11 experts discuss the Industrial Internet of Things

Clicks the links below to see what we asked the panel and their responses ...

Machine data can be turned into actionable information that leads to better business decisions. And sometimes that doesn’t even need to involve humans. Equipment has the ability to talk to each other and share information that creates a higher collective intelligence. But sharing data also leaves a network open to outside forces and often vulnerable, if the right measures and defenses aren’t put into place.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and machine-to-machine (M2M) communications are the same, and yet different, because IoT takes M2M on the Internet. One thing is for sure: It transcends governmental boundaries. Equipment can be anywhere in the world and still be part of the conversation.

This group of heavy hitters in the IoT domain offer an international take on M2M communications and what the future holds. Learn more about IoT and what it means to manufacturing at Smart Industry.

Meet the Panel

Martin Harnevie is an international consultant, author and critic on the Internet of Things. From 2004 to March 2015, he was the CEO of SensMaster in Sweden. Harnevie has experience in leading the development of sensor networks and active RFID technologies, including fitting legacy machines with wireless connectivity, wireless asset tracking and sensor networks for defense materials security, as well as for environmental monitoring in buildings, oil and gas and automotive manufacturing. He has a master of science degree from Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, and he studied economics at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

Francisco Maroto is managing director and founder at OIES Consulting in Madrid, Spain. He has more than 20 years of international experience with information technology and IoT/ M2M communications. Prior to OIES, he led communications development teams in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) market and has helped numerous startup companies with their technology and information-system implementation. He also speaks on M2M communications and IoT at numerous live events.

Nicola De Carne’s passion is connecting the unconnected. He is CEO of Wi-Next in Milan, Italy. He is a hands-on researcher whose primary focus is on changing the Wi-Fi paradigm. Wi-Next works to bring industrial production data closer to systems for advanced analytics and intelligent management decisions. It was recently honored in Gartner’s Cool Vendors in Italy 2015 report for its work with the industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), including Wi-Next’s patented Network Operating System, a dynamically reconfigurable mesh network based on open industry standards.

Dwayne Dixon is a technology sales and business development executive in the Minneapolis area with more than 25 years of experience in high-tech environments. He has had numerous roles at firms including IBM Global Services, Xerox and Dun & Bradstreet, as well as his most recent position as vice president of sales and strategic partner management at Logic PD. He publishes The DixonTech Report, a newsletter focusing on big data, IoT and digital disruption.

Anshul Saxena is deputy general manager of IT at Bharti Airtel in New Delhi, India. Airtel has operations in 20 countries across Asia and Africa with more than 300 million customers. Saxena has worked in IT across several industries, including both public and private organizations. He has a master’s degree in computer science from the University of Mississippi and an MBA from Indian Institute of Management—Ahmedabad. A core technologist, Saxena works with upcoming technologies with a keen eye to monetizing them.

Samuel Bucholtz is co-founder of Casaba Security, a cybersecurity firm in Redmond, Washington. Bucholtz specializes in secure software development, advanced program analysis tools, threat modeling concepts, code review, penetration testing and network security. He’s also performed deep reviews of crypto implementations for secured network protocols and custom authentication schemes, as well as hardware device testing of embedded devices. Bucholtz also was a contributing author to “Hacking Exposed: Web Applications.”

Anand Gijare is IoT practice leader with Mind Commerce Publishing, which produces research reports in the areas of IoT, data and analytics, infrastructure, virtualization, big data, business strategy, wearable technology, software and applications. Located in India, Gijare has authored more than 110 reports on various trends, and he regularly tracks technologies and writes about them, as well as market forecasts.

Jonathan Pollet, founder of Red Tiger Security in Houston, is an "ethical hacker" specializing in industrial cybersecurity. He consults for a broad range of manufacturers, energy companies and other critical infrastructure industries. He's presented SCADA security workshops to the FBI, DHS and Utility Telecom Council, and he’s spoken at industry events such as Black Hat, Kaspersky Security Analyst Summit and The Chertoff Group Security Series.

Vihang Sapale is the founder of Embionics Technologies, an IoT/M2M product design house in Pune, India. He is an embedded-system professional with experience in industrial-automation design and holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from PuneUniversity. He’s been involved with the design and deployment of complex products such as satellite communication panels, engine control systems and wireless sensor networks. Embionics specializes in competitive analysis, technology, design and commercial launch.

Glenn Vassallo is an IoT solutions architect in Sydney, Australia. With more than 20 years of experience as a technical leader, entrepreneur and consultant, Vassallo develops end-to-end IoT solutions and has expertise in its four main technologies—embedded, mobile, data and cloud. He is part of the organizing team for the Sydney Internet of Everything Meetup Group and is the Texas Instruments IoT MVP in its online community. Vassallo has created training videos for Texas Instruments, developed an IoT proof of concept built on the CC3200 MCU and Microsoft Azure, developed embedded microcontroller software enabling control via mobile apps and has worked with Chinese manufacturers on their hardware manufacturing practices.

Peter Waher is co-founder and CEO of Clayster Laboratorios in Chile, an IoT solutions company that originated in Scandinavia but that now operates on four continents. Originally a mathematician, commercial pilot and computer games developer, Waher has worked 20 years with computer and device communications, from low-level development in assembler for resource-constrained devices to high-level system design and architecture. He’s a participant in various standardization efforts within IEEE, IEC, ISO, UPnP and XSF, working on standards for the Internet of Things. His work with Smart Applications for the Internet of Things and the development of the IP-TV application, Energy Saving Through Smart Applications, won the Urban Living Labs global showcase award in the Cultural and Societal Participation and Collaboration Tools category.