You

hi how can i master my weakness

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Mastering your weaknesses involves a combination of self-

awareness, goal-setting, and consistent effort. Here are some
steps you can take:

.
Self-awareness:
.
 Identify your weaknesses: Reflect on your skills, behaviors,
or areas where you struggle.
 Seek feedback: Ask for input from friends, colleagues, or
mentors to gain an external perspective on your
weaknesses.
.
Set Clear Goals:
.
 Define specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-
bound (SMART) goals related to your weaknesses.
 Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable tasks to
make progress more achievable.
.
Create a Plan:
.
 Develop a detailed plan outlining the steps you need to take
to address your weaknesses.
 Prioritize tasks based on their importance and impact on
your overall development.
.
Skill Development:
.
  Identify resources: Find books, courses, workshops, or
mentors that can help you develop the skills associated with
your weaknesses.
 Practice regularly: Consistent practice is essential for skill
improvement. Set aside dedicated time for focused practice.
.
Seek Support:
.
 Connect with mentors or experts in the areas where you
want to improve. Learn from their experiences and seek
guidance.
 Collaborate with others who have complementary strengths,
as they can provide support and different perspectives.
.
Stay Persistent:
.
 Understand that improvement takes time. Be patient and
stay committed to your goals.
 Celebrate small victories along the way to maintain
motivation.
.
Embrace Failure as a Learning Opportunity:
.
 View setbacks as opportunities to learn and grow. Analyze
what went wrong and adjust your approach accordingly.
 Use failure as a stepping stone towards improvement.
.
Regularly Assess Your Progress:
.
 Periodically evaluate your progress towards your goals.
 Adjust your plan as needed, and be willing to adapt your
strategies based on what works best for you.
.
Develop a Growth Mindset:
.
 Embrace challenges and view them as opportunities for
growth.
 Believe in your ability to improve and adapt, even in areas
where you currently struggle.
.
Celebrate Achievements:
.
  Acknowledge and celebrate your progress. Recognizing your
accomplishments can boost your confidence and motivation.

Remember that mastering weaknesses is a continuous process,

and it's essential to stay committed to your personal and
professional development over the long term.

You

how do i increase presence of mind

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Increasing your presence of mind involves cultivating awareness,

focus, and mindfulness in your daily life. Here are some tips to
help you enhance your presence of mind:

.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation:
.
 Engage in regular mindfulness meditation to train your mind
to stay present.
 Focus on your breath, sensations, or the present moment.
This practice helps improve overall awareness.
.
Deep Breathing Exercises:
.
 Take deep, intentional breaths to bring your attention back
to the present.
 Deep breathing can help calm your mind and improve
concentration.
.
Stay Present in Daily Activities:
.
 Practice mindfulness in everyday activities, such as eating,
walking, or even washing dishes.
 Pay attention to your senses and fully engage in the
experience.
.
Limit Multitasking:
.
 Focus on one task at a time to avoid distractions and
improve the quality of your work.
 Prioritize tasks and give each your full attention before
moving on to the next.
.
Set Intentions for the Day:
.
 Start your day by setting clear intentions for what you want
to achieve.
 This helps create a mental roadmap for your day and keeps
you focused on your goals.
.
Take Breaks:
.
 Schedule short breaks during work or study sessions to
refresh your mind.
 Use breaks to practice mindfulness or engage in activities
that help clear your mind.
.
Cultivate Gratitude:
.
 Regularly reflect on things you are grateful for, fostering a
positive mindset.
 Gratitude can help shift your focus to the present and
enhance your overall well-being.
.
Mindful Listening:
.
 Practice active listening when engaging in conversations.
Give your full attention to the speaker without thinking
about your response.
 This improves your ability to connect with others and
enhances your presence in the moment.
.
Limit Distractions:
.
 Identify and minimize external distractions, such as turning
off notifications or finding a quiet workspace.
 Create an environment conducive to focus and presence.
.
Regular Exercise:
.
  Physical activity helps increase blood flow to the brain and
can improve cognitive function.
 Regular exercise is linked to enhanced focus and mental
clarity.
.
Journaling:
.
 Write down your thoughts and reflections regularly to
process your experiences.
 Journaling can help you gain insights into your emotions and
thoughts, promoting a clearer mind.
.
Mindful Breathing Throughout the Day:
.
 Take short breaks to practice mindful breathing at various
points during the day.
 This can serve as a quick reset for your mind and help you
stay present.

Consistency is key when working on increasing your presence of

mind. By incorporating these practices into your daily routine, you
can gradually develop greater awareness and focus in various
aspects of your life.

