Connected World of Everything: An Overview

In the modern world, the interconnection of people, supply chains, distribution, and products is becoming an imperative for businesses. JP Rangaswami, chief scientist of hosted CRM provider Salesforce.com, argues that this connectedness enables more effective use of time and inventory.

One company leading the charge in this realm is Unilever, a consumer packaged goods giant. Last November, Unilever invested in a start-up incubation scheme dedicated to the Internet of Things (IoT). This investment signifies Unilever's commitment to harnessing the power of IoT for future growth.

General Electric (GE) is another major player in the IoT scene. In 2015, GE unveiled a plan to invest $1.5 billion in the 'Industrial Internet', applying machine-to-machine communications and analytics to its industrial systems. GE aims to provide better products and services, and improve customer loyalty by allowing customers in the healthcare, power, and aviation industries to analyze the performance of their GE-built systems more effectively.

GE is developing technology to make devices more intelligent, controllers smarter, and analytics technology to monitor system performance in real-time. For instance, sensors on turbines can catch signs of cracks before they break, allowing for micro adjustments to minimize stress and increase efficiency.

The idea of connecting devices other than computers to the Internet is not a new concept. In fact, the advent of publish-subscribe (pub-sub) messaging systems such as RSS and Twitter allows status updates to be easily integrated with other systems. Sensors in a parking lot could produce a feed of data describing whether or not there are spaces available.

Similarly, the concept of user-driven automation is becoming more widely understood through simple automation tools such as IFTTT (If This Then That). This platform allows users to create customised connections between various online services, automating tasks and making life easier.

The social layer is significant because people are already used to managing feeds of information in a pub-sub fashion on social networking systems like Twitter, Facebook, or Salesforce.com's social collaboration platform Chatter. Toyota Friend, a private social network for Toyota car owners, is an early application of Chatter as a platform for the 'Internet of Concepts'.

Phil Giesler, vice president at Unilever's new business unit, believes the IoT could offer a new way for Unilever to interact with customers inside their homes and potentially open up possibilities in terms of promotion or purchase. Giesler also proposes the phrase 'Internet of Concepts' to encompass real-time status updates from network-connected devices.

The cost of embeddable networking components such as SIM cards or Bluetooth transmitters has plummeted, making it cheaper for 'things' to connect to a network. Today, the Internet-connected fridge, which automatically orders more milk when it runs out, is no longer just an IT-industry cliché for long-awaited innovations that never take off.

In Silicon Valley, GE has set up a new software R&D center and hired Bill Ruh, a former Cisco executive, to run it. Ruh, now the CEO of GE Digital, a subsidiary of General Electric, is responsible for leading the company's growth and expansion in the field of the "Industrial Internet" and Industry 4.0 initiatives. His leadership focuses on leveraging data analytics and digital solutions to innovate and compete in the industrial digital market.

As the IoT continues to evolve, it promises to revolutionise the way businesses operate and how consumers interact with their products. The future is indeed exciting for those embracing this new technology.