TREND REPORT IIW

‘THE INTERNET OF THINGS’

Carmen Gruson Avans University of Applied Sciences ‘s-Hertogenbosch, the Netherlands.

Table of Contents

Introduction: The Internet of Things ....................................................................................... 2

Examples of the Internet of Things ........................................................................................ 3

Toon smart thermostat ....................................................................................................... 3

Philips Hue lightning system .............................................................................................. 4

KPN LoRa .......................................................................................................................... 4

TomTom ............................................................................................................................ 4

BitLock ............................................................................................................................... 5

Business working with the Internet of Things ......................................................................... 6

Philips ................................................................................................................................ 6

Eneco ................................................................................................................................ 7

Future of the Internet of Things ............................................................................................. 8

What are the further possibilities from the view of the companies? .................................... 8

What is my vision for the future of the Internet of Things in the Netherlands? .................... 8

Conclusion ............................................................................................................................ 9

Bibliography .........................................................................................................................10

Introduction: The Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or ‘things’ embedded with

electronics, software, sensors and connectivity to enable it to achieve greater value and

service by exchanging data with the manufacturer, operator and/or other connected devices.

Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to

interoperate within the existing internet infrastructure (Internet of Things, 2015).

In 2008-2009, the Internet of Things was ‘born’. According to Cisco Internet Business

Solutions Group (IBSG), the Internet of Things was born in between 2008 and 2009 at simply

the point in time when more ‘things or objects’ were connected to the internet than people

(Internet of Things history, sd).

According to an estimate by Gartner (a technology research and advisory corporation), in

2020 there will 26 billion devices be connected to the Internet of Things. According to Green

Peak’s CEO, Cees Links, this estimate could even well be on the low side. He predicts that

each house gets at least 100 sensors that collect all information about what we do, what we

do not do and how we live. Scary or can you not wait?

100 sensors. At first glance it looks scary. It looks like spionage, 100 sensors in a house. As

if someone, from a government or a company, wants to keep an eye on you. Nevertheless, it

considers Cees Links, there is no question of spionage, but a clever system that supports us

and helps us.

Both the Dutch smart thermostat ‘Toon’ from Eneco, as the personal navigation devices from

‘TomTom’ are examples of the Internet of Things in which there is much intelligence in the

(expensive) device and there is enough energy available to communicate, for example via

Wi-Fi or cellular network (Blaauboer, Wonen tussen 100 sensoren het internet of things start

bij jou thuis, 2014).

I think that the Internet of Things is important in a lot of counties around the world. But in the

Netherlands, we are far ahead with the Internet of Things compared to other countries

around the world. We are influencers, trendsetters and early adopters. Internet of Things is

very important in the Netherlands, because we want to be early with new technical inventions

and we want to be involved in the process of a new technical invention.

Examples of the Internet of Things

Toon smart thermostat As I have said in the previous paragraph, the Internet of Things is very important in the

Netherlands. We are influencers, trendsetters and early adopters. We want to be involved in

the process of a new technical invention. There are a lot of companies in the Netherlands

that focuses on ‘Internet of Things’ or ‘Internet der dingen’ as it is called in Dutch. Below, I

am going to explain some Dutch examples of the Internet of Things.

Energy is important in every country, also in the Netherlands. There are around 30 energy

companies in the Netherlands (Energieleveranciers, sd). Eneco is one of them. Eneco is the

first and only Dutch energy company that has a smart thermostat for consumers. This smart

thermostat is called ‘Toon’.

‘Toon’ looks like a tablet and is placed on the wall in (for instance) a living room. ‘Toon’ lets

you see what your consumed energy is in your house, always and everywhere. You can also

compare to previous periods or compare with other households or friends. You consume

more than estimated? Then you will get a notification. Thus, the annual bill is never a

surprise. With the smart thermostat functions, your heating is controlled more efficiently.

Additionally, ‘Toon’ is self-learning and takes into account the weather. This allows the

consumer to automatically consume less energy.

