Forrester Report on 2020 IoT Predicts Positive Changes, Threats

Forrester’s top five predictions for 2020, giving CIOs a heads up about what’s coming, include great advances in connected trucks and smart speaker displays, as well as threats like ransomware attacks and 5G problems, according to a story on TechRepublic.com. The Forrester IoT Report predictions aim to help CIOs and their organizations prepare for the evolution of the internet-connected devices that collect and share data. Examples of IoT include smartwatches that read text messages, smart thermostats controlled by phone apps and smartphones.

Here are the 2020 IoT predictions:

1.  IoT architects will integrate 5G into new designs, but not as a LoWPAN replacement.

” ‘Before 5G capabilities, many IoT devices transmitted data using low power wireless personal area networking (LoWPAN) technologies,’ said Frank Gillett, author of the report and principal analyst serving CIO professionals at Forrester.’ LoWPAN, also known as 6LoWPAN, is a wireless mesh network in which every node holds its own IPv6 address. The nodes connect directly with the Internet using open standards, allowing devices to communicate in a cost-effective manner over a low-power wireless network, as noted in an Android Developers Guide.’ “

The use of 5G is expected to augment the devices only.

2.  Consumers will embrace smart speaker displays, driving the rise of multimodal design.

Smart speakers like Echo and Alexa are beginning to offer displays for consumers to interact with, showing an evolution to equal use of voice, touch and display for interaction.

“The software will become smarter, leading developers to create software that enables smart displays to adapt to different situations, Gillett said. “The devices will be able to soak up the context and understand situations, for example, is someone distracted because there’s another person in the room or because they’re in a conversation? Do they have full attention? Are they even looking at [the device]? Should the video be paused because they looked away?”

3. Cybercriminals will target an IoT device for ransom⏤from the device manufacturer.

Security has always been a major concern as a weakness of IoT, making individuals and companies vulnerable to attacks if they don’t do enough to prevent hacking into the connection. The report warns that companies, especially, will need to ensure that they have taken proper precautions to prevent and address hacks that introduce ransomware.

“Companies also need to put in place remediation plans for what to do when someone begins to attack them or actually succeeds,” he said. “How do they minimize? How do they detect and prevent? How do they detect and recover? You have to nail everything down, and then have a disaster plan.”

4. Connected trucks will use IoT to accelerate logistics and supply chain transformation.

In the trucking sector, IoT will forge better insights into what trucks are carrying, preventing less deadheading, or trucks carrying around empty loads. It will also have technology that helps prevent drivers from falling asleep because it will alert them if they show signs of drowsiness or inattentiveness.

“There’ll be more communications and better visibility to who’s got capacity where and when,” he said. “That can mean getting stuff through faster, as well as cheaper. Better visibility can prevent damage or loss, as well as minimizing the impact.”

5.  A major vendors shift will occur from connected products to a connected services ecosystem.

Large companies with connected products will begin to offer an IoT data system that includes both consumer products and B2B organizations. Already Amazon and Apple offer connected devices and services, so they will soon introduce premium plans that bundle both components, Gillett said.

“For example, Amazon Prime Premium service could extend to include a set of Echo smart speakers, the report said. …On the B2B side, Gillett also mentioned Schneider Electric, which could potentially sell electric power management at a flat monthly fee that includes the power management equipment, conservation upgrades, and local utility electricity.”

Forrester released another broader report on industry trends called “Forrester Predictions 2020,” which includes technological issues such as IoT security.