You

my mind ponders a lot while sleeping and thoughts do not stop

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

If you find that your mind is racing with thoughts and it's affecting
your ability to sleep, here are some strategies to help calm your
mind and improve your sleep:

.
Establish a Bedtime Routine:
.
 Create a calming pre-sleep routine to signal to your body
that it's time to wind down. This might include activities like
 reading a book, taking a warm bath, or practicing relaxation
exercises.
.
Limit Screen Time Before Bed:
.
 Reduce exposure to screens (phones, tablets, computers) at
least an hour before bedtime. The blue light emitted by
screens can interfere with the production of the sleep
hormone melatonin.
.
Practice Relaxation Techniques:
.
 Engage in relaxation exercises such as deep breathing,
progressive muscle relaxation, or guided imagery. These
techniques can help calm your mind and prepare your body
for sleep.
.
Create a Sleep-Inducing Environment:
.
 Make your bedroom comfortable and conducive to sleep.
Ensure the room is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable
temperature.
.
Write Down Your Thoughts:
.
 Keep a notebook by your bedside. If your mind is filled with
thoughts, jot them down to get them out of your head. This
can help you let go of the need to remember them.
.
Practice Mindfulness Meditation:
.
 Incorporate mindfulness meditation into your evening
routine. This can help you stay present and reduce racing
thoughts.
.
Limit Stimulants:
.
 Avoid caffeine and nicotine in the hours leading up to
bedtime, as they are stimulants that can interfere with
sleep.
.
Establish a Consistent Sleep Schedule:
.
  Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on
weekends. Consistency helps regulate your body's internal
clock.
.
Limit Naps:
.
 If you need to nap during the day, keep it short (20-30
minutes) and avoid napping too close to bedtime.
.
Get Regular Exercise:
.
 Engage in regular physical activity, but try to finish
exercising at least a few hours before bedtime.
.
Limit Worries:
.
 Set aside time earlier in the day to address worries or
concerns. Create a to-do list for the next day before you go
to bed to help clear your mind.
.
Consider Professional Help:
.
 If racing thoughts persist and significantly impact your sleep,
it may be helpful to consult with a healthcare professional or
a sleep specialist for further guidance.

Remember, improving sleep habits often involves making gradual

changes to your routine. If you consistently struggle with sleep,
seeking guidance from a healthcare professional is advisable.
They can help identify any underlying issues and provide tailored
recommendations to improve your sleep quality.

You

how do i prioritize and stay focused

ChatGPT

ChatGPT
 Prioritizing tasks and staying focused are essential skills for
productivity. Here are some strategies to help you prioritize
effectively and maintain focus:

Prioritization:

.
Set Clear Goals:
.
 Define your short-term and long-term goals. This clarity will
guide your priorities.
.
Use a Task Management System:
.
 Utilize tools like to-do lists, task management apps, or
project management tools to organize and prioritize your
tasks.
.
Apply the Eisenhower Matrix:
.
 Categorize tasks into four quadrants based on urgency and
importance. Focus on tasks that are both urgent and
important.
.
Identify High-Impact Activities:
.
 Determine tasks that have the most significant impact on
your goals or projects and prioritize them.
.
Consider Deadlines:
.
 Prioritize tasks with impending deadlines, but don't rely
solely on urgency as a factor.
.
Break Down Complex Tasks:
.
 Divide large tasks into smaller, more manageable sub-tasks.
This makes it easier to prioritize and accomplish step by
step.
.
Regularly Review and Adjust:
.
  Periodically reassess your priorities based on changing
deadlines, goals, or project requirements.

Maintaining Focus:

.
Set Clear Objectives:
.
 Clearly define what you want to accomplish in a given time
frame. Having a specific objective helps maintain focus.
.
Time Blocking:
.
 Allocate specific blocks of time to focus on particular tasks
or types of work. Minimize distractions during these periods.
.
Eliminate Distractions:
.
 Identify and minimize potential distractions, such as turning
off non-essential notifications or finding a quiet workspace.
.
Prioritize Tasks Sequentially:
.
 Tackle one task at a time. Multitasking can reduce efficiency
and focus.
.
Take Breaks:
.
 Schedule short breaks between focused work sessions. Short
breaks can help refresh your mind and improve overall
concentration.
.
Practice Mindfulness:
.
 Engage in mindfulness techniques, such as deep breathing
or meditation, to bring your attention back to the present
moment.
.
Limit Decision Fatigue:
.
 Reduce the number of decisions you need to make by
establishing routines and habits, especially for repetitive
tasks.
.
Use the Pomodoro Technique:
.
 Work in focused, 25-minute intervals (Pomodoros) with short
breaks in between. After completing four Pomodoros, take a
longer break.
.
Stay Healthy:
.
 Ensure you get enough sleep, exercise regularly, and
maintain a healthy diet. Physical well-being contributes to
better focus.
.
Prioritize Self-Care:
.
 Make time for activities you enjoy. Balancing work and
personal life can contribute to increased focus and
motivation.
.
Set Realistic Expectations:
.
 Avoid overcommitting. Be realistic about what you can
accomplish within a given time frame.
.
Accountability Partners:
.
 Share your goals and priorities with someone who can help
keep you accountable and provide support.

