After years of hype, the concept of an ‘Internet of Things’ is becoming a reality. From smartwatches and connected toothbrushes to intelligent thermostats and driverless cars- a web connection is becoming standard for many devices as we move towards a ‘programmable world’. With Apple finally moving into wearable tech with its smartwatch, the idea of […]
After years of hype, the concept of an ‘Internet of Things’ is becoming a reality. From smartwatches and connected toothbrushes to intelligent thermostats and driverless cars- a web connection is becoming standard for many devices as we move towards a ‘programmable world’.
With Apple finally moving into wearable tech with its smartwatch, the idea of connected devices looks set to go mainstream, ushering in an era where many objects will be online and ready to serve you automatically, based on an understanding of your needs. With this in mind, the opportunities for brands are huge- such as smart packaging, branded fitness bands or even fridge magnets that order products at the touch of a button.
The big players such as Google and Apple have already give us glimpses into how their technology will look beyond mobile and PCs. The likes of Android Wear and Apple Pay show how gestures and voice controls are replacing touchscreens and keyboards as the interfaces of the future.
With this explosion of new touchpoints, the Internet of Things will open up a host of innovative new offerings for consumers. As in any good relationship, the data relationship at the core of this has the potential to benefit consumers and brands alike.
However, the IoT is still in its infancy, and still has many regulatory and consumer trust hurdles to jump before reaching mainstream acceptance. Recent research shows ignorance about the IoT is the biggest barrier to adoption and a series of highly publicised data breaches have given rise to considerable security concerns.
Despite this, the IoT is only going to become more influential as technology accelerates. With Google Glass and driverless cars starting to appear in public, now is the time like now for brands to figure out how to create value on this new platform that’s more personal than anything before.
