In the 2002 sci-fi thriller Minority Report, Tom Cruise is greeted by automated displays with personalized messages as he enters retail stores. That was how screenplay writers believed the distant future would look like. Today, we actually live in that world. It’s no secret that there are already billions of things connected to the Internet. Service providers are always looking out for opportunities to plug in even more devices to the ‘Information Superhighway’. This firmly established trend is the foundation of the Internet of Things (IoT).
The IoT describes a world in which actual ‘things’ such as devices, data and locations are all interconnected with applications and users over the Internet. Anything that can be connected to the Internet will soon be. This will transform how people and systems control, interact with and experience the world around them, sparking new products, services and job opportunities. From mobile devices to tiny microprocessors in sensors, to networking and mobile infrastructure, to servers — exciting new products and markets beckon.
IoT capabilities can be added to just about any physical object in areas as diverse as clothing, medical devices, household appliances, home automation and industrial controls. This new world will need cost-effective sensing technology that can last for years, not hours. These sensors gather small amounts of data for long periods. These tiny amounts of data are the building blocks of what has become known as ‘big data’ — the huge amounts of data currently being generated that, on the one hand, enable powerful new big picture analysis of trends and behavior, but on the other, present pressing capacity challenges for networking and mobile infrastructure.
What is small data?
One’s digital trail is the genesis of Small Data. We generate these miniscule pieces of data because most of us use some form of mobile technology that is always connected. As a result, we all leave digital traces. Tweeting or posting on social networks, or searching for the best e-commerce site that sells books through search engines all emit digital traces. This data can then be aggregated and converted into market intelligence to enable service providers to tailor service offerings to their target customers.
Today there are scores of data players that specialize in collecting customer data for online retailers. They use that real-time data accessibility to build customer intelligence, thereby enabling clever discounting to attract them and enhance customer experience. Similarly in the IoT world, little bits of data will come from sensors and other embedded intelligence in connected devices in the workplace and in the home. This is the small data that will play a critical role in your regular, everyday world.
Small is big
Let’s examine how small data in embedded intelligence is being applied to the problem of finding a parking space in a busy city such as Bangalore. In future, there will come a time when connected devices will collect and distribute real-time data about parking spaces both on roads and in Multi-level Car Parking (MLCP) areas across the city. This will ensure considerable time and fuel savings for drivers since it will mean you do not have to circle the same area again and again looking for parking space. This kind of small data will be generated by energy-efficient parking bay sensors armed with long-lasting micro-controllers. We have already seen similar deployments in other countries and it will soon become a reality in India as well. The challenge ahead lies with connecting these data streams to provide viable, diverse services with the support of a strong ecosystem.
Guru Ganesan is Managing Director of ARM India.