The Meta Equation

c1 - ( I รท Csum)

Understanding the consumption of everything.

CHANGE REQUIRES TRANSFORMATION

1 2 3

DEFINING CONSUMPTION

1.1 1.2

1.3

Defining Consumption Production, consumption and Economies Consumption and Relationships

PROJECT FRAMING

2.1 Redefining the Economic Model 2.2 Having, being - and becoming: Erich Fromm

THE DRIVERS OF INNOVATION

Technology Drivers of Change: 3.1 The Internet of Things 3.2 Big Data 3.3 Cognitive Analytics Social Drivers of Change: 3.4 Privacy Redefined 3.5 Plurality 3.6 Innovation 3.7 Design Opportunity 3.8 Brand Essence

4 5 6

THE META EQUATION

4.1 The Meta Equation 4.2 Why now?

4.3 The Meta Framework

1 Establishing taxonomies &

Identity Management

2 Understanding Ontologies

3 Context Machines

4 The Meta Equation 4.4 Beyond Electricity 4.5 The Production Equation 4.6 Opportunities

CONCLUSION

5.1 Conclusion

REFERENCES

Preface The basis of this report emerges from the reality that a universal disruption is manifesting, a major shift in human culture. The emergence of new technologies and ideals is disrupting the traditional consumption model as we know it. This provides an opportnity to consider how design influences behaviour and will shape the future.

Designing the future requires a new frame of thinking, as we must imagine what could be possible.

It’s time to re-define the consumption model. With the introduction of new technologies and capabilities offered by the Internet of Things there has been much speculation about the disruption of industries and possibilities for the future however, this has often led to

general conclusions with minimal real-life manifestations. The Meta Equation offers a framework for the implementation of an immersive platform that will allow us to understand, regulate, and control the consumption of all resources.

1

DEFINING CONSUMPTION

1.1 Defining Consumption 1.2 Production, Consumption and Economies 1.3 Consumption and Relationships

1.1 Defining Consumption Sociologist, Nicka Lisa Nicole defines consumption as: “In the simplest sense of the word, consumption refers to the taking in or using up of resources. Simply breathing air or drinking a glass of water are forms of consumption, and in this sense, we need to consume to survive. However, over time, the scope of human consumption, and the range of things we consume, have expanded greatly, and now far exceed meeting the needs of survival. We consume not only goods, but also services, experiences, information, and cultural products like art, music, film, and television.�1 Consumption is universal to the human condition. When analyzing consumption beyond the rational 8

principles of economics it becomes a fundamental organizing principle of human life, which dictates our everyday experiences and interactions with the world, and with each other.

1.2 Production, Consumption and Economies The notion of consumption can only be fully defined when compared to production. When analyzing global consumption it becomes evident that some economies are primarily producer economies, while others are primarily consumer economies. It should be no surprise that North America has increasingly become a consumption economy as the majority production of the resources we consume on a daily basis are produced overseas. As a result, Western culture has become

1,2,3

Nicka Lisa Nicole: Consumption: The Social Purpose, Value, and Implications of Consumption

accustomed to an ideology of excessive consumption, where the overarching economic model has become service and information based, with minimal production. This reality offers an opportunity to re-shape the global production-consumption paradigm.

Opportunity: Re-design the global productionconsumption paradigm. This challenges us to ask generative questions such as: • What is you had to produce to consume? • What if consumption was communal? • What if objects were considered consumers?

1.3 Consumption and Relationships The notion of consumption plays a

central role in contemporary societies as it influences many facets of daily life.

Sociologists have analyzed how the relationships we develop with others are influenced by our consumption patterns and how this leads to establishing both an individual and group identity.2 Our experiences with others often revolves around the act of consuming, whether it be having a meal or going shopping, we are constantly consuming.3 Analyzing the social aspect of consumption provides insights into human behaviour. The notion of consuming as a group, and the trend of collaborative consumption affirm shared values between individuals that can be leveraged to further improve the current consumption paradigm.

