Volume XLXI, Issue 6

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In This Issue

Obama Calls for New Cooperation on Cybersecurity

Excerpted from NY Times Report by Nicole Perloth and David Sangar

Declaring that the Internet has become the “Wild Wild West” with consumers and industries as top targets,President Barack Obama on Friday called for a new era of cooperation between the government and the private sector to defeat a range of fast-evolving online threats.

President Obama signed an executive order urging companies to join information-sharing hubs to exchange data on online threats — and, in some cases, to receive classified information from the government.

But the order stopped short of exempting the companies from liability if the data they collected and shared led to legal action.

Only legislation, which Mr. Obama has tried and failed to get through Congress for three years, can exempt the companies from such liability. Many companies outside the financial industry have been reluctant to share data without such a law in place.

Mr. Obama chose Stanford University as the site of the first summit meeting on online security and consumer protection, saying that it was where much of the Internet was born and is also where the innovations to secure it must be developed. Read more…

Internet of Things: Ready for Lift-Off

Excerpted from Huffington Post Report by Jonathan Spalter

With 25 billion “things” already connected, the fast-emerging Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem is a new hub for mobile innovation and economic growth.

While we’re still in the early stages, the IoT is getting a lot of attention — in the tech community, from the media, and, this week, on Capitol Hill with the Senate Commerce Committee holding a hearing on the topic.

What exactly are all of these gadgets connecting to the web? Everything from the locks on our doors to the medical devices in our bodies, the sensors on our smart grids to the watches on our wrists.

In fact, Cisco predicts that the number of wearable devices alone will grow five-fold over the next five years in the US, exceeding 170 million by 2019. Over that same 2019 timeframe, these connected accessories will power a 19-fold increase in associated wireless traffic.

A ubiquitous world in which everyone and, yes, everything is connected is no longer a science-fiction fantasy. Many of these advances are on final approach in our day-to-day lives. As consumers and as Americans, this is stupendously positive news. But it requires our leaders in Washington and our state houses also to rise to the occasion. Read more…

Senate Holds Internet of Things Hearing

Excerpted from National Law Review Report

The US Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a hearing on February 11th, entitledThe Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things. The panelists included Justin Brookman, Director of the Consumer Privacy Project at the Center for Democracy and Technology (CTD); Adam Thierer, a Senior Research Fellow at George Mason University’s Mercatus Center; Lance Donny, CEO of OnFarm; Douglas Davis, Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Internet of Things Group, and Michael Abbott, General Partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

While the hearing covered a variety of Internet of Things (IoT) related topics, an overarching theme the Senators contemplated was how to strike the appropriate balance between encouraging IoT innovation and protecting privacy and data security.

The opening statements of Chairman John Thune (R-SD) and Ranking Member Bill Nelson (D-FL) laid out the basic concerns underlying each side of this consideration. Chairman Thune suggested the Committee “tread carefully and thoughtfully before stepping in with a ‘government knows best’ mentality that could halt innovation and growth” while Ranking Member Nelson called talk of overregulating a red herring and stressed that the “promise of the Internet of Things must be balanced with real concerns of privacy and the security of our networks.” Read more…

Report from CEO Marty Lafferty

We’re pleased this week to present the third installment of the DCIA’s Internet of Things (IoT) Marathon webcast recorded during the 2015 International CES.

If you missed the first two flights of video segments in our industry update on the IoT, here are links to play the first, covering Smart Objects for Fitness & Healthcare, to play the second, covering Programmable Homes & Energy Management, or to play the Welcome that we’ve also added.

Today, you’re cordially invited to view the third major section of our webcast, entitled Media Entertainment & Social Networking Solutions. Just click here to play the entire episode or click on the links that follow to screen individual segments:

LV Sands Global CIIO Les Ottolenghi delineates the principal terminology for this major section of the webcast inDefining Media Entertainment & Social Networking Solutions.

IBM Global Consumer Electronics Director Scott Burnett, IoT Industrial Sector Lead North America Ted Connell, and IoT Foundation Product Manager Neil Postlethwaite provide an overview of How IBM Enables Media Entertainment & Social Networking.

ABI Research Practice Director, TV & Video, Sam Rosen provides a number of insights on the evolution of content distribution in the IoT era inABI Research – Cloud Content for the Internet of Things.

