Complete Design of Embedded Systems – Development of IoT

Applications – Home Automation –Smart Agriculture – Smart Cities –

Smart Healthcare.

Complete Design of Embedded Systems

An Embedded system is a controller, which controls many other electronic

devices. It is a combination of embedded hardware and software.
There are two types of embedded systems microprocessors and micro-
controller. Micro-processor is based on von Neumann model/architecture
(where program + data resides in the same memory location), it is an
important part of the computer system, where external processors and
peripherals are interfaced to it.
It occupies more area and has more power consumption.
The application of the microprocessor is personal computers.

What is an Embedded System Design?

Definition: A system designed with the embedding of hardware and software together
for a specific function with a larger area is embedded system design. In embedded
system design, a microcontroller plays a vital role. Micro-controller is based on
Harvard architecture, it is an important component of an embedded system. External
processor, internal memory and i/o components are interfaced with the
microcontroller. It occupies less area, less power consumption. The application of
microcontrollers is MP3, washing machines.

Embedded Design
Types of Embedded Systems
● Stand-Alone Embedded System
● Real-Time Embedded System
● Networked Appliances
● Mobile devices
Elements of Embedded Systems
● Processor
● Microprocessor
● Microcontroller
● Digital signal processor.

Steps in the Embedded System Design Process

The different steps in the embedded system design flow/flow
diagram include the following.

Embedded design – process – steps

Abstraction
In this stage the problem related to the system is abstracted.

Hardware – Software Architecture

Proper knowledge of hardware and software to be known before starting any design
process.
Extra Functional Properties
Extra functions to be implemented are to be understood completely from the main
design.

System Related Family of Design

When designing a system, one should refer to a previous system-related family of
design.

Modular Design
Separate module designs must be made so that they can be used later on when
required.

Mapping
Based on software mapping is done. For example, data flow and program flow are
mapped into one.

User Interface Design

In user interface design it depends on user requirements, environment analysis and
function of the system. For example, on a mobile phone if we want to reduce the
power consumption of mobile phones we take care of other parameters, so that
power consumption can be reduced.

Refinement
Every component and module must be refined appropriately so that the
software team can understand.
Architectural description language is used to describe the software design.
● Control Hierarchy
● Partition of structure
● Data structure and hierarchy
● Software Procedure.

Embedded System Design Software Development Process Activities

There are various design metric required to design any system to function properly,
they are

Design Metrics / Design Parameters of an

Embedded System

Function
Power Dissipation
Always maintained low
Performance
Should be high
 Process Deadlines The process/task should be completed
within a specified time.
Manufacturing Cost
Should be maintained.

Engineering Cost It is the cost for the edit-test-debug of

hardware and software.

Size Size is defined in terms of memory RAM/

ROM/Flash Memory/Physical Memory.

Prototype It is the total time taken for developing a

system and testing it.
System safety should be taken like phone
Safety locking, user safety like engine break down
safety measure must be taken

Maintenance Proper maintenance of the system must be

taken, in order to avoid system failure.

Time to market It is the time taken for the product/system

developed to be launched into the market.
Embedded software development process activities mainly include the following.

Specifications

Proper specifications are to be made so that the customer who uses the product can
go through the specification of the product and use it without any confusion.
Designers mainly focus on specifications like hardware, design constraints, life cycle
period, resultant system behavior.

Architecture

Hardware and Software architecture layers are specified.

Components

In this layer, components design is done. Components like single process processor,
memories- RAM/ROM, peripheral devices, buses..etc.

System Integration

In this layer, all the components are integrated into the system and tested whether its
meeting designers, expectations.

Challenges in Embedded System Design

While designing any embedded system, designers face lots of challenges like as
follows,
● Environment adaptability
 ● Power consumption
● Area occupied
● Packaging and integration
● Updating in hardware and software
● Security
● There are various challenges the designers face while testing the design
like Embedded hardware testing, Verification stage, Validation
Maintainability.

Embedded System Design Examples

● Automatic chocolate vending machine (ACVM)
● Digital camera
● Smart card
● Mobile phone
● Mobile computer. etc.

