Top 5 IoT predictions for 2020

21 Jan 2020

2020 Connectivity IoT Cybersecurity mobile health smart cities AI Digital Identity and Security Review

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In 2019, 26.66 billion IoT devices were active across the world.

The technology helped in the rise of voice assistants, the development of drones, new ways of managing energy consumption, and improving sustainability.

So what can we expect to see in 2020?

#1. The year of voice AI

Voice assistant technology is on the rise. In December, Amazon launched its Voice Interoperability Initiative, which allows multiple devices to work through a single speaker. It is forecast that there will be 8 billion voice assistants in use by 2023.

Analysts predict that the number of AI-powered speakers that help us complete tasks, such as playing music and turning lights on and off, will reach 500 million by 2023.

In 2020, smart speaker user interfaces will evolve with the adoption of intelligent, tablet-sized displays.

Forbes predicts Amazon, Baidu will lead this, and Google, who will add phones, cameras, or screens to these smart speakers, enable visual and vocal – responses and interactions. Users will be able to access even more technology, such as video calling, from a single device.

#2. IoT security is going to be a priority.

Ransomware has been one of the biggest cybersecurity threats.

Still, as IoT becomes a more significant part of our daily lives, hackers will also be probing IoT products in the home for vulnerabilities, blocking connections, and denying access until the money is paid, either by the user or the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

This challenge means that IoT deployment should be approached with the principles of 'security by design' – a straightforward approach that ensures security is a crucial objective at each stage of product creation and implementation.

By analyzing the potential threats, organizations can give the right levels of protection.

#3. Improvements in healthcare

We have already seen improvements in healthcare thanks to the IoT, both in hospitals and at home.

In Boston Medical Center, USA, wireless sensors in fridges ensure patients' blood samples and medication are kept at the correct temperature.

Some companies are even using IoT technology to identify and collect data on cancer, including images that read changes in body parameters at different stages of the disease, to determine the development of cancerous cells in the body.

Meanwhile, remote monitoring at home allows individuals to check their blood pressure or heart rate outside of a clinical environment using wearable devices. In contrast, mobile health applications enable health professionals and families to monitor the patient's health at home.

This improves the quality and consistency of the patient's data and the ability to access care when required.

With 60% of healthcare providers already adopting IoT solutions, in 2020, we are likely to see even more smart hospitals and surgeries use AI-powered tools and interactions between patients and care providers.

This move will help reduce costs, improve treatment, faster diagnosis, better drug management, and fewer errors. With this, it will be crucial that patients' health data is kept private and secure.

For EU citizens, the GDPR provides the framework to achieve this; elsewhere around the world, regulatory steps are being taken to improve individuals' data security.

#4. The IoT in the workplace

Smart devices in the home bring greater efficiency through smart lighting, smart doorbells and cameras, and smart thermostats. With approximately 175 million smart homes worldwide, the IoT is now moving into the workplace, too, allowing organizations to increase productivity and profitability by being better connected.

In the next 12 months, we can expect to see the introduction of virtual assistants in the workplace, the creation of digital workspaces that deliver the information we need anywhere and at any time, and even the use of augmented reality to change and improve the way we interact with colleagues.

#5. The year of the smart city

In 2019 we looked at some of the world's smartest cities, including New York and Antwerp, and in 2020 it's expected that cities will get even smarter. AI is expected to be the primary driver of this, with investment in AI training and the subsequent creation of 2.3 million jobs.

With the advent of 5G, greater connectivity could propel smart cities forward, and 2020 may well be the year where connected environments become capable of running themselves autonomously, improving efficiency and productivity.

More smart cities means more smart devices, and therefore a more significant security threat. As a result, we can expect to see a higher uptake of blockchain, securing individuals' data through a decentralized system.

Any development in IoT technology needs to come with the requisite security checks and balances: keeping data secure where it's stored and transferred is of the utmost importance. Through this, we can look forward to a more streamlined, efficient, and connected 2020.