Cambridge Wireless has been awarded an initial £50k funding for a multi-company research project under the government-backed Technology Strategy Board’s Internet of Things (IoT) Convergence initiative. Designed to move towards an IoT application and services marketplace, the work will explore how data collected from environments, buildings, vehicles, clothing, portable devices and other objects can be shared over the internet to transform how people manage their lives and travel sustainably, and how services and entertainment can adapt dynamically as surroundings change.
The partners in the Cambridge Wireless led project are The University of Bath Department of Computer Science, Docobo, Secure Controls, SciSys, Personal Information Broker-Development and Bathcube. By bringing together specialists from the telemedicine, transport and environmental monitoring, energy and emerging information brokerage sectors, the Cambridge Wireless project, entitled ‘Cross domain IoT interchange Broker’, will examine how data can be shared securely to minimise the effects of a ‘severe weather episode’ on individuals, utilities, transport and the wider UK economy. This real-world example will harness information from disparate sources and of differing sensitivity, ranging from publicly available weather data through to confidential medical records.
“The Internet of Things is seen by most analysts as a major driver of new service and business revenues but is being held back by lack of data sharing,” said Graham Fisher, the Cambridge Wireless board member managing the project. “For example, data from smart meters or road traffic surveillance cameras are used for one isolated application and not available for general use. The future is a ‘converged IoT’ world where real value can be obtained by sharing data and creating a sustainable marketplace for innovative applications and services.”
Managed by the Technology Strategy Board (www.innovateuk.org), this is the first Government-funded initiative aimed at encouraging and accelerating an Internet of Things ecosystem. Following the initial studies, the Technology Strategy Board will invest up to £4 million later in 2012 in a further funding competition, leading to the development of a convergence demonstrator.
