International. With the growth of the IoT, buildings are undergoing a major transformation. Focusing on efficiency, comfort and productivity.
"Smart" is a term widely used today in the industry. This word describes everything that is connected to the internet, improving aspects of daily life, so one of the concepts that has proliferated the most is that of Smart Cities. Smart cities refer to those that have networks designed to obtain optimal connectivity for all their inhabitants. However, smart cities start even from inside buildings.
"Inside buildings, companies are changing the way access is secured with the help of technology. From an app on phones and biometric detection tools, building security is becoming more accurate and less complicated," said Jennifer Duits, Marketing Portfolio Manager at CommScope. "In addition, even sensors outside the building are used in security cameras, sprinkler systems or even to find available parking spots."
With this growth that the Internet of Things (IoT) has had, office buildings are also undergoing a great transformation. Today, for example, so-called smart lighting goes beyond turning lights on and off; in offices they can measure temperature, airflow and external factor relationships to optimize work sites and people's comfort, directly impacting productivity.
Similarly, there are already smart furniture that inside office buildings are helping to improve people's work experience. "Imagine a desk that automatically adjusts to your preferences, or that can let you know you've been sitting too long. With the functionality and comfort that this type of furniture can give you, people could focus more on their work, of course all connected to the network," added Jennifer Duit.
While most of the benefits of an office building are focused on efficiency, comfort, and productivity, none would be possible without proper connectivity:
- Security systems transmit information to the right equipment in the event of an intrusion or emergency for a faster response
- HVAC systems alert facility equipment when something stops working properly so it can be repaired
- Office equipment easily adjusts to a new user, so shared workspaces don't feel as "shared"
"The really important thing is to know that without proper connectivity, information can't pass through devices; without sufficient bandwidth the delivery of information is delayed, causing problems that can become greater. As more smart devices emerge and the number of smart devices connected to your building's network increases, your infrastructure could become obsolete. The question here is, is your building ready for what's next?" concluded Jennifer Duits, Marketing Portfolio Manager at CommScope.