Remember that building these skills takes time and practice.

Experiment with different techniques to find what works best for
you, and be flexible in adjusting your approach as needed.

You

how much hours of sleep do i need

ChatGPT

ChatGPT
 The amount of sleep a person needs can vary based on factors
such as age, individual differences, lifestyle, and overall health.
However, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep
Research Society provide general guidelines for recommended
sleep durations. These guidelines suggest the following:

 Newborns (0-3 months): 14-17 hours per day

 Infants (4-11 months): 12-15 hours per day
 Toddlers (1-2 years): 11-14 hours per day
 Preschoolers (3-5 years): 10-13 hours per day
 School-age children (6-12 years): 9-12 hours per day
 Teenagers (13-18 years): 8-10 hours per day
 Adults (18-60 years): 7-9 hours per night
 Older adults (61-64 years): 7-9 hours per night
 Older adults (65 years and older): 7-8 hours per night

It's important to note that individual variations exist, and some

people may feel well-rested and function optimally with slightly
more or less sleep than the recommended range.

To determine your ideal sleep duration, consider the following:

.
Pay attention to how you feel: If you consistently feel alert,
focused, and refreshed during the day, you're likely getting an
adequate amount of sleep.
.
.
Listen to your body: Go to bed when you're tired, and wake up
without an alarm if possible. Your natural sleep-wake cycle can
provide insights into your individual sleep needs.
.
.
Consider lifestyle factors: Factors such as stress, physical
activity, and overall health can influence your sleep requirements.
A balanced lifestyle that includes regular exercise, a healthy diet,
and stress management can contribute to better sleep.
.

If you're consistently having difficulty sleeping or if you're feeling

excessively fatigued during the day, it's advisable to consult with
a healthcare professional. They can help identify any underlying
sleep disorders or other health issues that may be affecting your
sleep quality.
 You

my focus and consistency breaks how do i finish when start

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Maintaining focus and consistency can be challenging, but there

are strategies you can employ to increase your chances of
finishing what you start. Here are some tips:

.
Set Clear Goals:
.
 Clearly define your goals and break them down into smaller,
more manageable tasks. This provides a clear roadmap and
makes the overall objective seem less overwhelming.
.
Prioritize Tasks:
.
 Use methods like the Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks
based on urgency and importance. Focus on high-priority
tasks that align with your goals.
.
Create a Schedule:
.
 Develop a daily or weekly schedule that allocates specific
time blocks for different tasks. This helps in organizing your
day and ensures that you allocate dedicated time for each
goal.
.
Start Small:
.
 Begin with smaller, more achievable tasks. Success in
completing these tasks can build momentum and motivation
to tackle larger ones.
.
Limit Distractions:
.
  Identify and minimize distractions in your environment. Turn
off non-essential notifications, create a dedicated
workspace, and communicate your need for focus to those
around you.
.
Use the Pomodoro Technique:
.
 Work in focused intervals, such as 25 minutes of
concentrated work followed by a 5-minute break. After
completing four intervals, take a longer break. This can help
maintain focus and prevent burnout.
.
Set Realistic Expectations:
.
 Be realistic about what you can accomplish in a given time
frame. Overcommitting can lead to frustration and a lack of
motivation.
.
Track Your Progress:
.
 Keep a record of your accomplishments, no matter how
small. Tracking progress can be motivating and help you
stay on course.
.
Establish Accountability:
.
 Share your goals with a friend, family member, or colleague
who can provide encouragement and hold you accountable.
.
Visualize Success:
.
 Imagine yourself successfully completing your tasks or
achieving your goals. Visualization can enhance motivation
and focus.
.
Break Down Larger Tasks:
.
 Divide larger tasks into smaller, more manageable steps.
This can make the overall process seem less daunting and
increase the likelihood of completion.
.
Learn from Setbacks:
.
  If you face obstacles or encounter setbacks, view them as
learning opportunities. Identify what went wrong, adjust your
approach, and move forward with renewed focus.
.
Celebrate Achievements:
.
 Acknowledge and celebrate your successes along the way.
Positive reinforcement can boost motivation and help you
stay consistent.
.
Stay Flexible:
.
 Be adaptable in your approach. Life can be unpredictable,
and being flexible allows you to adjust your plans without
completely derailing your progress.

Remember that building habits of focus and consistency takes

time and effort. Start with a few of these strategies, experiment
with what works best for you, and gradually incorporate more as
you develop a routine that supports your goals.

