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Five IoT Predictions For 2019

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 I don’t need to tell you that the IoT is growing at an exponential rate. Vehicles, wearable gadgets, RFID sensors and software are advancing past basic function and the network is growing to include even more advancements each day. I have more connected gadgets in my home this year than I did last and I'm sure I'm not alone. I'd also bet that these advancements will be even more commonplace in our homes, businesses and on the road in 2019. Let’s take a look at five IoT predictions for the coming year and how we can anticipate their impact.

IoT Prediction 1: Overall Growth Across the Board

When you look up IoT market and connectivity statistics you get a range of numbers all mostly in the billions. According to IT Pro, this year alone, around 3.6 billion devices that are connected to the Internet are used for daily tasks. Meaning total number of connected devices is bigger than that.

This means more data and more traffic on an already congested connected internet. In 2019, there will likely be a bigger push for 5G connectivity —adding a lane the congested web highway to handle the increase in devices. I also believe there will be a bigger push for edge computing. Data from IoT devices will be stored closer to the source—stealing business from data centers. To combat this, data centers and edge computing will need to work in harmony. More connected devices means change. Are you ready?

IoT Prediction 2: Deeper Penetration in the Manufacturing and Healthcare Industries

The IoT is a key driver of digital transformation in several industries, specifically manufacturing. Sensors, RFID tags, and smart beacons have already started the next industrial revolution. Market analysts predict the number of connected devices in the manufacturing industry will double between 2017 and 2020.

These devices are a total game changer for the industry disrupting every part of the production process from development to supply chain management. Manufacturers will be able to prevent delays, improve production performance, reduce equipment downtime and manage inventory. But it is not the only industry that will see a deeper penetration.

It’s been said by 2019 that 87% of healthcare organizations will have adopted IoT technology. The possibilities are endless for healthcare organizations and the IoT—smart pills, smart home care, personal healthcare management, electronic health records, managing sensitive data, and an overall higher degree of patient care.

IoT Prediction 3: Increased Security at End Points

I’ll keep it simple: IoT devices leave you vulnerable to hacks and security issues. Think about it, how many IoT devices do you have? Do you know how they’re all secured? By 2019, I think we will increased security at all endpoints.

Hardware manufacturers like Cisco, HPE, Dell and more are building specific infrastructure for the edge deigned to be more physically rugged and secure, and security vendors will start to offer endpoint security solutions to their existing services to prevent data loss, give insights into network health and threat protection, include privileged user control and application whitelisting and control.

IoT Prediction 4: Smart Common Areas in Cities Around the World

Smart cities have been in a bit of a holding pattern recently. Sure we’ve mastered smart buildings and smart homes, but fully smart cities haven’t been come to fruition just yet. I think in 2019 we will start to see smart areas or neighborhoods within cities.

Sidewalk Labs, an Alphabet endeavor, is building a smart neighborhood in Toronto from the ground up. Smart sensors around the neighborhood will record everything from walking routes, shared car use, building occupancy, sewage flow, and temperature choice 24/7 with the goal of creating a place that’s comfortable, convenient, safe, and clean for those who live there. Once the model is perfected, it could be the model for other smart neighborhoods and eventually smart cities.

IoT Prediction 5: Increased Market Penetration of Connected Smart Cars 

Even as a tech industry analyst, when I recently went car shopping, I was blown away by all of the IoT upgrades and how this has found its way into vehicles at every price point. While self-driving cars might be a normal occurrence in the next few years, I think that there are more possibilities with IoT inside the car for 2019.

Now tons of vehicles have a connected app that shows up to date diagnostic information about the car. This is done with IoT technology, which is the heart oft he connected vehicle. The ability to check tire pressure, oil level, fuel consumption and so many other things about a car and get the info sent to the palm of your hand. Also how it alerts the vehicle owner (or whomever you choose) when something is wrong with the engine. I can’t believe we ever lived without something like this.

Diagnostic information is not the only IoT advancement that we will see in the next year or so. Connected apps, voice search, and current traffic information are a few other things that will change the way we drive. Is it time to buy a new car? I think so. At the very least it is safe to say that IoT is changing the way we experience our automobiles.

These are only a few IoT predictions for 2019 and the years to come. There will likely be more advancements that we have only dreamt about until now. I personally can’t wait to see how the IoT continues to shake things up in industries everywhere.

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