Desirable Devices for the Smart Home [Infographic]

The Internet of Things is delivering a new era of smart cities and governments. The result, when used correctly, could include reduced operating costs, improved sustainability, better efficiency, and higher customer satisfaction. As IoT continues to evolve, we're constantly discovering new ways to translate it into strong benefits for citizens — what are some of the top ways that IoT can be a smart solution for the public sector? Safety, Security, and the IoT As governments have begun to explore IoT, their focus has built in specific areas, such as the implementation of "Smart Cities" which improve citizen services with solutions like "smart parking", or "smart waste" removal. For instance, Big Belly Solar garbage bins update their status for collection routes, reducing the time that collection teams have to spend on emptying empty cans, and slowing down the time between emptying fuller cans. However, smart cities can go far beyond the benefits of efficient trash collection. Gathering data on a consistent basis can offer greater protection for city residents too. For instance, California's Caltech introduced a new "Quake Alert" project, which uses IoT sensors throughout the area to detect small tremors in the earth. That information can now predict an oncoming earthquake. In the future, this advancement may even be able to send alerts to smartphones, giving people a chance to take cover. Not only can this potentially save thousands of dollars in property damage, but it could save lives too. Reducing Costs and Improving Labor Efficiency For many in the public sector, the aim with IoT is to limit costs throughout various applications, making the government more efficient. For instance, smart buildings can automatically detect the need for cooling and heating power, thereby reducing unnecessary energy waste. Telematics programs can evaluate and improve the efficiency of government vehicles, and some agencies are also using IoT applications for asset monitoring purposes. IoT can even lead to opportunities for task automation, reducing costs and excessive labor in the workforce. For example, the Department of Defense recently turned to IoT to track the use of military and medical supplies. This assessment of valuable, real-time data can help the department to reduce waste, and find supplies when necessary. Improving Quality of Life and Citizen Satisfaction By evaluating structured and unstructured social data, public sectors can respond quickly to changes in resident preferences, and respond to those who need assistance with greater efficiency. Algorithms could even help to suggest ways of assisting people who are in need, such as unemployed people or citizens in need of additional care. Government agencies can use the data collected through IoT, as well as voice recognition and conversational algorithms when people call public sector help desks, to get a better insight into national sentiment, and discover what people want most from their government. This could help policy makers to prioritize and deliver new areas of public services. Greater Access to Resources The IoT also has applications for improving access to crucial resources. According to the United Nations Water Resources Group, current trends indicate that demand for water will overwhelm supply by 40% by 2030. Indeed, in California we are already facing extended droughts. Fortunately, IoT technology could help public sectors to define best practices for water supply and use, and identify areas to economize water use. Not only can IoT devices point people towards nearby sources of water, but it can also suggest alternative routes for yield and delivery. This could be particularly crucial, as more than 40% of our current water infrastructure is outdated, losing 16% output during deliveries. IoT could indicate exactly where to repair, and adapt for better yield. IoT for the Public Sector By offering a stronger insight into supply, demand, and citizen preference, IoT applications can help utilities and government bodies to work together and improve the governance of various public-sector solutions. There are various potential outcomes for IoT beyond those mentioned above. For instance, the US Geological survey is using sensors to monitor the contamination of lakes and rivers, while the General Services Administration measures the efficiency of green buildings. As more research into the IoT emerges, the public sector will continue to find new and advanced ways of improving efficiency, productivity, and quality of life for citizens across America. Interested in developing an IoT app for your government or public service agency? Get in touch with us for a free consultation.

We were listening to the radio the other day, and over the airwaves came a bank advertisement. Beside the usual pronouncement of low interest rates and free consultations, the bank touted a seemingly unusual feature. With excitement and clear enthusiasm that this offer would surely draw in new customers, the voice over announced, “Now with real, live, human tellers!” It was at this moment we burst out laughing at the absurdity our real, live, human ears just heard. Do we really live in a world where human interaction in bank transactions are so rare, that they are worthy of advertisement? Suppose so. Yet it got us thinking from that small nugget of humor - we really do live in the future. Sure we don’t have a civilization on Mars or flying cars yet, but the dreams of storytellers in the past are undoubtedly coming true. Surely it is just a matter of time before we have robot maids and flying cars, living life like the Jetson’s and enjoying our meals encapsulated in small little pills. Technology has taken many steps closer to making these dreams come true. Let’s take a look at the fictitious gadgets our heros of the past had, and today are our reality. Dick Tracy’s Watch | Apple Watch Every kid wanted the Dick Tracy “2-way wrist radio.” And who wouldn’t...making a call from your watch was just as silly as making a call from your car. An idea ahead of its time, the watch was first introduced in 1946, and was even rejected by the first publishers Dick Tracy creator Chester Gould pitched the idea to. His employer, The Chicago Tribune, turned down the watch as a cheat. Fortunately other papers gave it a chance, wowing decades of kids through adventures helping Tracy solve crimes and get out of jams. The concept was exciting and extraordinary, seeming unbelievable to viewers following the famous spy. Apple CEO Tim Cook thought the same thing. At the unveiling of the Apple Watch, he harkened back to his youth. “I have been wanting to do this since I was 5 years old,” Cook enthusiastically said. “The day is finally here.” Indeed it is, as the Apple Watch was released to the public in April 2015, making those with around $549 real life detective spies. The Jetson’s Alice the Robot Maid | Mahru-Z Judy and George Jetson made living in the future seem nearly unimaginable. This fun with fantasy cartoon series featured a happy family complete with kids, a family pet and even a bonus maid. Alice, the wise-cracking housekeeper, was not only efficient and a delight to talk to - she was a robot. Korean scientists may not have been inspired by the American cartoon, but they did get together to create Mahru-Z - a real robot maid able to fetch toast and coffee for its owner. While slow she might be, we are more excited for the snarky comments we can only hope are on deck in version 2.0. Star Trek Replicator | 3D Printers The sci-fi series was packed with unbelievable gadgets, most of which seemed too good to be true. One such device was the Replicator, introduced in Star Trek: The Next Generation as a device that could create food or beverages out of thin air. In a giant leap forward catching up to the dreams of Star Trek writers, we now have the 3D printer. No, its creations don’t appear out of thin air, but 3D printers are currently able to create items ranging from spare body parts to jewelry to most importantly, the greatest creation known to humankind - pizza. Computerized Batarang | GPS Batman doesn’t get enough credit for the gadgets he and his comic strip creators have invented over the years. Many of our cars have similar features as the Batmobile, and a standard man cave now has just about as much technology as the Batcave. One invention that premiered in 1992’s Batman Returns was the Batarang. This handy device helped our beloved caped crusader locate enemies’ whereabouts via this location tracker. Today, this concept has taken steroids and is available to the everyday smart device user in a myriad of ways. From “checking in” on Facebook to Tinder locating daters in your local vicinity to actual location services that track people via the location trackers on most smartphones, we know where you are most of the time, evildoers. Those are just a few of the inventions we have always wanted, and barely scratches the surface of what is now available. What are some of the inventions that were dreamy fiction in the past, but are today’s reality? Let us know in the comments below.

