Shouldn’t it be IToT?

Faisal Kawoosa

IoT is one of the real hot topics in the ICT world these days. Some see it as a trend, while others see a plethora of opportunities emerging from this disruptive concept. However, calling it mere ‘Internet of Things’ seems to be an understatement in the view of the tremendous scope of growth it holds for future.

Having a look at the value chain of the IoT, it seems that coining it as ‘IoT’ emphasizes only on the connectivity part and ignores the much of the underlying value that comes out of the applications module in any such solution.

IoT is a working of three basic elements as shown in the diagram below.

The problem with the current term of IoT being used only focuses around the middle connecting element while completely ignoring the Input/Output nodes, essentially sensors, etc. and the applications that control and affect the logic.

When all these elements are considered in totality, it appears to be the ‘Information Technology of Things’ (IToT)- wherein the I/O nodes capture and output the data/information, networking enables the transport of the data/information and the application processes that as per logic defined in the algorithms.

So, naming it ‘IoT’ doesn’t cover the entire scope of the things that actually take place in such an instance and rather ignores the much important application part, wherein the maximum potential of value add and ‘smartness’ lies and probably the IoT solutions vendors can differentiate and safeguard their intellectual property.

Hence, I feel as we become increasingly aggressive about IoT and get a clarity about what all it is, the time is ripe to ponder about its name and change it to IToT, not for just the heck of changing the name but to correctly and sufficiently include all the elements giving them equal recognition in terms of the value add they bring on the table.