You

how do learn fast anything

ChatGPT

ChatGPT

Learning quickly involves adopting effective strategies and

optimizing your approach to absorb and retain information
efficiently. Here are some tips to help you learn faster:

.
Set Clear Goals:
.
 Clearly define what you want to learn and set specific,
achievable goals. Having a clear objective helps direct your
focus and efforts.
.
Prioritize Information:
.
  Identify the most important concepts or skills related to what
you're learning. Focus on mastering the key elements before
delving into finer details.
.
Active Learning:
.
 Engage actively with the material. Instead of passively
reading or listening, ask questions, take notes, and
participate in discussions or activities.
.
Use Multiple Learning Modalities:
.
 Combine various learning methods, such as reading,
watching videos, listening to podcasts, or hands-on practice.
This reinforces the information through different channels.
.
Chunk Information:
.
 Break down complex information into smaller, manageable
chunks. This makes it easier to understand and remember.
.
Practice Retrieval:
.
 Regularly test yourself on the material you're learning. This
practice retrieval enhances long-term retention.
.
Teach Others:
.
 Teach the material to someone else. Teaching reinforces
your understanding and helps you identify areas where you
might need further clarification.
.
Create Mnemonics:
.
 Develop mnemonic devices or memory aids to remember
complex information. This can be especially useful for
remembering lists or sequences.
.
Utilize Visualization:
.
 Create mental images or diagrams to represent concepts.
Visualization can enhance understanding and retention.
.
 Stay Organized:
.
 Organize your study materials and notes in a systematic
way. A well-organized structure can make it easier to review
and reinforce learning.
.
Set Time Limits:
.
 Use time constraints to focus your efforts. Break your
learning sessions into manageable time blocks with breaks
in between.
.
Eliminate Distractions:
.
 Minimize distractions during study sessions. Find a quiet,
dedicated space to concentrate on your learning.
.
Continuous Review:
.
 Schedule regular review sessions to reinforce what you've
learned. Spaced repetition can significantly improve long-
term retention.
.
Stay Motivated:
.
 Find ways to stay motivated, whether it's by setting rewards
for completing tasks, joining study groups, or connecting
with others who share similar interests.
.
Stay Curious:
.
 Cultivate a curious mindset. Be genuinely interested in the
material, and approach learning with a sense of curiosity
and exploration.
.
Adopt a Growth Mindset:
.
 Embrace challenges and view setbacks as opportunities to
learn and improve. A growth mindset encourages continuous
learning and resilience.
.
Take Care of Your Health:
.
  Ensure you get enough sleep, eat a balanced diet, and
exercise regularly. Physical well-being is linked to cognitive
function.

Remember that everyone learns differently, so it's essential to

experiment with different techniques and approaches to find what
works best for you. Consistency and dedication to the learning
process will contribute to faster and more effective learning.
Who Will Make Money Using Large
Language Models? How and Why?

Dr. Prakash Selvakumar

NLP Data Science Leader - Client Solutions and Product Innovation

18 articles Follow
August 13, 2023
Open Immersive Reader

Large language models like GPT-3, PaLM, and Anthropic's Claude have
opened up new possibilities for businesses to leverage AI. These powerful
natural language systems can generate human-like text, answer
questions, summarize documents, and more. But who exactly stands to
profit from these advanced AI capabilities? Here are a few ways different
groups can monetize large language models:

Tech Companies

The tech giants investing heavily in developing large language models -

Google, Microsoft, Meta, Amazon, etc. - have clear commercial interests.
They can integrate the models into existing products like search engines
and digital assistants to improve performance. This provides value to
users and drives more traffic and ad revenue. The tech firms can also
monetize the models more directly by offering API access and paid
services based on the AI.

Service providers and IT consulting firms

1. Internal Productivity - Leverage LLMs internally to reduce manual

effort for research, analysis, content creation, process automation.
Boosts efficiency and quality of deliverables.
2. Client Advisory - Provide strategic consulting on how clients can
identify use cases, pilot projects, measure ROI, and scale LLM
adoption. Charge for assessment and planning.
 3. Technical Integration - Assist clients in actually integrating LLMs into
business workflows. Offer deployment, customization, data
integration, monitoring.
4. Industry Solutions - Develop proprietary solutions like chatbots,
document creators, personalized marketing content generators
targeted to specific industries. Sell as it as service.
5. Platform Services - Build developer platforms, APIs, models-as-a-
service offerings around LLMs. Enable partners and clients to easily
access capabilities.
6. Training & Support - Offer training to client employees on effectively
using LLMs. Provide ongoing support models.

