"Adapting Libraries to the Internet of Things"

Presented by Channing Wong, Marin County Free Library

The Internet of Things (IoT) is made up of sensors (on physical devices like appliances) that connect to a computer platform that connect to apps on portable devices. Examples from science fiction are Star Trek devices and computer, or in 2001 where one person & a computer flies a spaceship.

Real life examples are pacemakers that can access a cellular network, small businesses doing credit card processing on devices, smart trash cans that send a message to waste managers when they're full, smart appliances that make coffee, turn on lights, etc. to wake you up, and bicycle helmets that tracks
biometrics. 

iBeacons were mentioned - small, inexpensive Bluetooth transmitters that can track you and send messages (e.g. items on sale), could turn on lights as patron approach, or perhaps could become a replacement for RFID. 

Suggestions for librarians: incremental changes – stay one step ahead.  Workshops for patrons on topics like cybersecurity, creating a secure password, who owns your data in the cloud, and online privacy.

There will be the need to upgrade infrastructure (increased demands on computer networks and Wi-Fi) and security systems.

Although there was some interesting information presented, I was disappointed that this presenter only used about half of his time and did not focus much on issues specific to libraries.