Development of IoT Applications

Home Automation

Overview:
● Home automation is constructing automation for a domestic, mentioned
as a sensible home or smart house. In the IoT home automation
ecosystem, you can control your devices like light, fan, TV, etc. 
● A domestic automation system can monitor and/or manage home
attributes adore lighting, climate, enjoyment systems, and appliances. It is
very helpful to control your home devices. 
● It’s going to in addition incorporates domestic security such as access
management and alarm systems. Once it coupled with the internet,
domestic gadgets are a very important constituent of the Internet of
Things.
● A domestic automation system usually connects controlled devices to a
central hub or gateway. 
● The program for control of the system makes use of both wall-mounted
terminals, tablet or desktop computers, a smartphone application, or an
online interface that may even be approachable off-site through the
Internet.
● Smart Home automation refers to the use of technology to control and
automate various functions in a home, such as lighting, heating, air
conditioning, and security. In the context of IoT (Internet

of Things) and M2M (Machine-to-Machine) communications, home

automation systems can be controlled and monitored remotely through a
network connection. 
● One of the key benefits of IoT-enabled home automation is the ability to
control and monitor a wide range of devices and systems from a single,
centralized location, such as a smartphone or tablet. This can include
 everything from lighting and temperature control to security cameras and
alarm systems.
● Another advantage of IoT-enabled home automation is the ability to
remotely monitor and control devices, even when away from home. This
can be useful for controlling energy consumption and ensuring the safety
and security of the home.
● IoT-enabled home automation systems typically involve the use of smart
devices, such as thermostats, light bulbs, and security cameras, that can
be controlled and monitored through a centralized hub or app. These
smart devices can communicate with each other and with the centralized
hub using wireless protocols such as Zigbee, Z-Wave, and Bluetooth.
● In addition, IoT-enabled home automation systems can integrate with
other smart home technologies, such as voice assistants like Alexa and
Google Home, to provide additional functionality and convenience.
● Overall, IoT-enabled home automation can provide many benefits to
homeowners, including increased convenience, energy efficiency, and
security. However, it is important to ensure the security of these systems,
as they may be vulnerable to hacking and other cyber threats.

Components:

Here, you will see the smart home components like smart lighting, smart appliances,
intrusion detection, smoke/gas detector, etc. So, let’s discuss it.
Component-1:

Smart Lighting –
● Smart lighting for home helps in saving energy by adapting the life to the
ambient condition and switching on/off or dimming the light when needed.
● Smart lighting solutions for homes achieve energy saving by sensing the
human movements and their environments and controlling the lights
accordingly.
Component-2:

Smart Appliances –
● Smart appliances with the management are here and also provide status
information to the users remotely.
● Smart washer/dryer can be controlled remotely and notify when the
washing and drying are complete.
● Smart refrigerators can keep track of the item store and send updates to
the users when an item is low on stock.
Component-:

Intrusion Detection –
● Home intrusion detection systems use security cameras and sensors to
detect intrusion and raise alerts.
● Alert can we inform of an SMS or an email sent to the user.
● Advanced systems can even send detailed alerts such as an image
shoot or short video clips.
Component-4:

Smoke/gas detectors –
● Smoke detectors are installed in homes and buildings to detect smoke
that is typically an early sign of Fire.
● It uses optical detection, ionization for Air sampling techniques to detect
smoke.
● Gas detectors can detect the presence of harmful gases such as CO,
LPG, etc.
● It can raise alerts in the human voice describing where the problem is.

Smart Agriculture
Smart Agriculture is a topic that covers the many applications of Internet of
Things (IoT) technology in farming, agrotech and agriculture.
The use of sensors, data collection, wireless networks, cloud platforms and
data analysis is already revolutionising the farming and agricultural sectors.

The primary benefits include:

● Increased production.
● Lower production costs.
● Operational efficiencies.
● Real-time and intelligent cost management.
These items will either increase revenues, reduce costs – maximising your
profits while also having the potential to reduce environmental impact.
There is real momentum behind IoT technology in agriculture and farming –
with many analysts predicting both the market and the adoption of Smart
Agriculture technology to sky-rocket as more firms recognise the benefits.

IOT Use Cases: Smart Agriculture

Traditional farming would be focused on acres of land, making general
decisions based on historical data, experience and ‘feel’.
These decisions could determine the use of fertiliser, irrigation, pesticides
and harvesting.
With the advent of IoT; Smart Agriculture and precision farming utilise
 sensors, GPS, mapping and data analytics to provide accurate, real-time insights
that you can use to tailor your activity and investment for maximum return.
Systems can recommend calibrated doses of fertiliser, targeted irrigation and
early identification of diseases or substandard conditions.
Intelligent software can make recommendations, trigger alarms and allow
you to visualise the data.
You can access the reports and insights using a web browser, mobile or
tablet device.

