FEATURE TECHNOLOGY rolled out around nine months ago, but I think the staff would be devastated if we took him away now.” With this sort of technology being tied into the Internet of Things the possibilities are endless. Or if not entirely endless then certainly fun to speculate about. Other possible examples and benefits include lowering maintenance costs. Yes the IoT would actually allow machines to report when they are in need of maintenance, monitoring footfall in massive buildings to determine which areas need immediate attention and which can wait and, perhaps most importantly, offering managers information encompassing the entire business. It allows them to track thousands of data points encompassing every aspect of cleaning and hygiene, combining information from every object imaginable (soap dispensers, floor scrubber, soap dispensers etc). This would let companies make much better business decisions going forward. TOWNS AND CITIES Of course many of these notions can be taken from the workplace and applied to entire towns, even cities. Many urban areas across the world have already hooked up their litter bins to the Internet of Things and said bins broadcast signals when they are getting full so that cleaning crews know when they need to be emptied. Similar strategies are in place for things such as soap dispensers in public bathrooms. Over the long term all the data collected from the IoT could help cities identify key trends and let them better manage their schedules, maintenance and cleaning programmes. It would let them understand the occupants of their towns and help keep them clean and healthy. Of course there are some examples of the technology not necessarily benefiting The IoT could help cities identify key trends and let them better manage their schedules ” OTHER WAYS THE INTERNET OF THINGS WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE There are already concerns that the IoT will make it easier for people to hack your personal information. In fact people lost their WiFi passwords recently because they were given away by their lightbulbs (seriously). The masterminds behind the technology say these issues will be sorted with technology that is designed for IoT rather than adapted later. American giants General Electric estimate that the Internet of Things will add up to $15 trillion to the global economy by 2035. 3G and 4G whilst revolutionising many people’s lives are also liable to “break”. With the IoT taking over responsibility for things like self driving cars this can’t be allowed to happen. 5G is being called the most advanced network ever, unbreakable and capable of a maximum speed of 800Gb/s. The number of objects connected to the Internet of things exceeded the number of humans on Planet Earth as far back as 2008. Google and Apple have already embraced the IoT. Google have spent billions of dollars on “Nest” which produces thermostats, fire alarms and smoke detectors connected to IoT and Apple have HomeKit SD compatible with its mobile devices. everyone. Apparently there are washing machines and tumble driers in laundrettes and apartment blocks that monitor when peak occupancy is, and raise costs accordingly. There will be over a quarter of a billion self driving cars by 2020. With the proportion of people living in cities set to hit two thirds by 2050, could the IoT see the end of traffic jams? Apparently even your clothes will one day be connected to the Internet of Things. This could range from heart rate monitors being built into sports bras to skin tight gym clothes that change colour around the muscles you are currently using. Of course none of this would be possible if the technology wasn’t affordable. IoT is arguably the cheapest technology boom to get on board with for a century. Online you can buy Bluetooth dongles for less than 50p, all because of the Internet of Things. Some people consider cash machines the first objects connected to IoT, they went online over 40 years ago. Elon Musk’s Tesla S electric car can go from naught to 60 in under four seconds and travel over 250 miles on one charge. Impressive enough, but thanks to IoT it can also parallel park itself, stick to the speed limit and control itself in traffic jams. There are also applications for IoT when it comes to caring for the ill and the elderly. In Canada sensors are being trialled which will inform people which medications to take and when. The box the meds come in can also inform healthcare professionals if the required dose has been taken. 22 JULY / AUGUST 2016 CLEANING HYGIENE TODAY
CHT July / August 2016
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