Infor General Manager of Media and Entertainment, Digital Vertical, Kurt Smith discusses customized cloud infrastructures in Infor – Cloud-Based MicroVertical Solutions.

Hoorah Mobile Founder & CEO Mike Russell describes his company’s newly created mobile media opportunity in Hoorah Mobile – Mobile Experiential Media.

Caeden President & CEO Nora Levinson synthesizes hardware, software, and style in Caeden – Sophisticated Wearable Technology.

MUV Interactive Board Director Daniel Star discusses the debut of Bird in educational markets in MUV Interactive – Fingertip Media Projection.

Altman Vilandrie Director Stefan Bewley explores the impact of the IoT movement on the media and entertainment sector in Altman Vilandrie – Personalized Synchronization.

Encoding.com President Jeff Malkin outlines the complexities of digital video distribution and shows how cloud solutions can help overcome these challenges in Encoding.com – Leveraging the Cloud for Universal Delivery.

Genos Corporation’s Co-Founder & CTO Mike West demonstrates Cyclops and discusses the GenosTV IPTV OTT video service in GenosTV – The Internet of Television.

Gracenote Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer Ty Roberts hosts a tour of the Gracenote Lounge at CES in Gracenote – Media Metadata Empowering the IoT.

Horn CEO Lawrence Levine discusses a new social networking entry that channels real-time verbal communications among users in Horn – The Vocalization of Social Networking.

Prynt Co-Founder & CTO David Zhang and Industrial Designer Robin Barata demonstrate a novel instant photo solution in Prynt – Making the Case for Smart Photos.

Virtual Rendezvous Founder and Chief Scientist Charles L. Perkins articulates his vision for a virtualized social media service in Virtual Rendezvous – Building Trust in Digital Worlds.

HumanEyes Technology CEO Shahar Bin-Nun discusses a new direction for the 3D camera pioneer in HumanEyes – 3D 360 User Generated Virtual Reality.

Strategy Analytics’ Director of Digital Media Strategy Michael Goodman discusses changes in television viewing among digital consumers inStrategy Analytics – The Democratization of Television.

And finally, Communications Professor and Author Frank Aycock takes us on a virtual tour of TV a decade from now in App State – Television Viewing in 2025.

Next week, we’ll bring you a brand new flight of video segments in the next major section of our webcast entitled “Geolocation Services & Vehicular Automation.”

For each of the two weeks thereafter, we’ll launch a new episode of thematically-linked video segments to complete our industry update on this vital and important technology movement. Share wisely, and take care.

Cisco CEO: IoT Is 2nd Generation of the Internet

Excerpted from ZDNet Report by Rachel King

From switching to the Cloud to the Internet of Things (IoT), Cisco is determined to be the “number one information technology (IT) company,” according to the company’s CEO John Chambers.

Closing out the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference on Thursday, Chambers suggested if you start with the potential of a $19 trillion profit contribution and the belief every company will be digitized, these things will tie together through fast innovation as well as security.

“It is the most fundamental change. You’d almost call it the second generation of the Internet,” posited Chambers.

Honing in on the Cloud, Chambers insisted Cisco will be involved in virtually every development in this arena — be whether new tech turns out to be complementary or competitive to Cisco’s offerings.

“We’re back in vogue,” Chambers quipped. “It’s like the 1990s all over again.”

Chambers pointed out that the IoT was much more than “just a fringe topic” at the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) this year — it was front and center. Cisco’s own exposure at CES was a bit muted this year, albeit the IoT is a major focus point for the networking giant now. Chambers appeared in Las Vegas alongside Charter CEO Thomas Rutledge. Read more…

Senate’s Internet of Things Security Debate

Excerpted from San Jose Mercury News Report by Larry Magid

I was not surprised to learn that the Senate is looking into the Internet of Things (IoT). Senators are concerned about safety, privacy, and security issues now that the tech industry is focusing on ways to connect devices to the Internet and to each other.

There are just over seven billion people on the planet, and so far about three billion are connected to the Internet. But that’s nothing compared to the number of devices in the world. Eventually, the IoT could connect trillions of them. Some will be industrial devices, but many will be in our homes, in our cars, and even on our bodies.

