Graham-Clarke. Photograph: Richard Saker for the Guardian

Reminiscence, using music, photographs, props and role play for instance, is a well-established model of dementia care. Virtual reality, Sheard believes, could provide a useful tool alongside this.

"The biggest risk to someone living with dementia is to lose self-esteem, to feel not connected. Years ago, it was thought to be ethical to remind people of the facts, but how do you put back what is gone from a person's brain? Eventually activities that tax the brain and short-term memory create stress and ill being."

The best measure of dementia care, Sheard believes, is wellbeing. "Dementia takes people back to the past as a way to make sense of the now. The feelings generated by an experience can stay for a very long time afterwards."

Daphne Padfield, 93, is taking her turn with the goggles. "I felt I was really there," she exclaims, when the film finishes. Did she attend a street party for the coronation, asks Hoare. Daphne's detailed response is a surprise. "I was actually there," she says. "My mother, sisters and I had seats on a very good stand. We all had new dresses. They were all dying to tell her about it when we got back to school." Daphne happily recounts her experiences of the day for some time. "It was such a thrill. I shall never forget," she says, rather poignantly. "It is forever imprinted in my memory."
To watch the film in full VR, search for The Wayback VR on YouTube's mobile app. The Wayback App is coming soon. For more information please visit thewaybackvr.com

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How virtual reality is taking dementia patients back to the future

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In a comfortable armchair, glass of sherry at her side, Elspeth Ford is getting to grips with her 3D goggles. "Maybe I'll go another other way now," she says, looking left, right, up, down. She breaks into a cheery rendition of the Lambeth Walk.

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Scientists have developed a virtual reality computer game as part of the world's biggest dementia research experiment.

It is designed to test one of the first things to go with dementia - the ability to navigate.

The original smartphone app had 3 million players, but the move to virtual reality should allow scientists to investigate in greater detail.

Alzheimer's Research UK says the goal is a new way of diagnosing the disease.

In the virtual world of Sea Hero Quest VR you captain a boat.

The challenge is to use your sense of direction to chart a course through complex waterways, desert islands and icy oceans.

And even feed hotdog-loving sea monsters.

But it is not only a game. While you play, anonymous data will be collected and, later, assessed by neuroscientists.

Max Scott-Slade, from the computer game developers Glitchers, worked with research scientists at University College London, University of East Anglia and ETH Zurich.

He told the BBC: "It's interesting to try to make something that's normally quite a boring subject matter, and lab-based, and bring it to the public and make it as fun as possible.

"The value for us is to create this much richer dataset, we're capturing 15 times more data from the VR version because we're separating out where the head looks and where the boat's moving."

The findings of the first game were presented at an international meeting of neuroscientists in 2016.

It showed someone's sense of direction declines consistently after their teenage years.

The data also suggested men have a slightly better sense of direction than women and that the Nordic nations outperform the rest of the world, although it is not yet clear why.

Prof Christophe Hoelscher, chairman of cognitive science at ETH Zurich, said: "No project ever has collected data from 3 million people of real interactions in this depth.

"That allows us to do a number of analyses that you would never be able to do with classical studies."

The group does not expect the same number of people to take up the virtual reality update - VR headsets are not as popular as smartphones.

However, they do expect to get far more data than would ever be possible in the laboratory.

Dementia test

The project, which is funded by Deutsche Telekom, has a long way to go, but the ultimate aim is a test that can pick up dementia in its earliest stages.

Eight-hundred-and-fifty-thousand people are already living with the disease in the UK. That figure is forecast to reach 2 million by 2051.

Most will have had the disease for more than a decade before their symptoms appear.

Dr David Reynolds, of Alzheimer's Research UK, said: "What we really want to be doing is identifying people with dementia 10 or 15 years earlier than we do at the moment.

"A game like Sea Hero Quest and understanding how we navigate will help us get to that much earlier diagnosis."

There are currently no drugs that can prevent or slow dementia. But it is widely accepted that any future treatment will work only if doctors can get it to patients long before symptoms appear and the brain is irreversibly damaged.

Follow James on Twitter.