9

2

PROJECT FRAMING

2.1 Re-defining the Economic Model 2.2 Having, being - and becoming - Erich Fromm

2.1 Re-defining the Economic Model Consumption is currently understood and measured on the traditional economic model of production and consumption. The current model operates based on the idea of fair trade: where there is an exchange of monetary value for a given product or service. The traditional production and consumption model has inherent limitations for the growth of an enterprise and humanity as a whole. As we move into a behaviour economy, this traditional model is being challenged due to a new ideology of value that is focused on engaging consumers in new ways. Strategic innovation practitioner, Alexander Manu explains, “New forms of value must be created through compelling and engaging experiences, enabled by the information flow and technology that 12

bridges digital and physical worlds.�4 In the new economic model, enterprises will be less focused on traditional metrics, and more focused on delivering value and developing relationships with consumers. It is no longer about monetary transactions, but rather creating an ecosystem of new behaviours, constant participation and valuable experiences. Enterprises will become behaviour platforms, offering consumers the tools and capabilities to manifest their own sense of value. This allows brands to gain further insights about users, as they reveal their latent behaviours and motivations through their participation5. This data is invaluable for brands to plan and execute strategies for the future.

4,5

Alexander Manu: Value Creation and the Internet of Things

Many companies are transforming themselves into data-driven enterprises.

The integration of smart systems and machine cognition is transforming business operations as systems become smarter and more efficient, and deeper consumer insights are gained. Business leaders are now viewing software intelligence as a fundamental business asset that is, “driving new levels of evolution and discovery, and propelling innovation throughout the enterprise.”6 We are progressing from an ideology of having, to one of becoming.

6

Accenture Technology: Digital Business Era; Stretch you boundaries on ‘The I ntelligent Enterprise’ 7

Erich Fromm: To Have or To Be

2.2 Having, Being - and Becoming: Erich Fromm7 The ideologies of having and being are two fundamental faculties of human existence analyzed by the philosopher Erich Fromm. As society progresses into

the Internet of Things economy it is important to understand the concepts of being and having, as value shifts from a sense of having, to the experience of being.

To, “have” something indicates ownership. The desire to acquire things is rooted in human nature as we derive value from the idea of owning something. This philosophy of thinking has driven the consumption model for many decades as the market has focused on physical goods. In this economy the value of ownership was exchanged with the value of currency. The creation of The Internet was the catalyst for a new economy, an economy of being and becoming.

13

It is the faculty of being that has driven innovation since creation.

14

The faculty of being allows humans to derive meaning in life through experiences. Fromm explains being is not something that can be simply described in words: “The words point to an experience; they are not the experience. The moment that I express what I experience exclusivity in thought and in words, the experience has gone.

Hence being is indescribable in words and is communicable only by sharing my experience.”8

8,9

Erich Fromm: To Have or To Be

In this sense, value is identified as experiences of becoming through our participation in the world. In today’s economy it is the brands who engage users through latent behaviours who provide the ability of being, and becoming. The Internet of Things will introduce further opportunities for businesses to create new behaviours and experiences allowing users to become.

It is the faculty of being that has driven human innovation since creation.

Fromm explains concept of being requires process, activity and movement.9 Therefore being is the driver that allows us to, “become.”

15

3

DRIVERS OF INNOVATION

Technology Drivers: 3.1 The Internet of Things 3.2 Big Data 3.3 Cognitive Analytics Social Drivers: 3.4 Privacy Redefined 3.5 Plurality 3.6 Innovation 3.7 Design Opportunity 3.8 Brand Essence

Technology Drivers:

18

3.1 The Internet of Things What would be possible in a world where every person, object and environment was connected to the Internet? In essence, that is the concept of the Internet of Things. The creation of a connected ecosystem will disrupt the social landscape and transform life as we know it. New relationships will be developed based on a symbiotic value exchange as each member will benefit from one another. When designing for an Internet of Things economy, real innovation will become manifested when we think beyond life as we know it.10

increasingly large volume of data that is generated from a variety of devices, platforms and gadgets. Every time we use a device that is connected to the Internet, we are creating data. Big data is becoming increasingly important for enterprises because when used correctly, it provides fundamental insights into user behaviour and consumption patterns. The value of big data is not in the raw data itself, but in the insights gained from aggregating, sorting, visualizing and analyzing datasets. The data collected by wearables, lifestyle trackers and Internet of Things devices is essentially useless without actionable, data-driven findings that offer real value.

