Brian Thuer of West Chester, PA is a business professional who immerses himself in all aspects of technology. In the following article, Brian Thuer discusses the ‘Internet of Things’ expansion among various markets, specifically medical and security, and how IoT will connect us to a ‘smarter’ future.
The interconnectedness of devices, otherwise known as the Internet of Things (IoT), is rapidly evolving, and changing the world as we know it. With machines and objects communicating with one another on a global scale, this technological paradigm has shifted traditional thinking surrounding areas such as smart homes, agriculture, transportation, and more, explains Brian Thuer.
This year, estimations showed that 30.9 billion intelligent devices would connect to the internet by 2025. As we progress through the new decade, it will be interesting to see how these advancements shape our lives and change how we interact daily with technology. Below, Brian Thuer covers the important highlights in this rapidly developing area.
Brian Thuer: IoT Continues to Expand in the Medical Field
IoT is a term that describes the trend of interconnected devices and technologies. The healthcare sector has been at the forefront of IoT advances, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT)is a growing field that shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, according to a recent study, the IoMT market is expected to be worth $188 billion by 2025.
Brian Thuer says that one of the main driving factors behind the expansion of IoMT is the increasing demand for remote patient monitoring (RPM). RPM allows the remote supervision of patients — especially useful in light of the pandemic — and has expanded the possibilities in the field of telemedicine, which helps doctors diagnose and treat patients without needing in-person interaction.
With RPM, patients can receive care without having to leave their homes and expose themselves and others to potential infection. In addition, Brian Thuer says that the expansion of IoMT has led to an increasing number of wearable devices available on the market. These devices, such as fitness trackers and smartwatches, are becoming increasingly more popular as people look for ways to monitor their health and fitness levels.
Many of these devices now come equipped with sensors that can collect data on everything from heart rate to blood sugar levels. The data is shareable with healthcare providers, who can use it to improve patient care. For example, new IoMT wearable medical gadgets can monitor patients’ vital signs and provide them with medication, such as giving insulin to diabetic patients or monitoring blood pressure, heart rate and performing EKGs at random, explains Brian Thuer.
Artificial intelligence (AI) advances contribute to the expansion. AI in healthcare is increasing, from diagnosis and treatment to insurance claims processing. By using AI, healthcare providers can gain otherwise unavailable insights and reduce costs by automating tasks that would otherwise get done manually.
IoT & Security Priorities
As IoT continues to grow in popularity, so do concerns about its security. As a result, IoT security has become a significant focus for businesses and consumers. Unfortunately, Brian Thuer states that one of the biggest concerns with IoT is that many devices have inadequate protection.
The lack of safeguards leaves devices open to attack by hackers who could gain access to sensitive data or even take control of the device itself. This data can include their location, movements, health, and mental state. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it allows hackers to exploit or harass the individual.
There have been several high-profile IoT security breaches in the past decade, including the attack that took down major websites such as Netflix and Twitter in 2016. It highlighted the need for better security for IoT devices, says Brian Thuer.
Throughout the past decade, hackers have exploited baby monitors, leading to a common IoMT safety issue. This type of invasion allows the hacker to watch and speak through the device, usually resulting in the manufacturer’s recall of the monitors.
And in 2020, hackers gained access to Ring cameras. Vulnerability exploitation enabled hackers to spy on the homeowners and even speak directly to them through the camera’s speakers. This sometimes extended to tormenting or even threatening the homeowners, explains Brian Thuer.
Since then, the evolving nature of safeguards, training, and security enhancements have helped improve the security behind IoT. There are now several standards and guidelines to help instill best practices with more secure safeguard measures for IoT devices.
But manufacturers must continue to focus on security and privacy issues as consumers adopt more IoT devices. Otherwise, new technologies and devices could pose a severe threat to the safety and well-being of their users.
IoT and Proper Security Will Connect Us to a Smarter Future
As the Internet of Things continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see even more amazing devices and applications that make our lives easier and more connected. However, with this expansion comes the need for even greater security measures to protect our data and privacy. As new technology features and capabilities are introduced in the latest and greatest technology, there become residual requirements on the security teams to keep up. Otherwise, the motivated hacker will likely discover new vulnerabilities to exploit.
Nevertheless, with the proper security in place, Brian Thuer says that IoT can make our lives easier and more connected than ever before.
