internet of Things (ioT)

The internet we all use today is designed for people to share information – some of it entertaining, some of it time-sensitive, and some of it is just people shouting at each other on Twitter.

As well as people sharing information over the internet, what if “things” could share information with people and other things? This is what we mean by the Internet of Things.

It’s already happening – you can ask Alexa for the weather forecast, watch your Deliveroo rider’s progress on a map as they bring tasty treats to your home, and you can turn your smart kettle on from your phone.

Smart Cities

Smart Cities are about using the Internet of Things at a city level. So road junctions can tell you if they are congested, rubbish bins can say when they need to be emptied, rivers can say when the water level is getting close to flooding, parking spaces can say whether they are empty or occupied.

But why should councils bother – is it just new technology for the sake of it?

Well, the thinking is that all this extra information will allow cities and towns to run smoothly, making them better places to live and work. If drivers know where the empty parking spaces are then they will spend less time driving around searching for one, which makes the roads less congested and reduces pollution.

How much nicer would the town be if the rubbish bins never overflowed, if you knew the queue length at the post office before you left home?

What if new potholes were automatically identified, if the lifts were repaired before they broke down, if you never had to queue for the rubbish tip again?

These are just a few examples, and of course different towns face different challenges. We should be using IoT to enhance a place’s identity – to make it more attractive for people to live and work there. What would make a difference in your town?

You can use it too!