3.2 Big Data The term, “big data,� refers to the

3.3 Cognitive Analytics Artificial intelligence and machine

10

Alexander Manu: Value Creation and the Internet of Things

11,12

Accenture Technology: Digital Business Era; Stretch you boundaries on ‘The Intelligent Enterprise

learning are quickly developing from experimental practices to business opportunities and disruptors.

Consumers are beginning to demand that brands implement artificial intelligence in smart objects and environments to offer real value. The consumer motivation behind this is the desire of brands to simply make life better: “save me money! make me a better person”.11 As we enter an Internet of Things economy consumer expectations of artificial intelligence will continue to increase. “Humans have limits, their expectations do not.”12

Machine cognition is the fundamental element for making use of the large 13 Dan Mitchell: amounts of unstructured data collected Household Robots by enterprises. Cognitive analytics seeks Are Here, but Where Are to extract content, embed it into They Going?

semantic models, discover hypotheses and interpret evidence, provide potential insights—and then continuously improve them.13

Social Drivers: 3.4 Privacy Re-defined The Internet of Things is redefining the notion of privacy. As consumers increasingly adopt smart devices the collection of user data is becoming more frequent in a variety of products and services. Consumers are beginning to realize the value their data offers to businesses and are questioning how to leverage it. In a future economy where everything is connected and communicates with one another, the concept of privacy will be transformed.

We are already shifting into a plurality 19

ecosystem in which information is freely shared for the benefit of the individual.

cogitation of others.

The Plurality Ecosystem 3.5 Plurality The Internet of Things will create a The concept of plurality is a human Plurality Ecosystem as people, object condition that is rooted in our latent and places will seamlessly exist in behaviours as individuals. Plurality deals duality through one another. Each with the need to express and share member will be present in each other’s oneself to the world and be present in lives, developing relationships in which the lives of others. Our necessity to live value is constantly created. In the a life of plurality is evident in the way we Plurality Ecosystem each component construct our personas and exist in the will have a dual social role: it will be physical and virtual realms. We are in something (physically present, and it constant search of communication, will mean something (the value it association and connections as we delivers).15 Relationships in The measure our value with what we offer Plurality Ecosystem, will become to others or the extent to which we increasingly important as the sharing exist in their lives. Even when alone with of information will become the value, our thoughts, and when asleep in our and context will become the variable. dreams, the latent need for plurality is present as often times these involve the 14

20

14,15

Alexander Manu: Value Creation and the Internet of Things

CONCEPTUAL JOURNEY MAP fig. 1

Symbiotic Value Exchange

The Benefit: Information The Variable: Context

The Plurality Ecosystem 21

22

3.6 Innovation As we continue to shift from the production consumption model, to the behaviour economy, disruptive innovation is inevitable. Steve Jurveston, board member of Tesla Motors and SpaceX explains the opportunity in the behaviour economy is not yet fully tapped into, as it is substantially larger than the current model. Many emerging technology firms such as Uber and Airbnb have become global firms and have created systems that operate on the, “edge of automation.� Uber is an excellent example, as everything from the ordering, to the billing and payment is all automated.16

allowed for a number of incremental improvements with little innovation.

While these improvements are each a small step in the right direction, they often fail to deliver the radical change needed to create a society where consumption is sustainable and fewer resources are used. The current socio-economic landscape offers the perfect opportunity for real innovation, as consumer awareness is capable of adapting to the potential of disruptive technologies. Adapting innovative technologies and practices will allow enterprises to expand their consumption and sustainability strategies, stimulating growth and re-defining the future of consumption.

The production consumption economic model has inhibited growth as it

Steve Jurveston explains, “I do think there are more and more entrepreneurs

16,17

MIT Technology Review Business Report: the Future of Work

who think big. Those are the people we should be finding and funding. Most will fail, but the ones who succeed will change the world, and that is progress.17 3.7 Design Opportunity Design deals with understanding humans, and imagining possibilities. In the era of the Industrial Revolution, the mandate of design, specifically Industrial Design, became focused on designing for mass production. The rise of innovative manufacturing techniques and technologies transformed the creative process of design, as products could now be mass-produced. This was a major innovation to consumption.