Startups

Startups building products and services around large language models

have huge opportunities. These include companies working on writing
assistants, content generation, conversational bots, code completion, and
more. For example, Anthropic is commercializing its Claude model through
partnership deals and usage-based pricing. Startups can target both
consumer and enterprise use cases. Succeeding with even a niche
application of large language models can enable rapid growth.

Consulting Firms

Management and IT consulting firms can benefit by using large language

models internally to improve research, analysis, and deliverables. This
boosts productivity. The firms can also help clients implement enterprise
applications of large language models, charging for strategic advice and
technical integration services. Models like GPT-3 are already being tested
by major consultancies.

Content Sites

Online publishers and content platforms can integrate large language

models into workflows to create more content faster. Sports sites can
auto-generate articles from raw data. News sites can automatically
produce first drafts of stories on earnings reports. Gaming sites can
summarize patch notes. This content can complement manually created
articles. Greater volume and velocity of content can increase traffic, users,
and revenue.

The Explosion of LLMs - Hype vs. Substance

LLMs have improved dramatically in recent years. Models have grown

from millions to billions to trillions of parameters, ingesting huge swaths of
internet text and conversations. They can now generate remarkably
human-like text on demand about almost any topic. The hype is palpable,
with claims these models are reaching artificial general intelligence.
The reality is more nuanced. While LLMs have come far, they have clear
limitations. Their knowledge is often superficial as they lack deeper
reasoning. Quality control remains a challenge. And unethical risks like
bias and misinformation exist. We are far from human-level AI. The hype
should be tempered with a sober understanding of today's capabilities.

Winners - Leveraging LLMs for Commercial Success

LLMs create opportunities for many players in the ecosystem. Providers

like Anthropic, partners integrating the technology into products, and
enterprise early adopters stand to profit most.

Providers can monetize through API access and value-added services as

adoption grows. Partners can build new conversational apps and creative
tools that were not possible before. Early enterprise adopters gain
competitive advantage by using LLMs for content generation, process
automation, and customer service augmentation.

Key is identifying practical use cases where LLMs offer clear value, rather
than getting dazzled by the hype.

Thoughtfully integrating LLMs into existing workflows improves outcomes

without overestimating their autonomy.

Laggards - Falling Behind the AI Curve

Laggard organizations risk falling behind if they dismiss LLMs as

overhyped or avoid AI altogether. Some symptoms that indicate an
organization may miss the bus:

 Leadership lacks awareness of large language models and potential

applications
 No funding for exploring LLM capabilities and use cases
 Refusal to consider integrating LLMs due to bias concerns alone
 No process to monitor LLM landscape and evolve usage as
technology matures

Thoughtfully experimenting with emerging technologies like LLMs, even in

limited scopes, keeps organizations competitive. Laggards who wait too
long risk sudden obsolescence.

Overshooters - When LLMs Become Overkill

On the flipside, some organizations risk overdoing it with LLMs. Symptoms

of overshoot:

Assuming LLMs are near human-level capability

Launching initiatives without proper testing and controls
Planning wholesale replacement of human roles versus augmentation
Rushing LLM adoption simply because competitors are experimenting

LLMs have limitations today. Wise adoption considers ethics, amplifies

human capabilities, and measures clear ROI. Moderation and gradual
integration is prudent.

The Balanced Approach - Steady Progress Beats Extremes

As with most new technologies, the wise path is to avoid the extremes.
Assessing LLMs objectively, carefully piloting use cases, and iterating
based on measured outcomes leads to steady progress.

Leaders should seek to maximize the promise of LLMs while mitigating the
peril through ethical development and deployment. With a balanced
approach, businesses can harness LLMs to their advantage while building
trust with stakeholders.

The way forward is not revolution but evolution

- where emerging technology and human values align to usher in ongoing

progress for all.

The key is identifying high-value services around LLMs that complement

the core competencies of the providers. By becoming trusted advisors on
emerging AI, they can drive new revenue streams.