To some, the Internet of Things (IoT) is a futuristic concept of connectivity that’s linked to things like smart buildings and cars — so it might be surprising to find out that IoT is making its way into gyms and workouts, as well. And we’re not just talking about Fitbit — companies are coming up with smart equipment that can sync with apps, push your resistance, track your workout progress, and much more. Given that fitness is a multi-million dollar industry, there need to be new innovations to keep people moving, and IoT may just bring about a whole new world of high-tech workout progress. Here are some of the trends we’ve spotted so far: A Smarter Workout One thing that hasn’t changed in the fitness world is that people are always looking for a faster, more effective workout. Now that exercise is becoming more interconnected with devices and apps, it’s amazing to see the strides that are being made towards creating all-in-one workout equipment. For example, Mashable profiled a Hong Kong-based startup called Move It, which is looking to bring a small, portable system of gym equipment to market — except this set of equipment has smarts. The four components — consisting of a push up stand, an ab wheel, a resistance band, and a jump rope — are connected by Bluetooth to inform each other of how hard the user is working. There’s also a social component, allowing users to post their workout results online. Although Move It isn’t particularly portable, given that the set weighs about 11 lbs when it’s stored together, Victoria Ho, Mashable’s Asia editor touts that “the set could be good to spur on a couch potato keen to get up and get moving, or an older person who wants to up their fitness level” – which definitely could make it a great choice for someone who can’t make it to the gym every day. Connected Equipment With all the gym chains out there, it’s remarkable to see how many still rely on the same old equipment technology that hasn’t advanced much in the last couple decades. This could be a major reason why many gyms see a drop-off in membership — because the machines aren’t doing much to continually motivate the users. At least, that’s what an article at TechCrunch thinks, as they report on the potential solution: eGym, a German startup that creates cloud and app software to help improve gyms. eGym Cloud focuses on providing its members with an all-around better gym experience — from data-based personal fitness plans to in-person trainer instruction. The plan evolves as the gym member does, because all the while, the gym collects data on its members’ workouts. The goal is to continually provide users with progress reports and results, which will hopefully motivate them to work harder, and keep paying to be a gym member. There’s also the neat high-tech twist of wristbands alerting the gym machines of the user’s identity, and the ability to view analytics after the workout is complete. If a full on eGym isn’t your style though, you can find a more widely known gym that has connected equipment, like the HOIST fitness machines which are found in 24 Hour Fitness gyms, among others, across the country. The company offers two free apps (that we designed and developed) to work with its strength system and its indoor cycle bikes. The HOIST Strength app provides both a library of exercises to scroll through as well as the ability to track workouts, body measurements, and create original workouts. The app acts a personal trainer, but can also be used as a personal training supplement — it’s great to be able to show your trainer your logged workouts. You can even send your results to your personal trainer in CSV or text form. The HOIST Bikes app works much in the same way, but with a truly IoT addition: the Bluetooth functionality links the app to the cycle bike. Once you’ve finished your ride, the app will provide you with an overview of your progress (and if you made any new personal records) as well as comparing the day’s results to past workouts. The app can also track heart rate, calories burned, and RPM. It seems likely we’ll be seeing more Bluetooth-enabled exercise bikes in the near future, given how well the machines can sync with apps. Gyms of the Future Exercise will always be necessary, but it needs to evolve to keep up with our need for better tracking and results. Fortunately, IoT is making it easier to connect with apps and equipment that give us a clearer picture of how hard we’re working (or how hard we need to work). The end result is a smarter gym, and hopefully a smarter workout.