We are currently experiencing another transformation in design, as we enter the era of The Behavior Revolution.

Industrial Design has become an integral part of all facets of society as designers are no longer constrained to the physicality of design. Similar to the Industrial Revolution, the Behavior

Revolution offers new possibilities for the progression of humanity through Industrial Design. In this Behavior Revolution, design becomes primarily concerned with understanding the human. Not the consumer, not the user, the human being. What does it mean to understand the human? This requires understanding motivations, aspirations, perceptions, latent behaviours, etc.

The driving force of the Behaviour Revolution is data. The access to human data provides tremendous amounts of insights, which inspire design and drive innovation. That being said, insights themselves do not design. Designing the future in The Behavior Revolution requires a frame of thinking that embraces ambiguity and imagines what could be possible. When this is achieved, designers will have the ability to create products, services, platforms and frameworks that will change the world.

23

3.8

DESIGN BRIEF Embrace social ambiguity, Think beyond the conceivableand make it a reality.

24

25

BRAND ATTRIBUTES fig. 2

26

SMART

SYSTEMATIZED

INTIMATE

Learning

Analytical

Omnipresent

Informative

Autonomous

Personalized

Dynamic

Mutualism

Secure

Sensing

Networked

Memorable

Intelligent

Seamless

Real-time

Scalable

EXTROVERT

PERCEPTUAL MAP

Omnipresent

fig. 3

Networked

Informative

Memorable

Scalable Learning

Mutualism

Intelligent

Personalized

THINK

FEEL Dynamic

Autonomous

Secure

Analytical Seamless

Real-time

Sensing

INTROVERT

27

4

THE META EQUATION

4.1 The Concept 4.2 Why Now? 4.3 The Meta Framework

1 Establishing Taxonomies & Identity Management

2 Understanding Ontologies

3 Context Machines

4 The Meta Equation 4.4 Beyond Electricity 4.5 The Production Equation 4.6 Opportunities

4.1 The Concept The Meta Equation is a mathematical formula designed to calculate the consumption of all resources, and provide a framework toward a more sustainable model of consumption. A “resource� is defined as anything that can be produced and/or consumed which includes electricity, water, food, energy, minerals, etc. There is an increasing demand of utility firms to develop new models for providing a broad range of energy services through a data-driven and consumer-centric system.18 The Meta Equation seeks to encourage environmental, social and economic sustainability by transforming the traditional consumption model.

The Meta Equation imagines a future in an Internet of Things ecosystem where each connected entity (people, objects 30

and spaces) is identified as a consumer, producer or a combination of the two.

4.2 Why Now? Resource-related supply chains are global. Natural resources are necessary for economies to sustain a standard of living as well as provide economic stimulus. In 2014, the World Economic Forum conducted a series of interviews with industry experts and concluded four major perspectives regarding the future of resource availability19: The threat of material exhaustion due to an exponentially rising demand, contrasted by a reducing supply of resources.

Rising costs in order to regulate usage, due to a fragile supply chain.

18

Canadian Electricity Association. Electricity Utility Innovation Towards 2050 World Economic Forum, World Scenario Series: Resource scarcity The Future Availability of Natural Resources A New Paradigm for Global Resource Availability 19

Long-term abundance with the belief that technological advancements and competitive markets will bring supply and demand back into balance.

Social Injustice in regards to unfair distribution. Wealthier economies must become more equitable with resource sharing.

It is evident that the concerns surrounding the future of natural resources is relevant to all stakeholders and encompasses: environmental, social, economic and political matters.

With the future of resources and consumption in uncertainty, this project is framed for a prosperous future, while offering impactful feasibility in the present.

4.3 The Meta Framework The Meta Framework provides a systematic conceptualization for the existence of people, objects and spaces in an Internet of Things ecosystem. The framework outlines the opportunity to develop a consumption management platform that will allow us to understand the consumption of everything. The Meta Framework contains four distinct components: 1. Establishing taxonomies & Identity management 2. Understanding Ontologies (relationships) within the ecosystem 3. The creation of Context Machines 4. The Meta Equation

31

1. Establishing Taxonomies and Identity Management The process begins with defining a hierarchal framework of being for the various taxonomies (people, objects and spaces) in the Internet of Things ecosystem. This will reveal the value of each taxonomy, as well as the additional value added, as it becomes a member of the Plurality Ecosystem. This essentially becomes an identity management platform, granting each member a seamless existence in duality: existing with the ability to be identified in both the physical and virtual realms, all within a single framework.