So, IoT security isn’t just about keeping machines safe and secure, it’s also about protecting the privacy, security, and even health and safety of the people who use them.

I wear a smartwatch that tracks my sleep, my footsteps, my heart rate and my estimated calorie consumption. The watch is connected by Bluetooth to my phone and my phone is connected to the Internet, which means all of that very personal data about me is being stored in the cloud.

While I’m willing to admit publicly that I only got six hours sleep last night, read more…

Intel’s IoT Strategy Comes-Out Swinging in 2015

Excerpted from the Motley Fool Report by Chris Neiger

Intel filled out its Internet of Things (IoT) portfolio a bit more this week with its purchase of German chipmaker and home networking company, Lantiq.

Lantiq makes semiconductors and software for carriers and companies to connect homes to the Internet — via DSL or cable — using networking gateways. The aim for Intel here is to use its current home networking products in tandem with Lantiq’s technology (and 2,000 patents) to advance its home IoT ambition.

Intel believes that over the next three years there will be 800 million broadband-connected homes worldwide. And it wants to be part of not only connecting them to the Internet, but bringing new IoT services, like home cloud networks, as well.

“The combination of our cable gateway business with Lantiq’s technology and talent can allow global service providers to introduce new home computing experiences and enable consumers to take advantage of a more smart and connected home,” Kirk Skaugen, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Intel’s Client Computing Group said.

And that’s a smart move, considering that the connected home is one of the fastest growing Internet of Things spaces. Read more…

The FTC’s IoT Report: What Companies Need To Know

Excerpted from Information Law Group Report by Justine Gottshall

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) released its Report on the Internet of Things on January 27th. While the Report is specific to IoT, including devices such as wearable fitness trackers and Internet-connected cameras and televisions, there are key takeaways for all companies operating online.

The FTC defines IoT as “‘things’ such as devices or sensors — other than computers, smartphones, or tablets — that connect, communicate or transmit information with or between each other through the Internet.”

As a starting point, the FTC appears most concerned with security and privacy risks to consumers. The Report identifies several key risks, which it recognizes exist with traditional computers as well:

Unauthorized access and misuse of personal information and sensitive personal information, including precise geolocation, financial account numbers or health information (and the concern that this information could be used for credit, insurance, and employment decisions); attacks on other systems; and safety risks, including where someone is able to break in and control a device such as an automobile or a pacemaker.

The FTC also raises concerns about the collection of certain information. Read more…

TV White Space Will Connect the Internet of Things

Excerpted from Wired Report by James Temperton

White spaces in the radio spectrum can now be used for anything from wireless flood defenses to citywide WiFi in the UK. Services using the technology could appear before the end of the year with surplus spectrum filling in gaps where WiFi and Bluetooth fail.

The spare spectrum comes from bands currently shared by digital TV and wireless microphones. Industry regulator Ofcom, which will oversee the use of the spectrum, said that companies could now also use the spectrum for certain low-powered networks.

Broadly the technology will allow Internet of Things (IoT) devices to communicate with one another and the Internet. White space spectrum could also improve broadband coverage in rural areas and boost WiFi signals in crowded cities.

Through a process known as dynamic spectrum allocation, certain amounts of white space will be made available for commercial use. Spectrum will be handed out according to rules set by a database that carries out complex calculations to tell devices which frequencies they can use in certain areas and for how long.

Uses for the technology currently being trialed include live video streaming of meerkats at London Zoo. Read more…

Which Brands Will Profit from the Internet of Things?

Excerpted from The Drum Report by Martin Mudge

Several recent developments have indicated that 2015 will be the year that the Internet of Things (IoT) ceases to be part of an imagined future, and instead becomes a reality.

For example, Apple has announced that the long-awaited, highly anticipated Apple Watch will be brought to market in April, and is encouraging developers to start working on apps for the platform. Australian airline Quantas, meanwhile, is trialing Samsung’s virtual reality headset, Gear VR, on its flights, while Samsung itself has predicted that wearables will become the new status symbols of high-value consumers this year.

For brands, the widespread adoption of wearables, headsets, in-car systems like Android Auto and Apply CarPlay, and online TVs presents an unprecedented opportunity to engage with consumers.

