I’m here at IoT Evolution Expo at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and I attended a keynote rife with meaningful IoT messages today, readers.
Earlier this morning in the convention center’s Floridian Ballroom, GetWireless CMO Terra Bastolich took to the stage for her “Keynote Presentation: Making Wireless Meaningful.” Bastolich has a long history of experience in marketing and sales roles within the technology industry.
“I want to take you on a journey,” Bastolich began, “that not only allows you to hear my story, but also the journey of wireless innovations across the board… It’s a journey orbiting truly meaningful applications in IoT.”
On average, as Bastolich explained, there are roughly 127 new devices connected to the internet every single second. GetWireless deals in much of this as a distributor; technologies for modems, routers, gateways, embedded device designs, and so on. It’s a lot to analyze.
But Bastolich is not an analyst; rather, a self-proclaimed student of the industry. “And I always find others who want to learn together,” she said. “So, we ask the usual questions: ‘How do we make and save money?’ and ‘How do wireless IoT applications improve real-time processes?’ Things in the Internet of Things have evolved almost beyond comprehension, considering the early days of M2M up to the current age where every thing is smart.”
“And no matter what business you’re in, we see it everywhere on social media.” She then showed several Instagram Reels and TikToks of IoT smart tech that, sure, was flashy and likely practical… but less meaningful.
“Those examples are fine and all… but let’s fac eit, they’re often overplayed. Is that really what we’re all trying to accomplish?”
Bastolich described “the interconnectedness that characterizes the heart and essence of IoT” — in this vein, I very much agree. I’ve written often across our websites that connectivity is the tried-and-true lifeblood of IoT.
But how does all of this connect to all the possible meaningful things?
Well, this is where IoT-powered cardiac defibrillator technology comes in, for instance, which Bastolich covered while sharing how her own father suffered a heart attack. This is where scientists come in; ones that are using IoT technologies to create cardiac monitoring smart speaker integrations.
“Then there’s diabetes and IoT,” she said. “29.7 million people of all ages — approximately 8.9% of the U.S. population — have been semi-recently diagnosed with diabetes. But IoT innovations (along with AI and machine learning) involving enhanced blood sugar and glucose reading capabilities can better equip patients and caregivers alike.”
“Similar stories apply to epilepsy and IoT,” she noted, “where high-tech bracelets currently being developed in the Netherlands can detect up to 85% of epileptic seizures to prevent epilepsy-related traumas.”
“And then, there’s the battling of breast cancer and how IoT can help.” She said this, and for me it struck a huge cord; many years ago, a very close loved one of mine lost their respective battle to breast cancer.
“Reports say that approximately 297,790 breast cancer cases were reported in 2023, and more than 300,000 invasive cases are projected to be diagnosed in women in 2024. But with thermal mapping and AI through IoT projects,” Bastolich explained, “it can be caught early and combatted. That’s meaningful.”
Bastolich even went on to play video excerpts from the TSA about tragedies like 9/11 (as well as from the Federal Commission on School Safety regarding the rampant rise of school shootings), and how IoT-powered public safety networks, license plate recognition cameras, gunshot detection applications and so much more can be made possible.
“You see, IoT is meaning in technology. We just have to step in and make meaning happen.”
Overall, Bastolich and GetWireless seek to operate on the cutting edge of next-gen IoT that’s measured not just in traditional ROI, but in actual lives saved.
And quite frankly, we need more meaningful stories like these.
Bastolich and the GetWireless team can be found in the expo’s exhibit hall at booth #915.
Edited by
Alex Passett