Taxonomies are classified as Macro, Meso or Micro. From there, each is ranked based on: frequency of use, duration of use, and energy consumption.

32

Current software platforms are humanfocused, and currently do not have the capabilities to accommodate a variety of different entities with the dynamic relationships that will exist in the Internet of Things ecosystem. Gartner suggests an, “Identity of Things,� software that leverages on a variety of existing platforms such as Identity and Access Management (IAM), IT Asset Management (ITAM) and Software Asset Management (SAM) to develop a universal language and architecture to accommodate all entities.20

20

Earl Perkins & Ant Allan: The Identity of Things for the Internet of Things

21

Mariam-Webster definition of “metadata”

2. Understanding Ontologies Once all taxonomies are identified in the Plurality Ecosystem, the symbiotic relationships and actions between all entities must be analyzed in order to draw data-driven insights and strategize for future scenarios and possibilities.

With a constant flow of data and information, these relationships will create enormous amounts of Metadata.

Metadata is defined as, “data that

defines other data”.21 Different types of relationships will be established between entities. For example, a human and a machine would have a different type of relationship than a machine and a space/network. These relationships will vary in utility, with interactions ranging from: monitoring, business transactions, regulating, warning, informing, etc.

The process begins with defining a hierarchal framework of being...

33

ONTOLOGIES FRAMEWORK fig. 4

Exploring relationships in The Plurality Ecosystem

Human to Human

Human to Machine

Human to Space

Machine to Machine

Space to Space

Space to Machine 34

3. Context Machines In the relationships between entities in The Plurality Ecosystem, the sharing of information will become the value, and context will become the variable.

Enabling objects and spaces to understand context will create an ecosystem where no important occurrence, accident, emergency, or event will ever be missed, even without the presence of humans. Machine cognition will aggregate data in real time and deliver important information as it occurs.

22

Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr: The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism - 12 Ayatanas

The Sense Sphere: The 12 Ayatanas The following information regarding the Sense Sphere was derived from The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism.22

The concept of the 12 Ayatanas provides a departure point for the design of context machines.

In Buddhist philosophy, the term Ayatana is used to define the faculties of perception and cognition of the human being. There are 12 Ayatanas: 6 internal sense organs and 6 external sense objects. The 6 internal sense organs refer to the physical senses of the human: sight, hearing, smell, taste, touch and the mind/ideas.

The inclusion of the mind as a physical sense adds an additional dimension of cognition (arguably the most powerful).

The 6 external sense objects refer to the corresponding objects of each sense: colour/form, sound, odor, flavours, tangible objects and ideas (Refer to fig.

5: Sense Sphere Framework).

35

When a sense is paired with its respective object, human cognition allows for consciousness to be achieved in the form of an experience. For example, the physical organ located in the nose makes it possible to perceive fragrances.

In the Internet of Things, connected objects and environments will have the ability to obtain, retrieve and transmit data creating new opportunities of value. Using the Sense Sphere framework as a reference, personifying the cognition of objects and environments becomes possible. This will allow link-enabled entities to understand the context of events in their surroundings.

With cognitive capabilities, objects will have the ability to analyze and learn from the latent behaviours and

motivations of people, providing further insights into future design possibilities.

THE SENSE SPHERE:

Colour/form

fig. 5

Ideas

Sight

The mind

Sound

Hearing

12 Ayatanas

Touch

Tangible Objects

Smell

Taste

Odor

Internal sense organs Flavours

External sense objects

4. The Meta Equation

Consumption Formula c1 - ( I ÷ Csum) Where: c1= the average consumption rate of a reasource, from the “constant consumers” I= The immediate demand of a resource Csum= The total number of “constant consumers” 38

Production Formula (M1 + M2 + M3...) - Isum Where: M= How much of a resource is being produced by each entity I= The total consumption of a resource by all “immediate consumers�

39

The Meta Equation is the final component, as it leverages the existence of the prior components of the framework. With established taxonomies, ontologies and context machines, The Meta Equation can calculate the consumption of these ontological relationships, coordinating resource demand autonomously. The Meta Equation can be used to calculate the consumption of any resource. This will become clear in the following explanations.

