Increased Trust in Safety and Easy Implementation Can Help Increase IoT Use Cases in the U.S.

Although the Internet of Things (IoT) and its applications are becoming increasingly integrated into our daily routines, there still seems to be a fundamental issue of public mistrust that is hindering widespread adoption. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is currently working to implement safer IoT strategies which could potentially help overcome this obstacle.

Technology has made great strides, particularly in terms of connections and execution. However, people remain unsure. It's not only about whether the IoT devices in your home will operate smoothly; it's also about the possibility of a third party gaining access to your personal network without your awareness, or worse yet, the risk of a secured account creating a much more severe issue.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more prevalent across different industries, it can transform systems that were once costly. However, even if the technology appears perfect, the human element must not be disregarded. This could entail educating people on network security or guaranteeing that production processes are clear. The way forward for using IoT applications is not just about developing better devices. It is also about creating confidence in them, and to achieve that, both governmental guidelines and public knowledge must be on par with the technology.

Yifei Ren is highly knowledgeable about this topic. He holds the positions of Lecturer and Research Fellow at the Cisco Curtain Centre for Networks at Curtin University. Ren’s opinions are based on thorough academic research and practical involvement with network technologies. This gives him a detailed viewpoint on the obstacles and prospects that IoT brings forth, and the ability to generate additional use cases for IoT.

"Ren's Take On IoT Applications"

The main thing that catches my attention is the eight pillars that they've outlined. From my perspective, it's completely correct and precise. Nevertheless, I don't completely agree with the rest. I believe that the ability to connect and implement is already very advanced.

At the beginning, only a small group of highly skilled professionals utilize the Internet of Things. However, as it becomes more mainstream, many people are already familiar with the internet and the potential risks it poses. With the increasing number of devices connected to the internet, people are becoming more fearful. Therefore, it is important to have a plan to educate the general public and inform them that while there are risks involved, there are also several ways to protect themselves. Additionally, explaining how the product works and the various mutual protocols it uses can help increase understanding and ease concerns.

As an illustration, currently there is a countrywide IoT network in the United States called Amazon Dream Network. However, there is a trust issue because most users are not aware that their dream device functions as a mesh network. This means that their neighbors can access the internet through their device. As a result, this has sparked some concerns.

I also received information that someone was unable to access their own house because their Amazon account was blocked, resulting in a loss of trust. It is clear that trust is of utmost importance.

I believe that the current stage of long-range Wi-Fi technology does not require extensive efforts in terms of connectivity and implementation. This is due to the fact that, similar to Zigbee and LoRa, the new standardized version for long-range Wi-Fi is quite advanced. Moreover, there are numerous off-the-shelf products readily available for use when developing your IoT device.

In my opinion, the current approach they have is commendable. However, I believe they have overlooked one crucial aspect - the human element. Even if our strategy is faultless from a technical or policy standpoint, we must acknowledge that users harbor innate apprehension.

I believe that the main factor to consider is the manufacturer. Their utilization of SCADA systems, sensors, and PLCs is similar to that of other IoT devices and microcontrollers. Nonetheless, the cost of the services they provide is alarmingly expensive.

If we can implement IoT in those industries by modifying standard IoT devices to function well in an industrial setting, it would not only be an improvement, but most microcontrollers now have superior performance in comparison to a typical programmable logic controller, and they are more cost-effective.

The inexpensive alternatives discussed have a significant price difference compared to a standard PLC. In fact, they are approximately 20-30 times less expensive! When compared to a regular PLC, which may cost around 6,000 USD, the microcontroller comes in at a more affordable price point, at around 20 USD. Despite the difference in cost, the microcontroller can still deliver comparable performance levels.

The contrast is immense. This will assuredly have an advantageous impact. Moreover, bringing a standard IoT device to the manufacturer results in the utilization of more accessible protocols and technology, as opposed to those favored by Siemens, Rockwell, and other similar companies, which tend to be highly exclusive.

It has become quite challenging for us to transition to industrial 4.0, as acquiring new data requires extensive integration with our current priority software, which is a complex task.