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Security, simplicity and wearables will be key IoT trends for 2016

Asit Goel, a senior vice president at NXP shares his predictions for the trends that will drive further development of IoT in 2016.

Service providers will usher in IoT

In 2016 we will increasingly see service providers taking a leading position in rolling out the IoT. So far the IoT has only been available to consumers largely on an individual product basis and as a result uptake has been patchy. Once service providers get involved and consumers see the benefits from IoT-as-a-Service, we will really see IoT take off.

Telecoms companies for example are perfectly placed to begin offering IoT packages such as a smart or secure home providing hardware, software and support for a monthly cost. As service providers become more involved in IoT security will become more of a focus, as they will need to not only protect consumers but also their own reputations.

Simplicity will be a strong focus

The real value of IoT lies in its ability to make your life simpler and easier. This doesn’t work if the devices themselves are complicated to use. It’s essential that IoT devices seamlessly integrate into our lives. This is why we will increasingly see technologies like NFC used in the IoT. It’s a very simple technology that consumers already use and is perfect for pairing products together with a single tap.

For the same reasons voice activation will be a feature that technology companies will look to perfect and integrate into products so devices can be easily controlled by those with little technical know-how or ability.

IoT security will be visible to consumers

One requirement of the new world of IoT will be to ensure consumers have the information they need to make educated decisions about the products they purchase. Companies will have to be transparent about the level of security their products and solutions offer but do so in a way that’s easily understood. In the future IoT products will be sold much like bike locks are today, clearly marked with different levels of security. This way consumers can make clear decisions about how much security they need and how much they will be willing to pay for it.

NXP is currently working with governments around the world to define these levels and we should expect to see these gradually coming onto the market.

Wearables will unlock the IoT

Wearables will be the key to everything in the IoT. Wearables will be seen as the new human-machine interfaces. From smart watches to smart clothing wearables will become intrinsic to the IoT experience. It’s possible digital patches that can be applied to the skin could play a role in some situations. Likewise some people talk about ingestible or edible sensors being the next big thing but convincing people to swallow technology will be difficult and could result in urgent health treatment.