If the sharp increase in the use of Smartphones and tablets has led John Lewis MD Andy Street, among others, to refer to consumers as being “always on,” this phrase will prove even more accurate when shoppers are continually interacting with online objects.

Whichever brands are able to rapidly make their mark on new wearable and other platforms, then, are likely to increase sales. Read more…

Venture Capitalists’ Growing Interest in the IoT

Excerpted from CloudTweaks Report by Daniel Price

Investors, even venture capitalists, can be a cautious bunch. While they may have a reputation for throwing money at a sector or industry just to see what sticks, the reality of their approach couldn’t be further from the truth.

As we reported back in August last year, venture capitalists have been using Big Data for a long time to spot their next investment, but now the time to actually invest in the technology they are using appears to be edging closer.

As markets for wearables, smart TVs, connected cars, and the smart home begin to mature, the venture capitalists are sensing the time for them to take the plunge is ripening.

“The connected car and home are as big an opportunity as the connected phone,” said Venky Ganesan, a Managing Director at Menlo Ventures.”

“When the iPhone came out in 2007 we had a difficult time seeing all the things that would emerge out of that platform. Similarly, it will be tough to envision and predict all the innovations that are going to emerge out of this platform, but I am sure they will and it will be equally transformative.”

Ganesan’s observations are reinforced by the reality on the ground. Read more…

BitTorrent Expands into Originals

Excerpted from Multichannel News Report by Jeff Baumgartner

BitTorrent is getting into original video game, with its first project — Children of the Machine — expected to debut late this year.

Charging ahead with an OTT content strategy that’s now well in place at companies and services such as Netflixand Amazon, BitTorrent announced this week that it will identify, produce and distribute original video projects in partnership with Rapid Eye Studios.

BitTorrent, which is moving its content team to Los Angeles, CA to back the effort (the company itself will remain headquartered in San Francisco, CA), says its first original project, “Children of the Machine,” is now slated to start shooting this spring, with an expected debut in late 2015 via its BitTorrent Bundle platform.

Marco Weber (“Igby goes Down,” “Unthinkable,” “The 13th Floor”) and Jeff Stockwell (“Bridge to Terabithea,” “The Dangerous Live of Altar Boys”) have been tapped to as executive producers of the sci-fi series, which feature a first season of eight, 60-minute episodes.

Viewers will have the option to watch an ad-supported version of the series for free, or pay $9.95 for a “premium version.” Read more…

The Big Data Era Is Here

Excerpted from Wall St. Journal Report by Irving Wladawsky-Berger

Big Data and related information-based disciplines such as data science and artificial intelligence are everywhere. Why are we so excited about them? Is it mostly hype, or is there something truly profound going on?

Last month I made a presentation on the topic in Washington, DC at the 94th Annual Meeting of theTransportation Research Board of the National Academies. The conference attracted around 12,000 transportation researchers and practitioners from around the world.

During the meeting, the TRB Executive Committee held a policy session on the impact of Big Data on transportation systems. I was one of three panelists invited to the session. Each of us made a short presentation which was then followed by an extensive discussion between the panel and the Committee.

In my presentation, I tried to briefly address the question based on three key observations.

Big Data is part of both the digital revolution of the past few decades and the scientific revolution of the past few centuries. Big Data is now central to so many areas for the simple reason that there is so much more digital information than ever before. This could not have possibly happened without the digital revolution. Read more…

Important Trends in Analytics & Big Data in 2015

Excerpted from KDnuggets Report by Imelda Llanos de Luna

In my world and from my perspective, one of the most important trends in 2015 in Analytics and Big Data will be the advancement in the collection of big data in developing countries with the practice of the fundamentals of analytics — meaning basic data gathering by learners of data science and using analytic fundamentals to help their societies.

This might not seem like a trend, with emerging technologies, features, applications and practices in the spotlight of industry news and with big data collection and analytic fundamentals seeming like yesterday’s news in Europe and US.

However, as popular as those trends will be, they will mostly trend in Europe and the US and parts of Asia, whereas data collection and analytic fundamentals will trend much further, contributing to the development of heavily populated underdeveloped societies where social challenges are greater than Europe’s and the US’s.

The impact of advancements into developing regions will determine big data collection and analytic fundamentals (in combination) to be an important trend in 2015.