With the smart thermostat ‘Toon’, you unplug the future into your home. You already can

operate Philips Hue lamps via the ‘Toon-application’. The same applies to ‘Toon smart

plugs’. These plugs give you insight in the consumption and cost per device or group devices

via the ‘Toon-tablet’. (Toon thermostaat, sd)

This trend is interesting and applicable for the Internet of Things because it connects

technology with humans. This smart thermostat is self-learning, it connects you iPad (or

other tablet) and smartphone with the rest of the house. You can operate the Hue lightning

system from Philips with the same app. This is just the beginning, ‘Toon’ will connect more

devices in the future. Maybe you sound system or TV?.

Philips Hue lightning system As I have mentioned earlier, ‘Toon’ already connects with the Hue lightning system from

Philips. Therefore, the Hue lighting system is the second example of the Internet of Things in

the Netherlands.

Hue is invented by Philips in the Netherlands. It is the first lightning system in the

Netherlands which you can operate with your tablet or smartphone. You want to

concentrate? Click on ‘concentrate’ and the light will change immediately. You want a touch

of romance to your house? Or want to use Hue as your alarm clock? Everything is possible.

With one touch on the app, you have the access to various white-toned colours and a color

pallet with all the other colors. You even can change the lightning in your house from the

other side of the world. So, if you are on vacation, you can still turn on the lights at night to

prevent criminals from breaking into your house.

To get a better image about the Hue lightning system, watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=81&v=68t2I3XB11A

I think this trend is interesting and applicable for the Internet of Things because you can

change your lighting with your smartphone. It is very simple and it connects technology with

humans.

KPN LoRa KPN will roll-out a new mobile M2M network in 2015 called LoRa. This type of network will have a significant impact to (inter)nationally speed up the developments of Internet of Things. KPN made use of the LoRa protocol (LoRaWAN), which is the protocol for mobile networks that has been specially developed to be able to meet the high demands of Internet of Things. The LoRa network is a new type of mobile M2M network which aims to connect millions of low-data devices to the internet. For example with this network sensors are able to send easy their data on a long distance to the internet or devices can receive assignments from the internet (on/off, open/closed/etc). A LoRa network makes it possible in the future to connect, cost efficient, millions of devices that use very little power and data to the internet. Organizations can improve their service and possible business processes, reduce cost or even develop new business models (Internet of everything LoRa, sd). LoRa is a trend that is interesting and applicable because this is just the simple Internet of

Things. It connects different devices using a new mobile M2M network.

TomTom TomTom is a Dutch company that provides navigation systems- and software. The

navigation systems have special versions for cars, trucks, motorcycle, campers and

caravans. What you might not realize is that all these navigation systems are the basis of a

different kind of service from TomTom: selling information about the traffic. All modern

TomTom navigation systems are sending information about their location, speed etc. to

TomTom, if you have given permission for this course. This information will be anonymized

and gives a good image of the traffic.

TomTom has (thanks to the millions of navigation systems they have sold) so much

information about the traffic in the Netherlands that they have information about the traffic on

99% of the Dutch roads. This information is worth money, and TomTom sells the information,

just like Google and Facebook. This information is used for the consumers itself off course,

by TomTom Traffic. This is a live map about the traffic on the roads in the Netherlands

(Blaauboer, TomTom, het Nederlandse navigatiebedrijf dat internet of things goed snapt,

2014).

This trend is interesting because this company uses existing information to help their

customers and companies. They connect different devices (from the navigation systems to

smartphones and their website) and are trying to help consumers to get to their destination

as soon as possible.

BitLock BitLock is a company that has invented a bikelock, but without keys. I have found the

following description about BitLock on their website:

“Lock and unlock your bike seamlessly without even having to reach your pocket! Simply

walk up to your bike and press the button on BitLock to lock/unlock. Bitlock senses your

proximity and identifies you as you come within 3 feet of your bike (as long as BitLock

application is running in the background on your phone). No more lost keys or endless

searches to find them. it is over.” (Bitlock, sd)

So, BitLock uses Bluetooth on your smartphone to identify you. It unlocks your bike and you

are good to go! As simple as it is.

