Optimizing the Internet of Things with an Enabling Strategic Vision

Yesterday, Samsung Electronics’ Vice Chairman and CEO, Dr. Oh-Hyun Kwon, delivered the keynote address at Samsung’s “The Internet of Things: Transforming the Future” event in Washington, D.C., formally calling for the formation of a National Internet of Things (IoT) Strategy Dialogue. ITI President and CEO Dean Garfield joined Dr. Kwon, and Intel Corporation’s Senior Vice President and General Manager Doug Davis, on stage to announce that ITI will convene an IoT strategy initiative.

ITI has advocated for the creation of a national IoT strategy in order to accelerate the adoption of internet-enabled devices, and now, this initiative seeks to do exactly that – create national IoT strategy recommendations for policymakers.

This undertaking, involving multiple companies and associations, is an initiative that intends to provide a positive dialogue around the enabling benefits of IoT, with the goal of presenting a national IoT strategy to the next Congress and Administration early in 2017. The partnership between tech companies and like-minded partners for this initiative will allow the tech sector’s IoT strategy initiative to leverage a higher-level consensus view on the best approach to developing a meaningful and realistic strategy, optimizing the development of IoT.

Why are we putting together this advisory effort?

Our world is being transformed into a network of internet-enabled devices – vastly increasing the efficiency and productivity of our daily lives. We are already seeing those benefits as ambulances use real-time traffic updates to find the fastest route to hospitals, smart thermostats and appliances reduce home energy costs, and Industry 4.0 continues to reduce production costs and improve efficiency for businesses. As we heard from Dr. Kwon, the compounding effects as IoT technologies come online promises staggering positive improvements for our world.

For example, by connecting on an individual level our home appliances and thermostats, and scaling that across multiple communities, the IoT can cut nine gigatons of carbon emissions by 2020 (a 19% reduction in our emissions). New medical technologies and resources will be available for families to better care for aging loved ones. Whole new segments of the population will have new found freedom and mobility through connected cars. And when it comes to the economy, the IoT promises to be a supercharger, with an estimated $11T annual global impact by 2025.

To ensure the IoT is able to continue to deliver positive economic and societal benefits and achieve its greatest potential, ITI advocates for the advancement of the following principles:

  • Investing in internet infrastructure,
  • Enabling interoperability for global adoption and integration,
  • Promoting voluntary, open participation, industry-led, consensus-based global standards and best practices,
  • Integrating privacy and security from the outset, and
  • Leveraging public-private partnerships.

The IoT strategy recommendations will aim to further advance these principles and help to ensure the economic and societal benefits of IoT are realized in both the near- and long-term.

Why is it important to create a National IoT Strategy?

IoT is evolving much like the Internet evolved last decade – in fact, in many ways it is the natural extension of that technological evolution.

In creating a national IoT strategy, we will aim to strike the right balance between existing policy tools and new standards in order to avoid creating laws or regulations that may inadvertently or unnecessarily impede the IoT’s growth and advancement. We also anticipate exploring issues that have not yet been explored in technology or internet policy.

Namely, our goal is to release policy recommendations for a national strategy that will help the IoT grow – not limit it. With a recommended national IoT strategy, the next Congress and administration can chart a course that ensures consumers and businesses can reap the full benefits of current, emerging, and yet to be dreamt of IoT technologies, because the IoT future is filled with limitless and awesome possibilities.

Public Policy Tags: Internet of Things

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