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Scientists have developed a virtual reality computer game as part of the world's biggest dementia research experiment. It is designed to test one of the first things to go with dementia - the ability to navigate. The original smartphone app had 3 million players, but the move to virtual reality should allow scientists to investigate in greater detail.

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In 2015, Wolfgang Kampbartold met a Berlin-based professor-turned-inventor in his efforts to diagnose dementia. Kampbartold listened as the professor turned over a crude collection of cardboard and screws in his hands, explaining how the contraption of his own making was designed to test basic skills in at-risk groups.

Dementia is already one of the biggest health challenges the world is facing, with 850,000 people suffering from the disease in the UK and 130 million estimated to be diagnosed globally by 2050. Loss of navigational skills are increasingly being recognised as an earlier, and potentially better, signal of the disease than memory loss. But there is no standard benchmark test, or even enough data to generalise what is "normal". This, is why Kampbartold, the vice president of marketing at Deutsche Telekom, found himself in Berlin handling the curious device the professor had fashioned.

Alzheimer's disease and dementia: what's the difference?

The professor explained that he would be lucky to get 40 people in a trial for his system. "To me, as an economist, if you have 40 people you don't even wake up in the morning - you cannot derive any significant conclusion from a sample size of 40. Dementia is one of the world's biggest killer and mankind doesn't know anything. It's crazy."

Kampbartold says his firm wanted to "add a purpose" to what it does, and in this instance, to use its global reach to do that. Together with neuroscientists from University College London and the University of East Anglia, it helped produce and distribute a mobile game that measures spatial navigational skills. Sea Hero Quest, developed by games studio Glitchers, launched last autumn and has been downloaded almost three million times, generating the equivalent of 12,000 years of lab research.

"We're not just trying to sell rate plans," says Kampbartold. Extraordinarily, that sense of corporate obligation, which may have started out as a PR soundbite, has led to the production of an unprecedented global data set of human spatial navigational skills, that could form the beginnings of the first early warning diagnostics test for dementia.

"If you were trying to do this traditionally in the lab you would need a ludicrous amount of money to reach the same level," says Hugo Spiers of UCL, who has been leading the data analysis. "And even when you capably test 100 people, you just can't fully understand how everyone behaves in that environment. Certain alleys aren't explored. But if three million people are involved, we know what a million people do in a given millisecond - all of this comes together to give this unprecedented precision in this task."

"As far as we are aware, this is the biggest dementia study ever run. It's the first time on a global level any human skill has been measured."

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Spiers is visibly thrilled by the opportunity this data set has given him and his team. That set is about to expand with the launch of a VR version today, available from the Oculus Store, but Spiers and his colleagues have already discovered significant results from the mobile data. For instance, they found Nordic countries came top of the league for navigating, despite other nations starting out top for gameplay. His team believes it has some evidence for why this is, but they are in the process of submitting the study to journals so for now details remain under wraps. "As a scientist it shows this is not just a gimmick - it's a genuinely valuable, exciting endeavour."

The original game was carefully crafted to account for different abilities and gaming experience, taking gamers through different levels to ensure the right skills get tested. Spiers points out that unlike memory tests, the current gold standard for clinical diagnosis of dementia, the game can be run anywhere despite language barriers. The game was translated into 17 languages, but players did just as well when it wasn't translated into their language. The hope is a VR version will be even more intuitive - and help more older generations engage when playing alongside families (currently, the team needs more data from older players). One of the minigames involves navigating a boat to find a flare, then aiming that flare back to the point you began - looking around in 360 helps translate this simple spatial skill.

The VR game should help the team validate its existing data, as well as add even more precise information (Spiers says the data gathered in VR is 15 times more precise). "Fundamentally VR immerses people in a world that will be more akin to a real situation so the results might give a more accurate reflection," he says. "But it's also the precision that the mobile phones that run VR have - we can look at where they are looking from every degree."
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The team believes it is on its way to creating the first global benchmark in history for one of the earliest known symptoms of dementia. But what then? There is no known cure for the disease, and as Kampbartold even points out, for the sufferer, foreknowledge can be worse than the disease itself.

