Cambridge superchip designer ARM has launched a new UK powergroup to create a technology blueprint for how the 50 million connected devices expected worldwide by 2020 can work together.ARM has formed the first UK industry group designed to combat what it calls the ‘Internet of Silos’ – an unconnected world with less value to both consumers and businesses.
The supergroup includes Neul and AlertMe, along with EnLight, a streetlight efficiency firm, and AquaMW, the intelligent cloud sensing company.
ARM’s innovation initiative coincided with CEO Warren East speaking on the importance of mobile technologies and the UK’s role in developing this market at the British Government’s Business Olympics event in London. The event is timed to showcase the UK contribution to international business during the Olympics, when the world spotlight is on the UK.
In 2020 everything that can benefit from an internet connection will have one. In a similar way to people increasingly being online, every object will have a connection.This has huge potential to help use energy and natural resources more efficiently, manage our cities, monitor health more effectively and to improve lives.
The Internet of Things represents a big opportunity to drive growth for both UK and worldwide economies. According to IMS Research, governments will play a key role in defining the regulations that will propel shipments for M2M communications modules to more than 118 million units by 2016, especially in the automotive sector.
The new forum’s founding members are all involved in advanced technology and solutions associated with the Internet of Things, including commercial infrastructure monitoring, energy-saving street lighting, home automation, energy monitoring and low power radio technology for sensors.
Their aim is to work together to develop public policies and standards designed to create the right framework to help governments and others ensure that the Internet of Things works properly, across the globe, and enjoys the confidence of consumers and businesses.
The first forum will meet on August 24 in the UK and will be chaired by Gary Atkinson, who leads the Internet of Things initiative at ARM.
“In the next five years, over £2.4 billion will be spent in the UK on smart home energy management devices, ranging from smart meters themselves to in-home devices that are connected to them. This is a great example of an Internet of Things application, but is only a fraction of the market that will open up over the next 15-20 years,” said Atkinson.
“There are massive opportunities for the UK and the industry as a whole in this market, but that requires a common approach to infrastructure and systems to enable the Internet of Things.
“The UK can lead this thinking and that’s why we are establishing a forum to create a blueprint for success. Working with innovative ARM partners, such as EnLight, Neul, AlertMe and AquaMW, is a good place to start.”