To get a better impression about BitLock, watch this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=107&v=KoF6yXsBlYc

I think that this trend is interesting and applicable because it replaces keys to something

digital. It gives you access to your belongings by your smartphone. It connects everyday

supplies, who never had anything in common; your bike and your smartphone.

Business working with the Internet of Things

Philips Royal Philips is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s

lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and

Lighting. Headquartered in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of €23.3

billion and employs approximately 115.000 employees with sales and services in more than

100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare,

energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting

applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and

oral healthcare.

Philips Lighting is a global market leader with recognized

expertise in the development, manufacturing and

application of innovative lighting solutions. Philips has

pioneered many of the key breakthroughs in lighting over

the past 123 years, laying the basis for their current

strength and ensuring they are well-placed to be a leader

in the digital transformation. Philips aims to further strengthen their position in the digital

market through added investment in LED leadership while at the same time capitalizing on

our broad portfolio, distribution and brand in conventional lighting.

Equally, today’s digital parents want technology to serve their families’ ever-changing needs.

So the Philips innovators are developing the Philips AVENT Smart Baby Monitor which

connects to and is operated by a smartphone, ensuring parents are never disconnected from

their baby. It is also linked to Philips’ revolutionary lighting system, Philips Hue, to create an

immersive experience for the baby, with lighting ‘recipes’ that create the right ambiance to

help at bedtime, waking-up and feeding.

The ‘Internet of Things’ puts the consumer in the driving seat and allows Philips to ensure

their products are more personal, relevant and impactful than ever before. The consumer has

always been at the heart of what they do. This interconnected world presents new ways for

Philips to work with consumers to help them to be healthier, live well and enjoy their life

(Nota, 2014).

“The ‘Internet of Things’ has become central to how we innovate at Philips – and how we listen to, engage with and take inspiration from our consumers”.

Eneco Eneco’s more than two million customers are provided with consistent, secure energy

supplies. For this reason, Eneco ensures that they can contribute value throughout the entire

chain. Eneco is an integrated energy group with more than 7000 employees, offering

comprehensive solutions for, and together with, our customers and partners. Eneco invests

in well-maintained networks, onshore and offshore wind farms, solar energy projects and

biomass plants. And they are doing this from bases in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK,

France and Germany. (About us, sd)

(About us - Our Mission, sd)

The vision of Eneco about the future is connected to the ‘Internet of Things’. ‘Everyone

having a energy generator at home. Solar panels on the roofs of all businesses. Wind

turbines, bio-energy or heat pipelines for industry. Everyone is an energy producer and

shares energy with their neighbours, businesses or with the whole neighbourhood.’ This is

the Internet of Things, this is the future. Eneco is market leader with this sustainable way of

producing energy.

“Imagine if everyone had sustainable energy at their disposal. Generated at home, by you, together with the rest of the street or neighbourhood. Solar panels on the roofs of all businesses. Wind turbines, bio-energy or heat pipelines for industry. Everyone is an energy producer and shares energy with their neighbours, businesses or with the whole neighbourhood. We no longer see ourselves as a traditional energy supplier, but as a partner who, together with you, makes it possible to save, use, exchange or sell energy. And this isn’t an unrealistic vision. We know it is possible, and we are working every day on projects that are making our ambitions and those of our customers into a reality.” – Jeroen de Haas, CEO Eneco.

Future of the Internet of Things

What are the further possibilities from the view of the companies? “In the near future the Internet and wireless technologies will connect different sources of

information such as sensors, mobile phones and cars in an ever tighter manner. The number

of devices which connect to the Internet is – seemingly exponentially – increasing. These

billions of components produce consume and process information in different environments

such as logistic applications, factories and airports as well as in the work and everyday lives

of people. The society need new, scalable, compatible and secure solutions for both the

management of the ever more broad, complexly-networked Internet of Things, and also for

the support of various business models.” – www.internetofthings.fi (InternetofThings, sd)