"To go back to the professor in Berlin, he explained what happened to patients when they start developing dementia. They are driven nuts because they realise that they are going to lose everything they have. It's not so much of an issue when they have dementia because then they are gone. But this process of losing your, how can I say this? Your human beingness. And you realise how you deteriorate. That's the hardest thing."

Because of a lack of a definitive test, it can take years of watching and measuring that painful decline before a diagnosis is made. Spiers, and all the collaborators involved in Sea Hero Quest, believe if we can start to catch the disease earlier, understand it more fully, we will be in a better position to tackle it. For Kampbartold, the goal is simple. "By 2020 I want a device that will be able to diagnose dementia on a broad scale. My clock is ticking, so hurry up.

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In 2015, Wolfgang Kampbartold met a Berlin-based professor-turned-inventor in his efforts to diagnose dementia. Kampbartold listened as the professor turned over a crude collection of cardboard and screws in his hands, explaining how the contraption of his own making was designed to test basic skills in at-risk groups.

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The 5G-IA highlights its key role and new team to ensure European leadership in 5G global development and harmonization
BRUSSELS May 17 th, 2017 - The 5G-Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) has made a dramatic impact to European leadership in supporting European industrial 5G research and technology strategies leading notably to the launch and execution of 19 first-phase research projects. As the first phase of 5G-PPP projects draw to a close and the second phase of projects starts, the time is right to renew the governance and leadership of the 5G-PPP. In the new structure, the 5G Industry Association is the organisation representing and responsible for the private side of the 5G-PPP.

In this context, the 5G-IA has issued new statutes and renewed its Board, leading to a clarified and simpler governance. The 5G-IA formally interacts with the European Commission through a partnership Board, and closely coordinates its Policy Work Groups with the 5G Initiative Projects and Technical Work Groups. As for the Networld 2020 Experts and Task Groups, they no longer formally belong to the 5G PPP organization, however it is planned to continue actively collaborating in relevant areas.

The new leadership of the 5G-IA is as follows:

Dr. Colin Willcock, Head of Radio Network Standardization at Nokia, is the new Chairman of the Board of the 5G-IA.

Christine Leurquin, VP Institutional Relations and Communications at SES, is the Vice-Chair of the Board of the 5G-IA, after being Acting Chair in the first months of this year.

Jean-Pierre Bienaimé is Secretary General, in charge of the overall visibility and management of the 5G-IA.

Alessandro Bedeschi is Head of Office, ensuring the operational well-functioning of the 5G-IA.

The 11 companies represented in the new Board - Orange, Telecom Italia, Telenor, SES, Nokia, Ericsson, Huawei, Thales, Nextworks, Interinnov and CTTC (Centre Tecnologic de Telecomunicacions de Catalunya) - are key stakeholders from the ecosystem and membership of 5G-IA: industry, research & academics, verticals and SMEs. The nearly 70 current members of the 5G Infrastructure Association represent various industry manufacturers, telecommunications operators, service providers, vertical industries, research institutes and universities, SMEs, providers of satellite and terrestrial infrastructure, with the aim of having a constructive dialogue and jointly interfacing with the Commission in shaping the future of 5G and developing the regulatory framework to make 5G a European success. This provides a globally unique platform for ensuring European leadership on 5G and investments needed to roll out essential 5G infrastructure.

Therefore, the 5G-IA highlights its objectives and action plan:

ensuring a clear European voice on 5G around the world

reaching out to vertical industry sectors ("verticals") and ensuring the EU's support/enforcement of the required policies and regulations to embrace 5G in the various vertical sectors in Europe

Steering the 5G PPP programme implementation through cross project cooperation in Europe, and targeting in a consistent way the exploitation of the 5G PPP results: phase 1 (research), phase 2 (optimization) beginning on 1st June 2017, and phase 3 (large scale trials)

promoting the availability of radio spectrum, as well as a holistic standardization roadmap with the aim of reaching a globally harmonized and interoperable 5G communications standard

defining its "5G trials roadmap strategy" for the implementation of advanced pre-commercial and pan-European trials to be launched in key sectors, promoted through European public events, with the aim of ensuring European leadership in the context of the accelerated global agenda for the introduction of 5G.

