Series 12 – Episode 5 – IoT: a wireless world

The IoT is fuelling innovation in nearly every part of our lives and there are estimates for 100 billion IoT connected devices by 2025.

“I think we’re seeing it definitely getting to that one 100 billion mark,” Mickolio said. “It’s very approachable.

“IoT is so pervasive. Just about everything we touch today is IoT.”

Any industry that Mickolio sees benefiting the most from IoT is smart agriculture. “I live in a rural area; I’m surrounded by farms and we’re seeing that technology really boosting the efficiency and competitiveness of some of these smaller farms that would typically have a lot of trouble with the cyclical nature of farming.”

One of the biggest barriers to IoT adoption has long been cyber security. “Security has always been critical,” Mickolio notes. “I think the barriers of adaption are really kind of education around security, and then the devices themselves – it was a kind of disconnected chain of security.”

It’s now much less of a barrier because it’s an integrated piece now so many more customers are aware of it.

IoT connects physical devices, allowing them to interact, collect and exchange data. There are many ways these devices can communicate wirelessly. Choosing the right wireless standard is also important.

Mickolio goes on to talk about choosing the best fit standard for IoT devices, the potential of 5G, and how he sees IoT evolving over the next 5-10 years.

To hear more about the IoT, and much more, you can listen to Electronic Specifier’s interview with Josh Mickolio on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.