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Internet of Things

  • The Internet of Things can potentially transform the South African job market

    By on 5 May, 2016

    According to the Adcorp Employment Index job availability rose a mere 1.86% in 2015 and, coupled with the skills shortage and economic crisis, the situation can be fairly described as bleak for both business and employee. When it comes to the long-term impact and short-term need there is little that any one solution can do to resolve the skills dilemma, but there is technology which has the potential to positively impact both productivity and profitability while driving skills and careers. The much talked about and often hyped Internet of Things (IoT) has the capability to transform the skills shortage...

  • Why the Internet of Things isn’t about things at all

    By on 26 April, 2016

    Just what is the Internet of Things? The generally accepted definition is a digital ecosystem wherein everyday objects have network connectivity, allowing them to send and receive data. The ‘things’ in this case are just about anything that can be fitted with a chip and connected to the internet – cars, wearables, appliances, machines and many more. The culmination of all this is a world where your devices all talk to each other. Your fridge sends a reminder to your watch to buy milk when it detects you’re about to run out. Meanwhile, your car is busy telling your...

  • Four industrial revolutions and an Internet of Things

    By on 25 April, 2016

    2016 is the year of the fourth industrial revolution and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), but is the industry IoT-ready? Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution – the first being manufacturing and mechanisation, the second mass production and the third the digital revolution. The next iteration will be the computerisation of machinery and automation using robotics, as well as the intelligent measurement and analysis of data to improve efficiency, profitability and safety. The fourth industrial revolution will be shaped by a fresh wave of innovation in areas such as driverless cars, smart robotics, materials that are...

  • Card-free SIMs are vital to an Open IoT Ecosystem

    By on 14 April, 2016

    Ultimately, the Internet of Things (IoT) will only reach its full potential if it benefits consumers and makes life more convenient on a worldwide scale. Coming home to an apartment in New York at the right temperature with an oven that is pre-heated and lights that turn on ten minutes before you arrive is no longer a dream. Thanks to smartphone apps, it’s a reality. But the benefits of IoT extend far beyond household appliances. Smart connected trucks can be tracked by fleet managers in real time. Vending machines in Chicago directly alert vending machine distributors when stocks...

  • Know the cyber-security risks of smart homes

    By on 8 April, 2016

    A recent survey by Cisco, an American multinational technology company, estimates that 50 billion devices will be connected to the internet by 2020 due to the rapid growth in the popularity of the Internet of Things (IoT). While IoT increases efficiency and convenience, consumers are exposing themselves to an increased risk of falling victim to criminal activity such as being hacked. The IoT movement offers consumers access to a network of physical objects, such as home appliances that feature an IP address for internet connectivity which enables that user to control their devices through communication between the devices connected...

  • The IoT Focus: how can SA make the most of the Internet of Things? [Video]

    By on 25 November, 2015

    About this content. When it comes to reporting on the Internet of Things, you'll often see publishers referring to the massive numbers surrounding this vast network of connected sensors embedded in everyday objects. They will, for instance, talk about the 5-billion or so connected objects which Gartner estimates are currently in existence. They'll probably also mention that number is set to grow to 25-billion by 2020 and that Mckinsey estimates that the IoT's impact could be worth as much as $11.1 trillion a year by 2025. But what real difference is the Internet of Things making to our lives right...

  • 5 videos that show off the future of scientific innovation [SPONSORED]

    By on 10 November, 2015

    National Geographic and General Electric have teamed up for Breakthrough; a new TV series which explores the latest developments in brain science, longevity, water, energy, pandemics and cyborg technology. The series' premise is that incredible life-saving technologies have become so part of our everyday lives that we sometimes take them for granted. It therefore aims to shine a light on the most innovative technologies shaping how we live. Each hour-long episode is directed by a Hollywood visionary – Angela Bassett, Peter Berg, Paul Giamatti, Akiva Goldsman, Ron Howard and Brett Ratner. Fighting Pandemics The Ebola outbreak which ravaged communities in...

  • The IoT Focus: how the Internet of Things is changing the way we power our cities [Native Content]

    By on 9 November, 2015

    About this content. As global population rates continue to soar, so does our need for electricity. At the same time though, it's increasingly obvious that we need to both step up our efforts in finding alternative sources of energy and be more intelligent about the energy we do use. One of the best tools we have in our quest to achieve a cleaner, more efficiently-powered future is data. And thanks to the growing number of devices and everyday objects embedded with connected sensors, collectively referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT), we have more data than ever. That...

  • The IoT Focus: 4 ways the Internet of Things is changing the way factories work [Native Content]

    By on 6 November, 2015

    About this content. Depending on which source you consult, factories either date back to ancient Egypt or the earliest parts of the Industrial Revolution. Either way they've been with us for a very long time. Of course, they've had to adapt. The people who worked in John Lombe's water-powered silk mill at Derby in the 17th Century would not, for instance, recognise a contemporary smartphone factory. Today, factories aren't just spaces where things are built, but smart connected spaces capable of adapting on the fly and producing constant streams of data. That change is at least in part due to...

  • The IoT Focus: 9 African startups shaping the continent’s IoT industry [Native Content]

    By on 5 November, 2015

    The Internet of Things (IoT) industry as a whole has been touted as becoming a US$7.1-trillion giant by the year 2020. And around the world companies are more and more looking to this sector in becoming the next trend-setters of our world's true data revolution. An everyday, easy-to-understand example of IoT in action would be the Apple Watch -- a fashionable device that's strapped to your wrist and tethered to your smartphone. With a tiny display, you can send emails, hail an Uber, track your heart rate and do all sorts of cool things unimaginable a decade ago. Also unimaginable...

  • Corporate sponsorship as an imperative for positive impact: the GE example [Sponsored]

    By on 26 October, 2015

    The CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Awards was established in August 1995 to encourage, promote and recognize excellence in African journalism and it has in the span of 20 years become the most respected journalism awards in the region. Every year, over 1,600 entries in 12 Categories are received from over 40 African Countries, including English, French & Portuguese-speaking countries and the Awards ceremony is broadcast across Africa via DSTV platforms, 66 terrestrial channels in 47 African countries. As a mark of wide acceptance and spreading influence the awards have attracted sponsorship from global brands. Renowned technology and infrastructure leader General Electric...

  • Kenyan Paul Kelemba wins GE Energy & Infrastructure Award at CNN Multichoice African Journalist Awards 2015 [Sponsored]

    By on 26 October, 2015

    Paul Kelemba, from Kenya, has been awarded GE Energy & Infrastructure Award, presented by Jay Ireland, President and CEO of GE Africa, at this year’s CNN Multichoice African Journalist 2015 Awards ceremony. Kelemba, who works freelance for The Standard on Saturday, won for his piece “Sorting out Nairobi Transport” which was chosen from entries spanning 39 nations across the African continent. The Awards, which rotate location each year in tribute to their pan-African credentials, were held at a Gala ceremony hosted by CNN and Multichoice at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, in Nairobi. The judging panel said: “It is...

  • General Electric partners AMI to host Media Training on Energy and Infrastructure Coverage [Sponsored]

    By on 25 October, 2015

    African Media Initiative (AMI) and General Electric (GE) have partnered to boost media coverage in Africa of Energy and Infrastructure issues. Some 20 journalists drawn from the East Africa region will undergo basic training on the Energy sector in Africa, and on using sector data to tell impactful stories that will enrich media content and better inform citizens. The training is set to take place from 9-10 October 2015, in Nairobi, Kenya. The training will explore the importance of covering the energy sector, the weaknesses identified in coverage of infrastructure and energy-related issues, as well as the use of...