Precision farming and Smart Agriculture enhances the visibility, control and insight that
you have concerning your farm. These factors translate into better time
management, improved decision making and the more practical application of
resources (i.e. Fertiliser, Irrigation) – producing healthier crops, higher yields and
allows you to conserve resources. All of these factors translate to less work, higher
revenues and reduced cost.

Libelium Smart Agriculture Xtreme

Sensors are installed in the fields to monitor the temperature, pH and
moisture levels of the soil, precipitation, leaf water potential, fertiliser presence
and soil morphology.
This data is transmitted back to the cloud for further analysis.
The Libelium Plug&Sense Smart Agriculture unit can monitor all of these
parameters.
The unit is mounted and the probes installed into the earth or adjacent to the
plants – and the software continually monitors different parameters.
The system would take measurements before transmitting the data to the
cloud so that you can control it remotely.
● California produces 80% of the world’s Almonds. A study found that
a single Almond can consume 3.8L of water to grow. With Smart farming,
soil moisture levels are monitored continuously, dramatically reducing
unnecessary irrigation and watering.
● A 1969 Potato research study found to obtain the highest yields of
Potatoes, soil moisture should never drop below 50%, the first foot should
 be 20%, and a sudden onset of moisture can introduce growth cracks,
second growth and knobby tubers. Precision monitoring of soil moisture
can optimise these parameters.
These are just two examples of what is possible. Specific applications and
opportunities will vary by crop.
Some applications of Internet of Things Smart Farming Technologies:
● Soil moisture monitoring (including conductivity and pH).
● IoT irrigation control. Activate irrigation valves when the soil
moisture drops below a certain level.
● Soil nutrient analysis. There are a range of emerging sensors that
can monitor NPK levels in soil.
● Solar radiation. Monitor levels of solar radiation to use in digital
models that predict plant growth, health and risk of disease.
● Weather stations. The ability to monitor wind, rain, temperature and
humidity are important factors in both arable and livestock farming.
● Livestock tracking. GPS-enabled asset tracking can be attached to a
collar, allowing the farmer to determine the location of their livestock.
● Autonomous farm vehicles – reduce the human labour associated
with driving and operating vehicles.
● Agricultural drones allow farmers to survey their fields with ease;
using imaging technology to recognise disease, pests or other issues
relating to growth.

Smart Cities

The Internet of Things (IoT) in smart cities has witnessed wide adoption. It
helps improve efficiency, reduce costs, and enhance residents’ quality of life.
It uses IoT-powered devices, such as connected Bluetooth sensors, RFID tags
and meters, to collect real-time data for future analysis.
Using this data, the municipalities can improve infrastructure, services,
public utilities, and more.
Here are some real-world IoT smart city examples:

Smart Traffic Management

IoT sensors can be installed on traffic lights, roadways, and vehicles to
collect data on traffic patterns, congestion, and accidents.
This data can be used to optimize traffic flow, reduce congestion, and
improve road safety.
These solutions utilize sensors and GPS data from the rider’s smartphone to
report the location and speed of a vehicle.
Further, historical data enables the prediction of preferred routes and prevent
potential congestion problems.

Real-life application:
New York: Piloting a project of connected vehicles (CTV) to eliminate traffic-
related accidents, injuries, and damage to life and property.
Los Angeles: Has implemented CCTV and road-surface sensors to control
 traffic flow with real-time updates. The city has also deployed smart controllers
that auto-adjust traffic lights based on changing traffic conditions.

Smart Parking
IoT sensors can be installed in parking spaces to detect when a spot is
occupied and transmit that information to a central server.
This data can guide drivers to available parking spots, reducing congestion
and search time.
The sensors embedded in the ground transmit the data to the cloud,
immediately notifying the driver whenever a nearby parking spot is vacant.

Real-life application:
London (UK): The Smart Park project deployed in Westminster allows drivers to
locate parking spaces on-the-go. It eliminates the hassles of time-consuming
searches for a vacant spot and alleviates congestion.

