Automation is here to stay. The rise of the machine has proved a constant since the Industrial Revolution. However, acceleration in the pace of change at present is primarily down to digitisation, the 21st-century's phenomenon.
It is hard to believe Apple first launched the iPhone only 10 years ago, but digital mobile devices now proliferate in our personal lives and the technology is fast becoming ubiquitous. Much of the associated smart and intelligent infrastructure being developed is built upon an emerging ecosystem of sensors, with connectivity increasing at a rapid pace.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is effectively already here, with Gartner estimating 5.5m new things got connected every day last year.
The forecast date for the landmark total of 1trn sensors active worldwide has now been brought forward from 2030 to 2025. To put that number in perspective, this will mean over 120 sensors for every human on the planet.