In order to understand what is being calculated, it is important to first understand the meaning behind each variable: “C” represents “Constant consumers,” these are entities that are constantly consuming any chosen resource (for example electricity).

40

Therefore “Csum” represents the total number of common “constant consumers” in a particular system (for example, the total number of refrigerators in an entire condominium building). C1 represents the total energy consumed from one of these “constant consumers” (for example, one refrigerator consumes 80 kWh of electricity). Finally, the variable “I” represents an “Immediate consumer,” and is identified by the immediate energy needed to power the “immediate consumer” (for example, if someone chooses to start their washing machine, the immediate energy needed is 500 kWh).

While the variables of the equation provide insights into what is being consumed, the answer to The Meta Equation solves for the new rate of consumption of each “constant consumer.” The equation essentially provides the answer to resource coordination as each “constant consumer” adjusts its energy consumption equally to accommodate for “I” (an immediate consumer), for the duration of its use.

The Meta equation will be further explained in the following scenario and visualization, using electricity as a case study: Figure 6, (Sorting Taxonomies) represents a city block, classified as a Macro taxonomy. The block contains

9 houses, classified as Meso taxonomies. Finally, the connected appliances within each house are classified as Micro taxonomies, and are all virtually linked.

Each household has a variety of appliances that are considered “constant consumers” such as refrigerators, furnaces, air conditioners, etc. These are constantly consuming electricity. In contrast, each household has a variety of appliances that are considered, “immediate consumers,” which require a large amount of immediate electricity for a short period of time. These include appliances such as washing machines, dishwashers, hair dryers, etc. When an “immediate consumer” is turned on, a series of connected “constant consumers” will automatically adjust to the energy demand.

41

SORTING TAXONOMIES fig. 6

City Block (Macro)

Individual Home (Meso)

Appliances (Micro)

42

Using the example of the city block as visualized in Figure 7 below, each household’s refrigerator is a “constant consumer” that uses an average of 80 kWh, for a total of 9 refrigerators:

c1 - ( I ÷ Csum) 80 - (I ÷ 9)

fig. 7

43

If someone living in the same city block decides to start their washing machine, 500 Kilowatts of electricity is now immediately needed.

c1 - ( I รท Csum) 80 - (I รท 9) 80 - ( 500 รท 9)

44

fig. 8

As a result, each refrigerator will coordinate to consume less electricity in real time, adjusting its electricity use to 25 kWh for the duration of the washing machine cycle.

c1 - ( I รท Csum) 80 - (I รท 9) 80 - ( 500 รท 9) 80 - 55 =25 kWh

fig. 9

45

4.4 Beyond Electricity The Meta Equation seeks to have an impact on a global scale. With the ability to connect all people, objects and spaces to the Internet, the Meta Equation can be applied to the consumption of practically any resource. Having the ability to calculate how much oil, water, fuel, or minerals are consumed from a global, to a personal level, will provide an introspective analysis into our current consumption habits and will transform the way we understand consumption.

This will in turn re-define the current consumption model, to a model where resources are monitored, controlled, and shared.

46

4.5 The Production Equation (m1 + m2 + m3‌.) - Isum With the ability to calculate and understand consumption, the same is possible for production. The Production Equation calculates the total consumption of a particular resource in real time, compared to the production rate of that same resource.

The Production Equation ensures a positive Production:Consumption Ratio, ensuring there is constantly a sufficient amount of a particular resource being produced.

The Meta Equation seeks to have an impact on a global scale.

47

4.6 Opportunities Collaborative Consumption As consumption is transformed by new technologies and ideologies, the notion of collaborative consumption will also be re-defined. In the Plurality Ecosystem all people, objects and spaces will be considered consumers and/or producers. Expanding the paradigm of what a consumer is will result in different groups of entities consuming collaboratively. For example, in a single city block, each house (a space) may be considered a meso taxonomy/consumer, and the appliances (objects) in each household may be considered micro taxonomies/ consumers. These taxonomies exist in a single network, sharing resources and consuming collaboratively. This can be 48

applied to a global scale, where countries could be considered macro taxonomies/consumers and consume collaboratively.