In the US, we live in a country where people are already thinking of how artificial intelligence will be a part of our daily lives, which is demanding of evolved engineering, machine, and deep learning, and big data. Read more…

No End in Sight to the Growth of Cloud Analytics

Excerpted from IT World Report by Katherine Noyes

It’s no secret that cloud computing and data analytics are both rapidly growing areas of information technology (IT). Put them together, and you get a winning combination that’s expected to grow by more than 26 percent annually over the next five years.

That’s according to market-tracking firm Research and Markets, which on Friday released a new report on the global cloud analytics market.

Increased adoption of data analytics is one of the major drivers in this market, Research and Markets found. More specifically, many organizations are adopting data analytics in order to better understand consumption patterns, customer acquisition and various other factors believed to increase revenue, cut costs and boost customer loyalty.

HP, IBM, Microsoft, Oracle, and SAP are among the dominant vendors in this arena, the company said in a press release. Big Data is one of the particularly significant trends in the market, Research and Markets said.

“Cloud analytics deals with the management of unorganized data, which helps organizations access important data and make timely decisions regarding their business,” the company said. The rates of growth in this arena might actually be much higher. Read more…

Intimate Data Will Be Key to the Internet of Things

Excerpted from Ad Age Report by Tom Goodwin

Remember in the early days of the Internet, we’d “go online” — after waiting for our sister to get off the phone first — and we’d hear that loud dial-up noise, and the Internet felt like a thing?

It was a place we went, and it felt real. Nowadays, we celebrate that the online and offline worlds are blending, and to some extent it’s true, but you can still feel the edges. We’ve got passwords to remember, we’ve got places with no connectivity, and we still have to add on a data plan to our phones.

When technologies have really arrived, they blend into the background and they become unnoticeable, like oxygen or electricity.

It’s this context that best describes the Internet of Things (IoT). Behold an age of small sensors everywhere and a world of continuous interconnectivity and environments that respond intelligently to our every move. The Internet becomes a connective ambient layer, in the background and all-knowing. It will be a time of data-sharing, predictive computing, and cognitive outsourcing.

This new world brings about vast sums of data and creates a plethora of new screens to connect with. Read more…

Coming Events of Interest

Datacloud South East Asia — April 8th-9th in Johor, Malaysia. Datacloud South East Asia will assess the energy, scalability, security, architecture, and software challenges confronting operators of data centers and enterprises engaged in or considering transitions to the cloud.

NAB Show — April 11th-16th in Las Vegas, NV. Popular and fresh attractions for 2015 include the Cloud Pavilion (CP) for asset management; Connected Media Live (CML), focusing on the consumer experience; the Drone Pavilion (DP), featuring a fully enclosed “flying cage” for demonstrations; and the New Media Expo (NMX).

Internet of Things Conference — April 15th-17th in San Diego, CA. The IoT Con will focus on how companies are using a variety of technologies, including ZigBee radios, Wi-Fi, and machine-to-machine (M2M)software, to connect things to the Internet, and how they are achieving real business benefits from doing so.

All That Matters — May 20th-23rd in Singapore. Packed with influencers, content creators, platforms and marketers, ATM drives business and global collaboration for decision makers in the entertainment, media, and marketing industries.

CES Asia — May 25th-27th in Shanghai, China. The success of the 2015 International CES builds strong momentum for CES Asia. With strong exhibitor demand for CEA’s inaugural event, the show will be curated with select qualifying companies permitted to exhibit.

Data Center and Cloud Awards — June 2nd in Monaco. Europe’s most prestigious awards for data center and cloud achievements will be announced at an evening ceremony prior to the opening of Europe’s ‘must-attend’ Datacloud Europe conference and exhibition.

Freescale Technology Forum — June 22nd-25th in Austin, TX. FTF, this year focusing on the Internet of Things (IoT), is the heart of discovery, imagination and innovation. Together we will strategize and design the next market-shifting products.

Internet of Things World Forum (IoTWF) — October (2015 Dates TBD) in Dubai, UAE. IoTWF is an exclusive event that brings together the best and brightest thinkers, practitioners, and innovators from business, government, and academia to accelerate the market adoption of the Internet of Things.

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