Experiences: Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) has quietly changed how we live and work, transforming sensors, cameras, and everyday objects into smart devices that can share data in real time. What is now glut of data from connected devices presents unique challenges for UX designers, whose goal is to create seamless, easy interactions across an increasingly complex ecosystem.

UX design for IoT diverges from traditional software design in several key aspects. UX designers must consider device form factors, integration with broader ecosystems, and limited user-interface options. Complexity increases when users must interact with multiple devices simultaneously, which demands a more holistic approach to UX design that prioritizes simplicity without sacrificing functionality. Read More

As recently as 25 years ago, the physical reality in which we lived was an analog world that was becoming increasingly global. While globalization is still very much a factor today, our world is now decidedly connected and is becoming increasingly virtual. However, thanks to a combination of enabling technology and the possible impacts of global warming, some aspects of globalization are shifting back to being local. This connectedness—both virtual and local—is contributing to the emerging world of smartware.

As we detailed in “The Smartware Transformation,” smartware is a convergence of emerging technologies and science. Artificial intelligence (AI) is fueling its rise. The technologies that are enabling smartware include the Internet of Things (IoT), mixed-reality environments, and additive fabrication, or 3D printing, as are incredible advances in sciences such as genomics and neuroscience. Some or all of these advances are core to the emergence of incredible new products that are just over the horizon—products such as self-driving vehicles and neighborhood parts manufacturing. In “Smartware, AI, and Magical Products,” we took a look at the current darling of technology and entertainment media: artificial intelligence. We’ll continue that analysis in this installment, as we look at some other core smartware technologies, before covering the key sciences underlying smartware in our next column. Read More

As the reach of the Internet of Things (IoT) expands, gaining applications in many new domains—such as healthcare, retail, manufacturing, and banking—businesses worldwide are becoming concerned about their digital future and looking for ways to incorporate IoT-based solutions and deliver more efficient operations.

Already, 94% of the businesses who have invested in IoT have registered a positive return on their investment. In the future, the number of IoT devices is expected to reach the 50-billion mark. Enterprises project that their investment in IoT will garner profits of $19 trillion (USD). Read More