Impacts: Connected Ecosystem, Global Vision, Equitability, Symbiotic Relationships, Equitable Consumption As The Meta Equation provides a means to regulate, monitor and share resources, the equitable distribution of resources on a global scale becomes possible. As communities begin to consume less, a more balanced model of consumption will be established, one focused on ensuring all communities maintain a quality standard of living.

Impacts: Global Vision, Equitability, Smart Consumption

Empower Consumers The traditional relationship between consumers and utilities is characterized by minimal contact and bill payments.

Incentivized Consumption In the behaviour economy, consumers The Meta Equation provides are becoming increasingly engaged consumers and communities additional as they have access to data and incentives when it comes to consuming. information, providing a deeper The proposed framework provides an understanding of their behaviour and automated home-management system experiences. The informed, augmented regulating the consumption of resources and connected consumer has the by coordinating demand and ensuring capabilities to manifest change. The sufficient supplies. The system uses less, Meta equation seeks to work with while saving consumers money. This is empowered consumers to further a move towards a more efficient and customize and optimize consumption. sustainable model of consumption without sacrificing full service and quality.

Impacts: Smart Consumption, Consumer Impacts: Incentives, Smart Consumption, Economic Benefits, Consumer Incentives 49

Predictive Analytics As users go about their daily routines, the introduction of machine cognition and predictive analytics will allow the platform to develop the ability to learn from user habits. Consumption of resources will be transformed, from reactive, to proactive.

Impacts: Smart Consumption, Consumer Incentives, Economic Benefits

50

51

5

CONCLUSION

5.1 Conclusion The concepts detailed in this report encourage consumers and enterprises to reflect upon the nature of consumption, and imagine the possibilities of a more sustainable and efficient model.

The Meta Equation provides a framework for leveraging the Internet of Things to implement a platform where the consumption of all resources can be monitored, regulated and shared.

Through conducting an identity management process in which connected taxonomies are identified and ranked, we can begin to analyze and understand their relationships.

Humans, objects and spaces will develop symbiotic relationships in an Internet of Things ecosystem where each will become context aware and 54

exist to deliver value to one another.

Once this is established, The Meta Equation can be applied to develop an autonomous platform that coordinates demand in real-time, as resources become shared amongst entities. This will create a more sustainable and efficient model of consumption that saves money, conserves resources, ensures equitable resource sharing and transforms consumption on a global scale.

55

5

REFERENCES

References

Report: the Future of Work

1,2,3

Nicka Lisa Nicole: Consumption: The Social Purpose, Value, and Implications of Consumption

18

4,5

19

Alexander Manu: Value Creation and the Internet of Things 6

Accenture Technology: Digital Business Era; Stretch you boundaries on ‘The Intelligent Enterprise’ 7,8,9

Erich Fromm: To Have or To Be

10

Alexander Manu on ‘Duality’: Value Creation and the Internet of Things 11, 12

Accenture Technology: Digital Business Era; Stretch you boundaries on ‘The Intelligent Enterprise 13

Dan Mitchell: Household Robots Are Here, but Where Are They Going?

14,15

Alexander Manu: Value Creation and the Internet of Things 16,17

MIT Technology Review Business

Canadian Electricity Association.

“Electricity Utility Innovation Towards 2050.”

World Economic Forum, World Scenario Series: Resource scarcity The Future Availability of Natural Resources A New Paradigm for Global Resource Availability 20

Earl Perkins & Ant Allan: The Identity of Things for the Internet of Things 21

Mariam-Webster definition of “metadata” 22

Robert E. Buswell Jr., Donald S. Lopez Jr: The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Images All artwork images by: Nate Otto www.nateotto.com Yellow City (2013 Bay City (2015) Mural at Basecamp Headquarters (2015)

Vortex City (2013) Advercity (2014) Sprawl City (2015) Formercity (2015) Back cover photo: Kudinov, Vladimir. Manhattan, NY. upsplash.com. https://unsplash.com/photos/KBX9XHk266s