Public Safety
IoT-enabled cameras and sensors can be installed in public spaces to
monitor potential security threats, such as suspicious activity or unattended
bags.
IoT-enabled solutions come integrated with analytics, real-time tracking, and
decision-making capabilities.
Analyzing the data generated from CCTV cameras & acoustic sensors
embedded throughout the city and the data generated from social media
feeds helps predict potential crime incidents.
This can help law enforcement agencies respond quickly and effectively to
potential threats.

Real-life example:
New York (USA): NYC fire department uses predictive modeling and data analytics to
identify crime hot spots.
The city has also deployed a gunshot detection solution that uses connected
microphones to transmit data to a cloud platform.
This platform records the time taken by the sound of a gunshot to reach the
microscope and estimates the gun’s location to alert the police on a mobile
app

Waste Management
Waste collection operators use IoT-powered solutions to optimize collection
schedules & routes with real-time tracking of waste levels, fuel consumption,
and use of waste containers.
IoT sensors can be installed in garbage cans and recycling bins to monitor
the fill level and optimize waste collection routes, reducing costs and
environmental impact.
Every container is embedded with a sensor that records waste levels. Once a
container nears the threshold level, the truck driver receives an instant
notification on a mobile app to empty a full container and avoid emptying it
when it’s half-full.
Real-life example:
New Jersey (USA): The municipality of East Brunswick has rolled out a recycling
app enabled with IoT capabilities.
It helps improve their communication with residents to create a positive
environmental impact.
The app connects all the residents to improve recycling rates and reduce
waste.

Utility Management
IoT-equipped smart solutions enable citizens to save their money on home
utilities with:
● Energy management: IoT sensors can be installed in buildings and homes to
monitor energy usage and optimize energy consumption, reducing costs and
carbon emissions.
● Smart lighting: IoT sensors can be installed in streetlights to adjust the
lighting level based on ambient light, reducing energy consumption and
pollution.
● Water management: IoT sensors can be installed in water distribution
systems to monitor water quality, detect leaks, and optimize water usage,
reducing costs and conserving resources.
Remote Monitoring
IoT-based smart city solutions also enable efficient utility management for
citizens.
They allow residents to use their meters to track and control resource
consumption.
For instance, a homeowner can turn off their HVAC system using a
smartphone app.
And in case of issues like leakages or potential failures, utility companies
can notify households and send specialists for timely repairs and
maintenance.

Real-life example:
New York (USA): MyNYCHA is a web application used for creating &
managing public housing services online for 300+ public developments.
This free service allows residents to submit, schedule and track their repair
and maintenance tickets online.
Residents can also subscribe to notifications in case of outages, shortages,
and upcoming rent payments.

Environmental Well-being
IoT-powered solutions help municipalities remotely monitor environmental
conditions.
For instance, sensors are attached to water grids to inspect their quality and
trigger notifications in case of leakages or changes in the chemical
composition of water.
The same technology is also used for measuring air quality in areas prone to
pollutants and is critical to recommending solutions that improve air quality.

Real-life example:
 Copenhagen (Denmark): Has set the green standard high by deploying
smart grids to reduce carbon emissions from heating systems.
This project includes new energy infrastructures that integrate all energy
forms, including electric transport, energy-efficient buildings, and HVAC
systems at full scale.

Public Transport
Traffic operators can use the data from sensors embedded in multiple
sources to analyze and identify patterns of using public transport.
This data helps achieve a standardized level of safety & timeliness while
cutting wait times and enhancing the traveling experience for citizens. 
A smart city can also embed BLE beacons on roads and bridges to monitor
wear and tear and repair them immediately in case of impending damage.

Real-life example:
London: Train operators use IoT technology to accurately forecast the
payload of train passenger cars on their journey in and out of the city.
They unify the data from CCTV cameras, sensors, and ticket sales to predict
the number of passengers every car will load.
When a train comes to the station, operators can encourage passengers to
disperse across the train for uniform loading and optimal use of capacity.
Overall, IoT technology is a valuable tool for improving the efficiency and
sustainability of smart cities, making them more liveable and enjoyable for
residents.

