Topic: Smart Objects
Team members: Steve, Shivani
Executive Summary
Smart Objects is a relatively new technology, this technology is highly developed and can provide us with the location and other information about the product it is attached to. For instance if the smart object technology is attached to a car then we know where the car is, how much fuel it has, we also know if there are going to be any problems with the car. Thus “a smart object “knows” about itself — where and how it was made, what it is for, who owns it and how they use it, what other objects in the world are like it — and about its environment."(Horizon) This technology allows us to know things about a certain object that it is attached to. Thus this technology is similar to the RFID chips, however it able to tell us more about the object they are attached to than RFID chips can. As this technology can be attached to virtually anything, business can use it in many different ways.
Smart Objects can be used in many different ways in business. Nokia is the top provider of mobile phones Worldwide. However the phone market is being very competitive due to innovation and the creation of new technologies such as Internet phones, phones that can be used as music devices etc. Thus Nokia could stay on top of the cell phone market by adding smart objects technology to their, as they have already developed the other applications in their phones like cameras and music devices. Smart Objects would allow us to know if there are going to be any problems with the phone like the keys falling of, water damage etc. With Smart Objects we would also be able to track the exact location of the phone in case it is lost or stolen.
Smart objects are being currently being used by libraries in order to keep track of books. So they know about the condition a book is in and also so they can know the location of library books. Also “Pirelli Tire Systems is Cyber™ Tire as a result of this system, which provides the tire with actual 'memory,' the onboard computer of a car communicates information relative to the operational condition of the cover to the user in real time.” (Pirelli)
Technology description
Smart Objects are similar to RFID’s, but is more advanced. Smart Objects have the ability to communicate with other objects about its own status, and other objects can relay this information to the user. Let’s say you install a smart object in your coffee machine. While you get your coffee in the morning, you can also check the weather outside (Horizon). The capabilities of smart objects are endless. You might even have the capability of installing a smart object in your alarm clock, that when your alarm clock goes off your coffee machine turns on.
Currently smart objects can be found embedded in library books. Smart objects currently are used primarily for “location” purposes by helping find lost and missing items. The future of smart objects is blending the physical world with the internet world. The goal is to make looking for lost objects as easy as accessing information on the internet. This idea has been nicknamed the phrase “The Internet of Things” (CNN Digital Biz). The programming capabilities will extend as far as the imagination, and the end goal is that everything from chairs to toys be interconnected.
There is a good chance smart object technology will be embraced. RFID is commonly used today with transportation passes. Smart Objects will replace RFID’s, and this can help make life easier for everyone (CNN Digital Biz). Imagine your Metro Smart Trip fair having a smart card. Not only can you transfer money in and out of your Metro account, you can also locate your Metro card if you were to ever lose it.
Business Impact
Nokia is a top provider of mobile phones standing as one of the most trusted names that people generally opt for to meet their technical needs worldwide. With the whole company aiming at “connecting people through high-quality service.” (Nokia) Nokia sets its goal to be a leader in the market by providing sound business practices and high-quality products, as well as implementing a very human approach to technology.
However, with vast innovations in technology, companies like Apple and Blackberry might eventually usurp Nokia’s position in the world market as the leader in telecommunication. Thus in order to stay on top in today’s competitive cell phone market Nokia needs to fix a problem that most people come across with their phones. Thus we feel that taking Nokia phones and adding smart objects technology to them would be very useful in boosting Nokia’s position in the mobile phone industry. If a phone is not just a smart phone but also a smart object, the user of this phone will know if their phone is going to have any problems and get them fixed before the problem gets worse, thus a person will not have to go without their cell phone even for a day. Also a lot of people loose their phones these days. Loosing one’s phone can be a major life disruption. As “40 percent of mobile phone users would rather lose their wallet than their mobile device. Nearly all said they would be "devastated" if they lost their phone.” (IT world) This is because “mobile phone is becoming increasingly central to consumer lifestyles.” Approximately “ 65 percent of survey respondents store not just phone numbers but address and other contact information on their mobile handsets. 83 percent have digital photos, 51 percent have videos, 48 percent have calendar information and 40 percent have music downloads (IT world)
Thus by making new models of Nokia phones smart objects would give us a competitive edge. By doing this we would be able increase our profits by either providing lost phone or stolen phone insurance or we could market our phones as smart objects. This will be useful as people would be able to track their phone upon losing their phone or having it stolen. Since people have started “using the phone as a method for creating and storing data and information.” Thus now “people must now worry about this material if the phone is lost or stolen - 82 percent of people fear that if their phones were lost or stolen, someone would use the information stored on them for fraudulent means. 90 percent of those questioned are worried about the loss of their personal data if a mobile device were to go missing, with 72 percent admitting that the personal information stored on their devices would be difficult to replace.” (IT world) Thus marketing Nokia phones, as smart objects would people more confident that will be able to keep their phone and the information on it secure.
Web URL: http://show.zoho.com/public/fansmoke/Smart%20Objects
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