In summary, large language models are enabling new products,

efficiencies, and content generation approaches. Major tech companies
will profit through services and APIs. Startups have room for disruptive
business models. Consultants can improve deliverables and provide
integration help. And content sites can leverage the models to accelerate
content production. The commercial potential is huge.
What Is Smart Technology?
Content
– From the first ‘thing’ connected to the Internet to 75 billion IoT devices in 2025
– How Does Smart Technology Work?
– Examples of Smart Technology for Individuals
• Smart Home Technologies
• Smart Wearable Devices
– Smart Technology for Industry
• Smart Factory
• Smart Logistics
• Smart Agriculture
– Smart Technology in Healthcare
– Smart Technology Serving Society – Smart Cities
It seems that nowadays everyone has a smartwatch and smartphone, and lives in a smart home that is in a smart city. Every other service
and product is 'smart' or 'intelligent' and they have started flooding our lives – undoubtedly the label 'smart' is abused in a not insignificant
way.
There is no clear-cut definition of what a smart device is; it definitely is not a technical term. A lot of marketing hype has resulted in
misconceptions that anything that contains a computer chip or has some preprogrammed functions is smart.
For the purpose of our article we use this definition: Smart technologies refer to various devices, systems and applications that utilize
artificial intelligence, internet connectivity and other advanced technologies to enhance and automate various tasks in various fields
such as home automation, transportation, healthcare, security, etc. Examples include smart home devices, smart cities, smart cars,
wearable technology and smart healthcare devices.
In general use, smart technology is grouped into three areas:
Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices.
Smart connected devices. Examples are smart security cameras, smart bulbs, and smartphones.
Unconnected smart devices. Here, ‘smart’ simply refers to the fact that these devices can be programmed to perform certain tasks, like a
coffeemaker starting to brew your favorite cup of joe at 7 o’clock in the morning.
It’s also important to note that smartness is not a categorical attribute of a technology, as there are different levels of being smart. It
depends on the degrees of freedom that are programmed into a system and the complexity of the environment that surrounds it. How
difficult it can be to achieve smart objects is evidenced by the growing pains of self-driving and fully autonomous automobiles.
Another critical differentiation involves the terms automation and autonomy. A simple and a smart thermostat both display automation,
but their level of autonomy differs – the smart thermostat has a broader palette of goal-oriented behavior due to its learning capacity.
The difference between automation (which does not imply agency) and autonomy (which does) is usually sought in the ability of a system
to respond to its environment in a way that sustains its own endurance and prevents or repairs failure modes, notably in the face of
uncertainty.
Originally, the term ‘smart’ was used as an abbreviation for Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology. That has morphed into its
actual meaning of clever or intelligent to describe any kind of device that is capable of connecting with internet networks and thus connect
with other devices or remote databases. But the simple fact that a device is connected to the Internet or can send and receive information
doesn’t make it smart yet.

From the first ‘thing’ connected to the Internet to 75 billion

IoT devices in 2025
Before we delve into smart technologies, we need to tackle another big buzzword: the Internet-of-Things, or IoT. (read our explainer on
the Internet-of-Things here)
The first 'thing' on the Internet was created in 1982: a soda machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that
reported on the number and the temperature of the drinks it contained.
In 1999, British technologist Kevin Ashton came up with the term Internet of Things to define a network that not only connects people, but
also the objects around them – like that Coke machine at CMU. At the time, most people thought this was the stuff of science fiction films.
Today, the IoT has become a reality, thanks to the development of communication technologies, big data analytics, and ever more
sophisticated algorithms.

Number of installed IoT devices from 2015-2025. (Data source: statista.com)

At some point in 2008 or 2009, the number of things connected to the Internet came to exceed the world’s human population. Since then,
the IoT has become a vast network of connected objects collecting and analyzing huge amounts of data and autonomously performing
tasks. An estimated more than 35 billion devices will be connected by the end of 2021 to this data network worldwide – sensors,
household appliances, machines, wind turbines, medical devices, TVs, watches, cars and much more.
According to predictions, the number of IoT connected devices will grow dramatically to 75 billion in 2025 and a staggering 125 billion by
2030. At that point, there will be almost 15 things connected to the Internet for each human on earth.

(Source: reply.com)
However, the main factor of this growth is not the population of the world but the explosion of connected devices.
Successful IoT devices will integrate seamlessly into our lives and our homes until we forget that they are there and that we once did these
tasks manually. Opportunities arise from invisible hardware which works (together) autonomously, automatically adjusts settings or
intuitively via voice control.

How Does Smart Technology Work?

Smart technology relies on smart devices that are equipped with one or several sensors that provide data that they use to analyze and
infer from, drawing conclusions from preprogrammed rules, confer with other smart devices, and act accordingly. To do that, they also
need a certain amount of computing power, one or more actuators, and communication capabilities (such as Bluetooth or Wi-Fi).
Some smart devices are also capable of learning by using experience to improve performance, anticipating, thinking and reasoning about
what to do next.
The sensors that smart devices can be equipped with can perform all kinds of measurements – temperature, acceleration, radiation like
light intensity, humidity, motion like heartbeat, pressure, and so on – so there really is not limit as to the application areas where they can
be used.
This combination of sensor data, interconnectivity and learning gives smart devices a certain degree of autonomy – and that improves
their performance when compared to their non-smart counterparts.
An additional component that is common in many smart devices is an app that allow the user to control them by voice or finger tap on a
touchscreen. Quite often, these apps are linked to an external service provider. An example of such a service provider would be Amazon
when using Amazon’s Echo home assistant devices or Apple when using Siri on a HomePod.
When smart devices are grouped with other smart devices in a network then you also hear the term smart network or smart grid. These
cooperating devices can check system status and any change of environmental parameters affecting the entire system and decide whether
to act on them or not (for instance shutting down a pipeline if a leak is detected; or tapping reserve power generators if a higher than
anticipated electricity demand is noticed somewhere in the electrical grid).
In the following we will look at some examples of smart technologies.

