IoT Can Enhance Access To Public Services And Improve Daily Life

Lately, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been receiving its fair share of attention as the world turns more and more digital. The value it has unlocked so far has the potential to change life today. 2018 is being heralded by several notable organisations as a year of good tidings and synchronised global economic growth. Reports are bullish about India’s participation in the global economy’s recovery and are pegging India’s economic growth at 7-8%.

“India IoT Report”, by Tata Communications reveals that more than 65% Indians suffer anxiety over the fear of lights on when they are away from home – and believe that connected technology could help alleviate this anxiety. The survey was conducted across 2,000 respondents from 12 Indian cities to gauge people’s awareness levels around the concept of the Internet of Things (IoT) and views on its impact on their day-to-day lives.

Home is the principal environment where people expect IoT to make a visible and significant difference. Over 90% said they would be keen to experience a reality where IoT devices could make their lives simpler by, for example, being able to monitor and manage their home appliances remotely in real-time.

“IoT has the power to make our lives less stressful, fire the engines of productivity, reduce energy consumption, improve healthcare, and create new disruptive business models,” explains VS. Shridhar, Sr. Vice President and Head Internet of Things, Tata Communications. “Yet, there needs to be a greater awareness of the many ways in which IoT could change society for the better and make it safer too. Greater awareness will help spur demand for new IoT services.”

From a broader societal perspective, respondents cited improved healthcare as a key takeaway, closely followed by reducing traffic congestion (28.7%) and lowering pollution levels to protect the environment. 81.2% of respondents agree that it is entirely plausible that they could live in a world where their children’s health records are entirely automated and updated in real time and accessible to a doctor anywhere when required.

Both developed economies and emerging markets are at different life-cycles in their rate of adoption of IoT technology.  In India, there is a gradual surge in adoption and a growth in demand across the nation.

While only 14.2% were aware of the concept of IoT, over a third (34.6%) associate it primarily with smartphones. Only 14.5% of the respondents currently associate IoT with improved public services and fewer than one-in-ten (9.6%) believes IoT could help enhance access to public services.

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The CSR Journal Team
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