Collaborative Internet of Things (C-IoT): for Future Smart Connected Life and Business

Foreword

I recall sitting in the Bell Labs auditorium in Holmdel, New Jersey in 1980 listening to a lecture by the head of research, Arno Penzias. He had recently won the Nobel Prize for his radio astronomy work on the origins of the universe. But this day he was evangelizing a technology we all knew, but did not fully appreciate; at least that was Dr. Penzias’ message. As engineers and scientists we did not lack appreciation for the invention, the microprocessor. The Intel 8080 and Motorola 6800 replaced thousands of discrete small- and medium-scale integrated circuits used in random logic designs, cutting development time and costs dramatically. Some in the room were even determined to invent the next generation of microprocessors. That was not what Dr. Penzias was proselytizing. His was a challenge of innovation with the microprocessor. That vision was one of thousands of microprocessors in homes, automobiles, and offices. By sharing his vision, he was spurring us to think not about problem solving but about possibilities. At the time, I dare say most of us failed to grasp the full import of his message because of our linear thinking. Engineers in particular are prone to linear thinking. We are skilled at wrapping our minds around a single complex problem, going ever deeper, searching for clever ways to overcome natural barriers to achieve a novel and useful design.

Even in hindsight we think linearly, as does much of the general public. If you ask “who changed America’s ...