I’m Stacey Higginbotham, a journalist who has covered technology since 2001. I began covering semiconductors and worked my way up to covering radios, the wireless spectrum and broadband networks. From there it wasn’t too far a leap to cover the cloud, data centers and computing architectures. As I learned more I began to become more fascinated by the stuff were were able to do on these vast computing networks and the ever speedier mobile and wireline broadband networks. Finally, I’m in a place where my love of geeky technology has allowed me to bring together all the elements of the technology I’ve covered in more than a decade of reporting to this moment, where we’re creating the internet of things.
No matter what you call it, we’re at a pivotal moment in the evolution of human creativity, business creation and productivity gains. We could see the gains we make in these next few years help us conserve resources and let us lead safer and healthier lives or we could open the door to a dystopian society where our every thought is monitored and our every utterance is effectively for sale. I hope to explore all of these issues, the people who will make it possible and the devices that will lead us there in the IoT Podcast. I hope you will join me.
I liked the theme. But I’ll be the first to admit, I deal in words, not design. And this is frankly, a steep learning curve, but I’m almost there. Thanks for being patient.
I’ve submitted it. I’m just waiting on Apple at this point.
Hi Stacey,
I wanted to leave a quick note, I love your podcast! It is by far one of my absolute favorites! I work in the tech industry (enterprise consulting) and find your podcast highly informing and fascinating!
Keep doing what you do!
Best Wishes,
Aaron R
Thank you!
IoT Enthusiast !!
The thing is, I quite like this theme. It is distraction free and refreshing. If it’s not broke…
Thank you for your podcast. It is entertaining and educational. I am interested in the IoT and want to get started but the options are daunting. I am playing catch up at the moment (listening from first podcast through) but haven’t heard anything about Intel’s Edison. Are there no companies as of yet that have leveraged this platform for IoT? I am just curious. Thank you for the podcast and I hope to continue listening to more in the future!
BTW, I listen on an Android device using PocketCasts app. Not sure if you care about that sort of information but I thought I would share because data about your user base (or connected devices) is important.
thanks for the data 🙂
Keep up the good work!
Stacey – thanks for explaining in simple terms and in an entertaining way the complex Internet Of Things ; the different technologies; platforms and how it affects businesses and the world we live in. It is a bit like bringing a complex language down to simple words that are understandable.
Please spell out acronyms, not everyone understands them (especially the ‘older folks’ lol)
Hildegard
Oh nuts. We will try to be better. And I’ll try to get my guests to explain their acronyms or tech jargon too. Thank you!
Would have pegged you as an engineer Stacy! Glad to finally find someone who loves lighting and iot devices as much as i do! I am a 27 yr old mechanical engineer/ back end programmer whose apartment now resembles an iot mad scientist’s laboratory. I listen to your podcast every week and the only downside is that it constantly keeps my wheels turning and thus my boyfriend is constantly subjected to this never ending turnover of tech.
So glad you and Kevin find the time to do this so regularly!!!
I was happy to find out you are a fellow Austinite 🙂
Love your weekly podcast and your helping out Leo on TWIG.
Would love more info on unique ways people are implementing smart home technology. How they teach the humans and their guests to interact with the smart home devices.
With my tv, lights and echoes in my home all being smart, it’s the humans and their guests that don’t know what to do or what to say. Smart homes can only do so much ????
Stacey,
Great podcast, and while some of the devices may not make sense to me (filters that automatically reorder!),
Feel that I am slowly getting reconnected to the IOT world (no pun intended) thanks to your show. Great guests, and also learnt that your co-host Kevin’s last name is spelt like the English language test.
Thank you! The filters are strange. We’ll talk about the overall experience next show.
Stacey, i just want to tell my lights to on or off. Is there ANYWAY to do that for under $50 ?
Dale
You could do it for under $80 with an iPhone and the Philips Hue starter kit that supports HomeKit. If you have an Echo already, the Osram starter kit could work for $54 (you need the bridge and the light). Or you can install the LIFX white light for $30 and combine it with an Echo. But this assumes you have an Echo.
Hi Stacey
I became a fan when you were writing for GigaOm (I’m still in mourning) and I really enjoy TWIG with you on the show. Thanks for your continued awesomeness.
Thank you. I still mourn Gigaom too.
Stacy,
Here’s a tip for a storyline with respect to IoT security. There’s a ton of prior art/experience with the original IoT device…which is in fact nearing two decades old. The VoIP phone.
