IT Leaders Prepare for Next Wave of Smarter and Smaller Connected Devices

Andi Mann is VP of Strategic Solutions at CA Technologies and an expert across cloud, mainframe, midrange, server and desktop systems. Andi is a brilliant guy and extremely knowledgeable. I spoke recently with him about a wide of topics, ranging from the "Internet of Cars" to smart cameras.

"We've all heard or read about the Internet of Things. But what excites me more is the Internet of Cars. Automakers are placing sensors in their cars and those sensors will enable a car to communicate in real time with other cars on the road. The upshot is that everyone driving has a better picture of what's going on ahead of them in terms of traffic, weather and road conditions. That kind of communication is fantastic, and it speaks to the value of IT in all of our lives," says Andi.

Andi is also interested in the newest generation of wearable technologies, and recently picked up a Garmin VIRB "action camera," which is a digital camera equipped with Wi-Fi and a high-sensitivity GPS. "I took it on a ski trip. It actually tracks you all over the mountain. You wear it and it tracks your speed and acceleration," Andi says. "I've paired it with a sensor for my heartbeat to make sure I'm not having a heart attack. It has a big button, so it's easy to operate - even when you're wearing ski gloves. It's wonderful!"

From Andi's perspective as an IT professional, devices like that are much more than toys - they represent the next big wave of technology. "Sure, I'm a bit of a data geek, but the point is that here's a device that's highly functional, use-specific and wearable. That's what the future of IT looks like."

Although noting that the small size of some wearable devices might limit their utility, Andi is still quite optimistic about their growing impact on business.

"We're not at the point where we can pack a full size computer into the form of a watch or a camera or a FitBit. You have to be selective about what you do. The one thing I have seen is the idea of wearables playing a role in mobile finance. Think about these watches... they're too small to do general purpose computing, but plenty big enough to do mobile payments or interact with loyalty programs. For example, At the Disney Resorts, you can make payments using a wristband. I think that sort of thing is going to be very interesting across a variety of business scenarios."

I really love how Andi's mind grasps how smarter and smaller technologies have the potential to fundamentally alter the IT universe. It's fair to say that we've moved beyond the "consumerization of IT" stage and we are entering a new era in which transformational technologies can emerge from almost anywhere. It's an exciting time to be in the IT industry, and the next generation of "smart devices" - whether they're cars, cameras or thermostats - will have a significant impact on all of us.   

You can read more about visionary IT thought leadership in my blog, The Transformational CIO, and in my newest book, Leading the Epic Revolution (Wiley, 2013).