In our Service Design practice, we’re very often asked by service operators to come up with ideas around the concept of connected things.
Devices or every day things connected to the Network by a technology that disclose to the world its location, identification and state. Fundamentaly, I think there’s real value in having a technology that brings awareness of existence to non-living non-intelligent things. Concept such as wearable internet, i.e. clothes enabled with rfid technology that could send/transmit an ID can be interesting to solve lots of every day problems.

But recently, as I was driving on my way back home, and started thinking about the value of this idea. Does it generates more issues that it solves ? And are we ready for this ? That’s the fundamental question I guess.

I remember being in meetings with Tech Strategy executive in the Telecom industry where the Internet of Things came on to subject. How can an organisation monetize that ? Personally, I think it becomes more an added feature of an already available offering - Think DLNA for example - rather new type of device class. IOT is not a product. It shall be an extended feature of an already available product - simply enhanced by the connectivity to the cloud. By putting in place the appropriate standards and protocols, the internet of things will grow at an amazing pace.

So many questions, so little time…