IoT issue 67

Welcome! This week was another particularly interesting one in the world of the Internet of Things. I read stories on product development and business, a new infographic on the IoT landscape, struggles from Nest and help in defining the ROI from the IoT. I also found an interesting article from a few weeks back on architecture decisions for Fog Computing. There's even an Open Fog Consortium that has been started that I was not aware of until recently.

I hope you enjoy this issue and please follow us and tweet this issue to your followers!

Can the Internet of Things Give You a Green Thumb?

Well, it's has finally happened. A multi-billion dollar lawn care company ( Scotts ) is dipping its toes into the areas of the IoT by allowing their customers better insights into what is going on with their yard. As the video tagline says, "Welcome to the Connected Yard".

IoT Challenges to Ponder Before Writing Checks

Good article with some practical questions we all should be asking ourselves as we start looking at ROI on the Internet of Things. Without a doubt, I believe that the value is there, the challenge as the article points out, is for us to be creative on how we use this new disruptive technology.

Internet of Things: Are We There Yet?

A great long form article on the Internet of Things landscape in 2016. There's some great nuggets of information in here along with a great landscape info graphic. Well worth the time it takes to read it.

Monetizing IoT: Show me the Money

I was on a panel this past week at Twin-SPIN to discuss the Internet of Things. The final question from the audience was on how we might monetize the Internet of Things. This article touches on some of my responses to this question, specifically on the data side.

Why Airports Are Slow to Install Beacons

A good story on some of the advancements and limitations of BLE and other wireless technologies as it relates to connected devices and the Internet of Things.

Your Product, Connected

Punch Through is a product development firm that specializes in the evolving world of connected product development. Building a smart-phone or IoT product requires knowledge of multiple systems, specifications, protocols, and operating systems. By understanding the whole system, we are able to create products that are reliable and dependable.

Google's Nest Struggles Could Set Back the IoT Movement

Well... I don't agree with the title of this article posted by CIO.com. However, I think it's an interesting read on how a company as big as Nest/Google can still have customers lose confidence in their products.

IoT in Retail Marketing: Three Ways to Engage Customers

This is a really good article highlighting various aspects of how the IoT is currently (or will be) used in Retail.

The Woman Who Co-Founded Zipcar Is Now Building "An Internet of Moving Things"

At the end of the day, many of the aspects of the IoT is about asset tracking. This article touches on how this relates the lessons the founder of Zipcar learned and is applying to the Internet of Things.

Three Ways the Internet of Things Will Change Retail

Nice quick read on how the Internet of Things will have an impact on the way not only retails organizations will run their business, but how we as consumers might interface with the retailer once this new technology is added into the mix.

Henry Ford Health Makes Bold IT Restructuring to Secure IoT and Medical Devices

I really likes this article as it sets up the interplay that I've been seeing in past years and we will continue to see regarding the balance between IT and the Internet of Things. IT in many ways is scared by the IoT as it's often seen as something that is threatening and what they are not used to. This article talks about restructuring to mitigate some of that.

Fog Computing: A New IoT Architecture?

It's been interesting to see this Fog Computing term being floated by Cisco for the past few years. It seems to be sticking as there is now an OpenFog Consortium. Whatever you call it, there are some interesting architecture decisions that need to be made near the edge.