Examples of Smart Technology for Individuals – Consumer

IoT
The most common areas where a person comes in touch with smart technology is in the home or through wearables.
 (Source: reply.com)
Smart Home Technologies
Smart home technologies broadly fall into one of 3 categories: security, convenience and entertainment. They include many aspects of
home monitoring and control: access control (smart locks); fire, gas and water leak detection; temperature monitoring; convenience and
improved energy efficiency through lighting control, heating and air conditioning control; automated meter reading; automated
entertainment control.
Among other things, smart, interconnected technology saves energy and makes the home more secure. It catches water leaks before they
become disastrous. It makes kitchen and housecleaning chores easier. And it changes up lighting and entertainment options to match
moods.
A great example of smart home technology are thermostats like Google’s Nest. This is an electronic, programmable, and self-learning Wi-
Fi-enabled thermostat that optimizes heating and cooling of homes and businesses to conserve energy.
The device is based on a machine learning algorithm: for the first few weeks, users have to regulate the thermostat manually in order to
provide the reference data set. The thermostat can then learn the residents’ schedule, at which temperature they are used to and when.
Using built-in sensors and phones' locations, it can shift into energy saving mode when it realizes nobody is at home.
The Nest infrastructure includes temperature sensors, cameras, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and can connect to your water
heater and environmental controls for heating and air conditioning.
Not all is rosy, though. Consumers who purchase a variety of different smart devices produced by a range of developers will likely face
problems when they try to get these solutions to work together, or to respond to a single unified command system. Other challenges
include guarding against security risks in the form of malicious hackers attempting to gain access to the system or individual devices like a
child’s smart toy.
Smart Wearable Devices
Wearable devices are now at the heart of almost every discussion related to the Internet of Things (IoT). Health & fitness oriented
wearable devices that offer biometric measurements such as heart rate, perspiration levels, blood pressure and even complex
measurements like oxygen levels in the bloodstream have become available.
Smart watches, fitness trackers, smart garments, smart medical attachments, data gloves – the market for wearable electronics is quickly
evolving beyond health care, fitness and wellness into infotainment, and commercial and industrial applications. Wearable electronics
consists of several areas: sensors, actuators, electronics and power supply or generation.
 Different types of wearable technology. (Source: EEE Access, vol. 6, pp. 13129-13141, 2018, doi: 10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2789329)
Whereas the first generation consisted mostly of detachable components – watches, armbands, rings, attachable sensors – the second
generation is moving towards textile-embedded sensors in smart clothing, actuators, and therapeutic solutions. These can be truly
called wearable electronics.
Smart contact lenses are already in development. They will enable various point-of-care monitoring and wireless biomedical sensing,
which may detect in real time the pathogen, bacteria, glucose, and infectious keratitis present in tear fluid. One example is a recently
developed sensor for diabetic and glaucoma diagnosis.

Smart Technology for Industry

Businesses in many industries – manufacturing, real estate, mobility, agriculture, retail, service, and other sectors – use IoT toward a wide
variety of objectives and tasks. Businesses are using sensors to track and manage inventory. They are integrating IoT-based monitoring to
optimize operations – from maintaining equipment to re-designing processes and spaces. Businesses are using IoT to ensure efficient use
of energy and monitor and mitigate security risks. They are using IoT to identify dangers to worker health and safety, and to manage and
enhance employees’ performance.
Smart Factory
The basic smart technologies enabling a Smart Factory are not that different from a smart home – sensors, actuators, computer
processing, algorithms and connectivity. But that’s where the similarities end. Modern factories are highly complex systems with
sophisticated processes and requirements.
The smart factory represents a leap forward from more traditional automation to a fully connected and flexible system—one that can use
a constant stream of data from connected operations and production systems to learn and adapt to new demands.
A commonly accepted definition of a smart factory is a flexible system that can self-optimize performance across a broad network, self-
adapt to and learn from new conditions in real or near-real time, and autonomously run entire production processes. The benefits are
greater asset efficiency, lower cost, better quality, and enhanced safety and sustainability.
Enabled by sensors, sophisticated data processing and interconnected components allow an environment in which machines, single
modules, entire systems, products, materials and humans organize themselves to optimize throughput with efficient resource usage.
 Five key characteristics of a smart factory. (click on image to enlarge) (Source: Deloitte University Press)
Smart factory systems even allow for direct communication between the product (work piece) and the production system: the product
contains all the necessary manufacturing information in electronic form with it, i.e., on an RFID chip. Based on this data, the way of the
product through the complete production chain can be tracked and traced.
Smart Logistics
Tracking and tracing then continue through the logistics chain, warehousing, and the way to the end user. Smart logistics can be defined as
the effective use of data for structuring traffic management and navigating traffic for optimal use of traffic system and logistics
management (organizing, planning, control and execution of the flow goods).
Smart logistics can be applied to public traffic networks like managing inner-city or highway traffic. Most commonly though, it refers to
solutions that improve efficient commercial transport and warehousing, and the facilitation of (inter)connectivity between different
logistics networks, for example for the exchange of transport orders between different parties and/or modalities.
Smart Agriculture
An important area for smart technologies has emerged in an area you don’t immediately associate with leading-edge technologies –
agriculture.
Smart agriculture, or smart farming, is driven by the rapidly rising use of IoT sensors to turn every element and action involved in farming
into data. This data can be supplemented by remotely collected data such as aircraft and satellites. One of the fundamental differences
between traditional and smart farming is, apart from the mechanization level, the data collected directly from the crops.
In traditional farms, where growers judge by visual assessment, decisions are relative and subjective. Smart farming offers assessment by
quantitative data producing objective decisions that can autonomously acted upon by field systems and robots (watering, use of fertilizers,
automatic differential harvesting, etc.).
 Information-based management cycle for advanced agriculture. (Source: Agronomy 2020, 10, 207; doi:10.3390/agronomy10020207)