"One of the things I see when people are talking about Internet of Things in general, is this

feeling like, 'This is just what it's going to be. That's the beginning and end of the market,'" he

says. "But I think that's how the Internet felt in 1992, and we're in that beginning part, and it's

really hard to figure out exactly how it's going to play forward." – Jared Newman (The future

of the internet of things is like the internet of the 1990s, 2015)

The vision about the future of the Internet of Things from the view of the energy companies,

you can watch this video from Eneco. In which they explain what their point of view is about

the future of the Internet of Things in the energy compartment:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=212&v=MVDKl5TreXA

What is my vision for the future of the Internet of Things in the Netherlands? I think that the Internet of Things is going to have a big influence in our daily lives. I think that

in 2025 everything in our daily lives is connected with the Internet of Things. I also think that

it is going so far that there are becoming complete ‘Smart houses’, all devices and furniture

in these houses are connected to each other.

Innovation is always and everywhere. There was innovation in 1800 and there will be

innovation in 2080. I personally think that the Internet of Things is something from 2015, but I

do not think that the Internet of Things will last until 2080. By that time there will be

something new, something futuristic and exciting. There is a possibility that the Internet of

Things will be a beginning of this new invention.

Conclusion There are many different companies working with the Internet of Things. Philips, Eneco and

TomTom are some examples of companies who are developing very fast in the Internet of

Things in the Netherlands. These products are making our daily lives easier and more

efficient.

In general, the Internet of Things is something new. You can call it a trend, a hype, or the

lifestyle of the future. It is starting now, and developing very fast. Companies are bringing

new products to the market, trying to anticipate on this new invention. Is it worth it to invest in

the Internet of Things? The opinions on this are very different. Some say it is the lifestyle of

2025. Others say that it seems too good to be true. Some people are not ready, or are not

waiting for this kind of change. Some people do not want the ‘digital world’ to know

everything about them, something even more than they know about themselves. I

understand that completely, I am scared too, but I think that the Internet of Things is at the

start of its success. We have to accept that the Internet of Things is coming, and is going to

take over our lives. Whether we want it or not.

Bibliography (n.d.). Retrieved from InternetofThings: http://www.internetofthings.fi/

About us. (n.d.). Retrieved from Eneco: http://www.eneco.com/about-us/eneco-group/

About us - Our Mission. (n.d.). Retrieved from Eneco: http://www.eneco.com/about-us/our-

mission/

Bitlock. (n.d.). Retrieved from Bitlock: http://www.bitlock.co/

Blaauboer, R. (2014, December 8). TomTom, het Nederlandse navigatiebedrijf dat internet of

things goed snapt. Retrieved from Frankwatching:

http://www.frankwatching.com/archive/2014/12/08/tomtom-het-nederlandse-

navigatiebedrijf-dat-internet-of-things-goed-snapt/

Blaauboer, R. (2014, October 7). Wonen tussen 100 sensoren het internet of things start bij

jou thuis. Retrieved from Frankwatching:

http://www.frankwatching.com/archive/2014/10/07/wonen-tussen-100-sensoren-het-

internet-of-things-start-bij-jou-thuis/

Energieleveranciers. (n.d.). Retrieved from Energieleveranciers:

https://www.energieleveranciers.nl/energieleveranciers

Internet of everything LoRa. (n.d.). Retrieved from KPN:

http://www.kpn.com/zakelijk/grootzakelijk/internet-of-everything-en/lora.htm

Internet of Things. (2015, May 6). Retrieved from Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_of_Things

Internet of Things history. (n.d.). Retrieved from Postscapes.com:

http://postscapes.com/internet-of-things-history

Nota, P. (2014, August). De impact van internet of things op ons allemaal. Retrieved from

Philips: http://www.philips.nl/e/nederland-blog/blog/de-impact-van--internet-of-things--

op-ons-allemaal-.html

The future of the internet of things is like the internet of the 1990s. (2015, March 27).

Retrieved from Fastcompany: http://www.fastcompany.com/3044375/sector-

forecasting/the-future-of-the-internet-of-things-is-like-the-internet-of-the-1990s

Toon thermostaat. (n.d.). Retrieved from Eneco: https://www.eneco.nl/toon-thermostaat/