Benefits of IoT in Smart Cities

IoT-based smart cities leverage the combined use of apps, connected
systems, buildings, devices, and more to create efficient living & working
environments. Here are just a few of its many benefits:
● Improved infrastructure management: IoT technology can be used to monitor
and manage the city’s infrastructure, including bridges, roads, and buildings.
This can help identify maintenance needs, reduce downtime, and improve
overall safety.
● Enhanced public safety: IoT-enabled sensors and cameras can help improve
public safety by detecting potential security threats, tracking criminal activity,
and monitoring emergency response times.
● Efficient transportation: IoT helps optimize public transportation routes,
reduce congestion, and improve traffic flow. Connected vehicles can also
communicate with each other and with traffic systems, enabling safer and
more efficient travel.
● Energy efficiency: IoT technology enables monitoring and managing energy
use in buildings and public spaces, reducing energy waste and saving costs.
● Improved waste management: IoT sensors can help optimize waste
collection routes, reducing the environmental impact of garbage collection
and lowering costs.
● Enhance citizen engagement: IoT-enabled platforms can enable citizens to
participate in city planning, and provide feedback on urban services, and
report issues in real time.
● Health and wellness: IoT can be used to monitor air quality, detect
 environmental hazards, and track health trends, providing valuable data for
public health officials to develop policies that improve citizen’s health. Overall,
IoT in smart cities can help improve the quality of life for citizens, drive innovation and
economic growth, and create a more sustainable and resilient future.

Smart City Implementation Model

Whether municipalities want to implement sustainable development practices, improve
traffic management, or automate waste collection – they need to have a basic smart city
platform in place.
With the help of an IoT application development company the architecture of this
platform can be easily updated with new technologies if the municipality wishes to
expand its range of services

Here’s a six-step implementation plan to build a secure, scalable, and stable IoT
architecture for rolling out smart city initiatives:
Critical Components of an IoT-Based Platform
● Sensors collect data and transmit it to a centralized cloud platform.
● Actuators to enable devices to act – restrict water flow, modify the lighting,
notify about impending repairs, etc.
● Field Gateways to enable data collection, compression, and secure
transmission between network nodes and the cloud part.
● Data Lake to store information in its raw, unstructured format until it is
needed for extracting meaningful insights.
● Data Warehouse to contain all the structured and defined data about
connected devices and control apps.

Tracking & Analytics

Smart cities can monitor the device environment and predefine rules to control
pipelines, electronic valves, and distribution systems based on a set criterion. The
collected data can be visualized on a centralized dashboard to stay on top of every
public utility service.
Predictive Models
Deep analytics leverages machine learning algorithms and statistical analysis to
reveal patterns and correlations in historical data. This information is then used to
create predictive models employed in control applications to command the actuators
embedded in connected devices and vehicles.
Automated Controls
Control applications enable the automation of connected objects by sending
commands to complete a specific task. These apps can be rule-based or ML-based,
depending on the application.
User Applications
A desktop user app for traffic control centers to alter signals, re-route part of the
traffic, and relieve congestion. A mobile app that uses GPS data detects a jam and
notifies the driver to take a different route.
Integrations
A smart city can integrate its traffic management solution with intelligent air quality
monitoring software. This cross-solution integration helps control both traffic and air
quality dynamically.
hat can IoT do for

Smart Healthcare
Before Internet of Things, patients’ interactions with doctors were limited to
visits, and tele and text communications.
There was no way doctors or hospitals could monitor patients’ health
continuously and make recommendations accordingly.
Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled devices have made remote monitoring in the
healthcare sector possible, unleashing the potential to keep patients safe and
healthy, and empowering physicians to deliver superlative care.
It has also increased patient engagement and satisfaction as interactions
with doctors have become easier and more efficient. Furthermore, remote
monitoring of patient’s health helps in reducing the length of hospital stay
and prevents re-admissions. IoT also has a major impact on reducing
 healthcare costs significantly and improving treatment outcomes.
IoT is undoubtedly transforming the healthcare industry by redefining the
space of devices and people interaction in delivering healthcare solutions. IoT
has applications in healthcare that benefit patients, families, physicians,
hospitals and insurance companies.

IoT for Patients 

Devices in the form of wearables like fitness bands and other wirelessly connected
devices like blood pressure and heart rate monitoring cuffs, glucometer etc. give patients
access to personalized attention.
These devices can be tuned to remind calorie count, exercise check, appointments,
blood pressure variations and much more.
IoT has changed people’s lives, especially elderly patients, by enabling constant tracking
of health conditions. This has a major impact on people living alone and their families.
On any disturbance or changes in the routine activities of a person, alert mechanism
sends signals to family members and concerned health providers.

