Fundamentals of Internet of Things for Non-Engineers

The IoT is the next manifestation of the Internet. The trend started by connecting computers to computers, progressed to connecting people to people, and is now moving to connect everything to everything. The movement started like a race—with a lot of fanfare, excitement, and cheering. We’re now into the work phase, and we have to figure out how to make the dream come true.

The IoT will have many faces and involve many fields as it progresses. It will involve technology, design, security, legal policy, business, artificial intelligence, design, Big Data, and forensics; about any field that exists now. This is the reason for this book. There are books in each one of these fields, but the focus was always "an inch wide and a mile deep." There’s a need for a book that will introduce the IoT to non-engineers and allow them to dream of the possibilities and explore the work venues in this area. The book had to be "a mile wide and a few inches deep." The editors met this goal by engaging experts from a number of fields and asking them to come together to create an introductory IoT book.

• Provides a comprehensive view of the current fundamentals and the anticipated future trends in the realm of Internet of Things from a practitioner’s point of view
• Brings together a variety of voices with subject matter expertise in these diverse topical areas to provide leaders, students, and lay persons with a fresh worldview of the Internet of Things and the background to succeed in related technology decision-making
• Enhances the reader’s experience through a review of actual applications of Internet of Things end points and devices to solve business and civic problems along with notes on lessons learned
• Prepares readers to embrace the Internet of Things era and address complex business, social, operational, educational, and personal systems integration questions and opportunities

Dr. Rebecca Hammons has extensive technology industry experience in establishing and leading software quality assurance, development lifecycle services, and project management teams. She has worked for Ontario Systems, Apple, Raytheon, Tivoli Systems and Wang, in addition to several niche software firms. She is a Certified Quality Manager and Certified Software Quality Engineer with the American Society for Quality (ASQ) and a Certified Scrum Master and Certified Scrum Product Owner with Scrum Alliance. Dr. Hammons is an Associate Professor at Ball State University. Her technology research interests include Slow Tech, Usability, Burnout Theory, and Gold-Collar Workers. Dr. Hammons thrives on leading organizational change initiatives and coaching individuals and teams to reach their full potential.

Ron Kovac, PhD, is a full professor in the Center for Information and Communication Sciences at Ball State University in Indiana. The center prepares graduate students in the field of telecommunications. Previous to this position, Dr. Kovac was the telecommunication manager for the state of New York and a CIO for a large computing center located on the east coast. Dr. Kovac’s previous studies included electrical engineering, photography, and education. Dr. Kovac has published two books and over 50 articles and has completed numerous international consulting projects in both the education and telecommunications field. Additionally, he speaks worldwide on issues related to telecommunications and holds numerous certifications, including the CCNA, the CCAI, and the almost complete CCNP. Dr. Kovac is also a Fulbright Scholar and loves life, education and technology.