Physical things reporting and acting.
WHAT IT MEANS
Physical objects with sensors, processing and connectivity, reporting data and sometimes acting on instruction.
WHAT DISTINGUISHES IT FROM ORDINARY COMPUTING
The device exists to interact with the physical world It is usually unattended It is usually constrained in power, processing and connectivity It may be deployed in large numbers
WHAT A COMPLETE SYSTEM CONSISTS OF
Devices, sensing and acting Connectivity, carrying data A platform, receiving and managing Applications, presenting and deciding Integration with other business systems
WHY THE LAST POINT MATTERS MOST
Data that does not reach a decision produces nothing.
WHAT THE COMMON FAILURE IS
Deploying devices without establishing what decision the data will change.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH FIRST
What question the system answers Who acts on the answer What that action is worth
WHAT THAT DETERMINES
Whether the project is worth doing, and what accuracy and frequency are required.
WHAT TO AVOID
Collecting everything because it is possible.
WHY
Every reading costs transmission, storage and attention.