IoT for Physicians

By using wearables and other home monitoring equipment embedded with IoT,
physicians can keep track of patients’ health more effectively.
They can track patients’ adherence to treatment plans or any need for immediate
medical attention.
IoT enables healthcare professionals to be more watchful and connect with the patients
proactively.
Data collected from IoT devices can help physicians identify the best treatment process
for patients and reach the expected outcomes.

IoT for Hospitals

Apart from monitoring patients’ health, there are many other areas where IoT devices
are very useful in hospitals.
IoT devices tagged with sensors are used for tracking real time location of medical
equipment like wheelchairs, defibrillators, nebulizers, oxygen pumps and other monitoring
equipment.
Deployment of medical staff at different locations can also be analysed real time.
The spread of infections is a major concern for patients in hospitals. IoT-enabled
hygiene monitoring devices help in preventing patients from getting infected.
IoT devices also help in asset management like pharmacy inventory control, and
environmental monitoring, for instance, checking refrigerator temperature, and humidity
and temperature control.

IoT for Health Insurance Companies

There are numerous opportunities for health insurers with IoT-connected intelligent
devices.
Insurance companies can leverage data captured through health monitoring devices for
their underwriting and claims operations.
This data will enable them to detect fraud claims and identify prospects for
underwriting.
IoT devices bring transparency between insurers and customers in the underwriting,
pricing, claims handling, and risk assessment processes.
 In the light of IoT-captured data-driven decisions in all operation processes, customers
will have adequate visibility into underlying thought behind every decision made and
process outcomes.
Insurers may offer incentives to their customers for using and sharing health data
generated by IoT devices.
They can reward customers for using IoT devices to keep track of their routine activities
and adherence to treatment plans and precautionary health measures.
This will help insurers to reduce claims significantly.
IoT devices can also enable insurance companies to validate claims through the data
captured by these devices.
IoT has a four-step architecture that are basically stages in a process (See Figure ).
All four stages are connected in a manner that data is captured or processed at one
stage and yields the value to the next stage.
Integrated values in the process brings intuitions and deliver dynamic business
prospects.

Step 1: First step consists of deployment of interconnected devices that includes sensors,
actuators, monitors, detectors, camera systems etc. These devices collect the data.
Step 2: Usually, data received from sensors and other devices are in analog form, which need to
be aggregated and converted to the digital form for further data processing.
Step 3: Once the data is digitized and aggregated, this is pre-processed, standardized and moved
to the data centre or Cloud.
Step 4: Final data is managed and analysed at the required level. Advanced Analytics, applied to
this data, brings actionable business insights for effective decision-making.
IoT is redefining healthcare by ensuring better care, improved treatment outcomes and
reduced costs for patients, and better processes and workflows, improved performance
and patient experience for healthcare providers.

The four stages of IoT solutions

The major advantages of IoT in healthcare include:

● Cost Reduction: IoT enables patient monitoring in real time, thus significantly
cutting down unnecessary visits to doctors, hospital stays and re-admissions
● Improved Treatment: It enables physicians to make evidence-based informed
decisions and brings absolute transparency
● Faster Disease Diagnosis: Continuous patient monitoring and real time data
helps in diagnosing diseases at an early stage or even before the disease
develops based on symptoms
● Proactive Treatment: Continuous health monitoring opens the doors for
providing proactive medical treatment
● Drugs and Equipment Management: Management of drugs and medical
equipment is a major challenge in a healthcare industry. Through connected
devices, these are managed and utilized efficiently with reduced costs
● Error Reduction: Data generated through IoT devices not only help in
effective decision making but also ensure smooth healthcare operations with
reduced errors, waste and system costs
Healthcare IoT is not without challenges. IoT-enabled connected devices capture huge
amounts of data, including sensitive information, giving rise to concerns about data
security.
Implementing apt security measures is crucial.
IoT explores new dimensions of patient care through real-time health monitoring and
access to patients’ health data.
This data is a goldmine for healthcare stakeholders to improve patient’s health and
experiences while making revenue opportunities and improving healthcare operations.
Being prepared to harness this digital power would prove to be the differentiator in the
increasingly connected world.