Smart Technology in Healthcare

Health service systems are another area where smart technologies will have significant impact. Smart healthcare uses technology such as
wearable devices, IoT, and mobile internet to dynamically access information, connect people, materials and institutions related to
healthcare, and then actively manages and responds to medical ecosystem needs in an intelligent manner.
Smart healthcare can promote interaction between all parties in the healthcare field – patients, doctors, hospitals, insurers, laboratories,
research institutions, government agencies – to ensure that participants get the services they need, help the parties make informed
decisions, and facilitate the rational allocation of resources.
Smart healthcare includes functions like disease prevention and monitoring; diagnosis and treatment; smart hospital management
(services for medical staff, for patients, and for administrators); patient data management; agency reporting; health decision-making; and
medical/pharmaceutical research.

Illustration of an architecture for remote healthcare monitoring systems. (Source: EEE Access, vol. 6, pp. 13129-13141, 2018, doi:
10.1109/ACCESS.2017.2789329)

Smart Technology Serving Society – Smart Cities

The above examples showed the use of smart devices for individual users and for industry. But smart technology also plays a huge role in
government, infrastructure and civic environments – the buzzword being Smart City.
Utilizing environmental sensors, satellite data like GPS, utility meters, counters, cameras, and other connected devices has given cities
more expansive data at an unprecedented scale. Cities are using these data to measure environmental conditions, set goals, and manage
interventions that result in improvements for residents. They are tracking their fleets to optimize operations and implement preventive
maintenance. They are monitoring the use of energy and water to increase efficiency. They are analyzing the flow of people to better plan
public space.
When used in a collaborative environment, smart technologies allow sensors, databases, and wireless access to work together to sense,
adapt, and provide for users within the environment.
A smart city is a framework that embraces information and communication technologies to develop, deploy, and promote sustainable
development practices to address growing urbanization challenges. A big part of this framework is an IoT network of sensors and machines
throughout a city’s infrastructure and services.
Cloud-based IoT applications receive, analyze, and manage data in real-time to help municipalities, enterprises, and citizens make better
decisions that improve quality of life.
Citizens engage with smart city ecosystems in various ways using smartphones, connected cars, and their homes.
A smart city infrastructure helps a community to improve things like energy distribution, streamline trash collection, decrease traffic
congestion, and improve air quality. For example:
Sensors embedded in roads, streetlights, traffic lights, and cars continuously send data that allows monitoring systems to change traffic
light cadence and timing to respond to real-time traffic, reducing road congestion.
These sensor networks also accurately monitor environmental conditions like air quality, water runoff, fires, or even wildlife count.
Sensors will also allow structural health monitoring of infrastructure such as building, roads, dams and bridges.
Connected cars can communicate with parking meters and electric vehicle charging docks and direct drivers to the nearest available spot.
Smart garbage cans automatically send data to waste management companies and schedule pick-up as needed versus a pre-planned
schedule.
A smart utility grid empowers end users to be more aware of their energy uses and allow utility companies to deliver only as much energy,
water or gas as is needed.
Smart buildings utilize monitoring services that track usage to optimize electricity demands.
Citizens’ smartphone becomes their mobile driver’s license and ID card with digital credentials, which speeds and simplifies access to city
and local government services.