The Internet of Things

Applications based on Internet of Things can be classified into different categories, but they actually all rest on the same fundamental principle: the attribution to physical objects, whether alive or inanimate, of a unique identity that can be easily transposed to the virtual world of computer systems. The concept of identity is fundamental to an activity that may seem trivial to humans, but turns out to be difficult and complex for computer systems: communication. And it is precisely this ability to communicate that Internet of Things grants to everyday objects – to communicate their presence, to communicate their identity, and to communicate the contents of an ever increasing memory.

Modern communication nowadays naturally relies on the potential of the internet. Hence the notion of an internet of things, which simply consists in bestowing the ability of connecting and communicating through the internet to everyday objects. The unique identification of physical objects – combined to a communication infrastructure that transcends traditional barriers between companies, industries and individuals – opens the door to a world of innovative applications, many of which today still only exist in the mind of a few visionary entrepreneurs.

The potential of the internet of things measures up to the gigantic amount of information which it will make available in real time. In the industrial sector, benefits in terms of productivity, quality and market intelligence are priceless. And for individuals, benefits in terms of access to information as well as of increased safety standards – prominently in the food and pharmaceutical sectors – will represent progress comparable in its reach and depth to the emergence of mobile telephony or of the internet as we know it today. The QSN Technology engages in this evolution through its involvement in the elaboration of the basic concepts and tools of the internet of things, as well as through its commitment to aim at full compatibility with tomorrow's technology in all of its present activities.

Just like any other technology, Internet of Things is just a tool and is as such intrinsically neither good nor bad. The way it is used, though, deserves some thought. As a matter of fact, the progress that the internet of things makes possible is tightly bound to a potential for abuse that should not be ignored. Therefore, and even if this topic is often subject to blatant exaggeration, it is essential to include privacy considerations in any RFID initiative right from the beginning. The QSN Technology takes these aspects into consideration at each step of its approach, thereby guaranteeing an optimal balance between technology and consumer privacy.