Society is at the beginning of a new era, driven by ever accelerating social and technological trends; a shift to high density urban living, artificial intelligence, smart infrastructure and the connected citizen.
At the core of this revolution are advances at the interface between data analytics and distributed digital infrastructure – the cyber-physical domain – that collects data and informs decisions.
The impact will be similar to the emergence of the internet in the 1990s and is driven by rapid uptake of a new generation of Internet of Things technology.
For the first time, very low-cost battery-powered devices are able to exchange information over long distances for many years.
The first wave of IoT applications is having a profound impact on smart cities in areas as diverse as street lights that respond to need and report faults, to improving energy efficiency and life conditions for the poorest in society by effectively targeting fuel poverty.
Smart infrastructure’s global potential
CENSIS is working at the forefront of this revolution, supporting Scottish companies to exploit these new technologies and create solutions of huge global market potential and societal benefit.
Cities are the engines of our economic future, but the IoT opportunity transcends these boundaries to encompass the whole country. This wide-ranging nature of the challenge demands we deliver seamless capability within, between and beyond our cities, to enable our cities to flourish and to be a true “IoT nation”.
Scotland is well positioned, with the Scottish Government making a strategic commitment in March this year to national IoT coverage and putting delivery of this at the heart of the 2017-18 Programme for Government.
We can look forward to a future where companies, cities and citizens, across Scotland, can all benefit from the dawn of this new era.
Mark Begbie is business development director at CENSIS, the innovation centre for sensor and imaging systems. @CENSIS121


Related posts
Interviews
Comment
Why innovation and marketing are the perfect partners to make changes that matter
With the rapid evolution of traditional marketing and the appearance of digital marketing, technology and innovation has become part of any marketer’s life without the need of working for a…
Transitioning to a four-day week – CEO’s vow to strike a healthier balance in the workplace
I came to Scotland nearly 20 years ago from Ireland, with no contacts but a lot of determination. While Ireland will always be my home, Scotland has given me amazing…
Women Lead: The female-led company championing intuitive working
Over the last two years, the pandemic forced a shift to more remote and flexible working practices. Whilst we might be seeing a “return to normal”, some companies are choosing…
Women Lead: My passion for young people to consider a career in digital
Twenty years ago, I stumbled across my career in digital marketing almost by accident. It was during my honours degree in marketing at Glasgow Caledonian University. I was on work…
Women Lead: Inclusive Silicon Valley cohort gives hope to entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds
Things are happening on the Scottish tech scene. Big and small initiatives are creating a fantastic ripple effect on the sector, bottom up and top down, thanks to the recommendations…
Women Lead: The story of an entrepreneurial scientist
I first arrived in Scotland over 20 years ago. I had £75 in my wallet and a scholarship offer to do a PhD at the University of Edinburgh. Sometimes I…
Please mind the gap… or healthcare may fall
Imagine sharing a lengthy train journey with others. From beginning to end, imagine how often you might hear ‘mind the gap’ messages about embarking and disembarking safely. Picture how navigating…
Women Lead: My journey from Dragons’ Den to Silicon Valley
Following her appearance on Dragons’ Den, Sheila Hogan, serial entrepreneur, founder and chief executive of digital legacy vault, Biscuit Tin, shares her experience of her time in the Den and…