The internet we all use today is designed for people to share information. As well as people sharing information over the internet, physical devices and objects (things) can share information too.
Objects with embedded sensors can exchange data and allow actions to happen. For example, you can ask Alexa or Siri for the weather forecast, watch your delivery rider’s progress on a map, or turn on your lights or your heating with your phone. That’s using the Internet of Things (IoT).
Devices and objects with built in sensors capture small packets of data about their status or information from their surroundings. The data is encrypted and securely sent to IoT gateways and then transmitted across the internet to display data and create actionable content on dashboards and mobile apps.
What if we use the Internet of Things at a city or county level to create smart places? So road junctions can tell you if they are congested, rubbish bins can say when they need to be emptied, rivers can say when the water level is getting close to flooding, parking spaces can say whether they are empty or occupied. The thinking is that all this extra information will allow cities, towns and rural communities to run smoothly, making them better places to live and work and allow the more remote areas of our county to become better connected.
It also creates an opportunity for new businesses in the region to develop in this emerging sector.
We’re already trying out new ways to improve our services. Read about how the internet of things is already working in Norfolk.
If you would like to learn more about what we are doing across Norfolk or if you’ve got an idea about how you can use this technology, get in touch with us. Email in@norfolk.gov.uk.