Press Contact: Alessandro Bedeschi Mail to: alessandro.bedeschi@5g-ppp.eu
About the 5G Public-Private Partnership & the 5G Infrastructure Association
The 5G Public Private Partnership (5G PPP) is the 5G collaborative research program that is organized as part of the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program - The European Union Program for Research and Innovation. It is aimed at fostering industry-driven research, monitored by business-related, technological performance and societal KPIs. The 5G PPP will deliver solutions, architectures, technologies and standards for ubiquitous next-generation communication infrastructure over the coming decade.
In the 5G PPP, the 5G Infrastructure Association (5G-IA) represents the private side and the European Commission the public side. The 5G-IA is committed to the advancement of 5G in Europe and to building global consensus on 5G. To this aim, the Association brings together a global industry community of telecoms & digital actors, such as operators, manufacturers, research institutes, universities, verticals and SMEs. The 5G-IA carries out a wide range of activities in strategic areas including standardization, frequency spectrum, R&D projects, technology skills, collaboration with key vertical industry sectors, notably for the development of trials, and international cooperation.
Membership applications are open, and more information is available at http://5g-ppp.eu/.

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5G Infrastructure Association (5G-IA): a step forward with new governance

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The 5G-IA highlights its key role and new team to ensure European leadership in 5G global development and harmonization BRUSSELS May 17th, 2017 - The 5G-Public Private Partnership (5G-PPP) has made a dramatic impact to European leadership in supporting European industrial 5G research and technology strategies leading notably to the launch and execution of 19 first-phase research projects.

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Information Security Governance - 2014 Information Security Guide - Internet2 Wiki

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NIST describes IT governance as the process of establishing and maintaining a framework to provide assurance that information security strategies are aligned with and support business objectives, are consistent with applicable laws and regulations through adherence to policies and internal controls, and provide assignment of responsibility, all in an effort to manage risk.

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When Americans are asked what has brought the biggest improvement to their lives in the past five decades, they name technology more than any other advancement. And as Americans think about the next 50 years, they expect that technology, along with medical advances, will continue to have a major impact, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted May to June of this year.

The past 50 years have seen major changes in the U.S., from rapid social change ushered in by the civil and equal rights movements of the late 1960s, to biomedical innovations leading to increased success with human and artificial organ transplantation, to the emergence of the information age.

In an open-ended question, respondents were asked, "What would you say was the biggest improvement to life in America over the past 50 years or so?" Technology was cited most (42%), while far fewer respondents mentioned medicine and health (14%), civil and equal rights (10%) or other advancements. Technology was identified as the biggest improvement by whites (47%) and Hispanics (35%), while blacks were about as likely to name technology (26%) as they were civil and equal rights (21%).

The public's perception that the technological revolution has had a lasting impact on American society can be seen in other Pew Research Center studies - notably, a 2016 survey where 22% named the tech revolution as one of the most significant historical events in their lifetimes, behind the Sept. 11 attacks and the election of Barack Obama, the first black U.S. president. A separate 2016 survey found 52% of Americans judge technology to have had a generally positive effect on society overall, with many citing the ways in which technology improved the ease, speed and convenience of sharing information.

Another open-ended question in the same 2017 survey asked Americans to predict the biggest improvements to life over the next 50 years. The top responses were expected improvements from technology (22%) or from medicine and health (20%).

Expectations for biomedical and technological advancements are in keeping with a 2016 Pew Research Center survey in which 81% of U.S. adults said they fully expected artificial organs to be routinely available for transplant, 66% said that most forms of cancer would probably be cured and 48% said humans would definitely or probably use implanted sensors to monitor or adjust all food and medications that enter the bloodstream in the next 50 years.
Note: Methodology can be found here, and question topline can be found here.
Topics: Science and Innovation, Technology Adoption, Emerging Technology Impacts

Mark Strauss is a writer/editor focusing on science and society at Pew Research Center.

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Four-in-ten Americans credit technology with improving life most in the past 50 years

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When Americans are asked what has brought the biggest improvement to their lives in the past five decades, they name technology more than any other advancement. And as Americans think about the next 50 years, they expect that technology, along with medical advances, will continue to have a major impact, according to a Pew Research Center survey conducted May to June of this year.