THE IMPACT OF THE INTERNET OF THINGS Carolyn Jackson and Glenn Johnson
Traditional information systems are based on static architectures in which data follows known routes and has a predefined application. Current technologies in industrial process control and automation, in security and safety monitoring systems, and in environmental monitoring are all examples of specific applications of these types of information systems. But these data flows are changing in such a way that the physical world itself is now becoming a type of information system. With the Internet of Things (IoT), sensors embedded in physical objects, from household appliances to pacemakers, are linked through wireless and wired networks, and are producing enormous volumes of data. With all this sensing data becoming available, the IoT is expected to become a valuable tool for businesses and for society at large to optimise and automate. 4