Everything that was learned years ago about locking down IP-PBX and IP phones is now applicable to IoT. It’s a simple contextual pivot.
I like the analogy, but I’m not sure if VoIP phones had the challenge of talking to other devices, like IoT gadgets need to. And I’m not sure how the apps that govern today’s devices map to a VoIP world where access was physical and remote via calling in with a password.
Hi Stacey. I’m an educator, maker & technologist who teaches IoT (among other things). I call IFTTT the “duct tape for the Internet of Things” — and have done so since before they named their recipes applets.
Love your podcast and for the insights. Microsoft is a dark horse and is devoting resources to R&D, as you said.
Stacey,
I started listening to your podcast in 2014, before the switch and your new co-host Kevin. I really love it and listen to every episode. What I really like about it, outside of the current happenings of everything IoT reported, is your -enthusiasm- about it…it comes out in the way you sing your words at times…LOVE IT! Keep up the great work. Happy 2017 to you, your family, and Kevin T.
Stacey, I enjoy your insights and comments on your IoT Podcast and appearances on TWiG/TWiT.
As way of introduction…
I’ve been ‘playing’ with IoT devices for 4 years or so and adding devices as I see a need or an automation ‘itch’ that needs to be scratched.
My best example of ‘need’ is the two lamps in our den that use 3-way bulbs (50-100-150) and 3-way bulbs don’t last very long.
I bought the Lutron Caseta dimmable wall plug, bought two 150 watt bulbs, plugged them in and found out I had to buy a Wink Hub . Once the Wink was set up linked to my Echo I was good to go! And I don’t have to change bulbs as often and I get an infinite range of wattage/lumens (am I the only one who tells Alexa to turn on lamps at 73.59%?).
On to the comment –
My observation is why hasn’t Best Buy, Home Depot, Fry’s or someone created an IoT area in their stores? Purchasing these devices is too fragmented. I understand the need for protocols standards, but if I need to go to multiple stores and manufacturers to piece all this together we’ll never get to where we want to be.
If we agree with Om that it’s really the ‘Internet-of-Tinkering’ then wouldn’t it help the average consumer to see how these things fit together? This would especially be a business opportunity for Best Buy: leverage ‘Geek Squad’ to do installs and maintenance.
The sales area could be broken into 4 sections –
1) Entertainment [e.g. Smart TVs, Audio, IPTV, etc…]
2) Security/Safety [e.g. Cameras, Door locks, Fire alarms, etc..]
3) Home Automation [e.g. Lighting, Thermostats, Garage Door Openers, Sprinklers, Appliances ???, etc…)
4) Infrastructure [e.g. Routers, Voice Platforms, Hubs, Phones/Apps (???) etc…]
Am I crazy? I really think this area would generate foot traffic that otherwise might not even go in the store. I also realize, individually, most of these devices are not ‘big ticket’ items. But, stores will make it up in volume. Your may purchase a single WeMo at $50 today. But next week you will buy three more and a thermostat.
What is happening on the retail side to get consumers more engaged and educated?
Thanks, Lee
You aren’t crazy, but you aren’t a mainstream adopter. So far the retailers experimented with hubs and their own ecosystems and those failed. Then they put devices on the floor, but those aren’t seeing huge adoption for retailers outside of a few specific devices such as the Nest. Stores do find that when someone buys one smart home device they tend to buy more, but overall not enough people are buying connected devices yet.
Great podcast. I just recently discovered. episode idea: Hook home hub review.
Stacy – Love the podcast beyond being entertained by you and Kevin I its great for the pointers to industry trends like the BCG IoT study.
Did you see the story on IoT Challenge on IoT security, its a few weeks old? My big take away is there still is a long way to go with monitoring networks.
https://www.mitre.org/news/press-releases/mitre-announces-winner-of-internet-of-things-iot-challenge
check out the tp link wifi switches .i am using them and they are google home and alexa compatible. they are cheaper than the lutron and other switches
thansks
Stacey,
What is your take on the new iphonex? Do you believe it will have IoT comparable features?
Depth sensing has IoT potential, but phones in general are just smarter nodes and a really good sensor for IoT. So i don’t see it changing the game fundamentally.
Thank you so much for taking the time each week to create this podcast! As an aspiring journalist and entrepreneur in technology, Internet of Things has been a constant source of inspiration.
Hi Stacey/Kevin
I really appreciate and trust your point over view and analysis on IOT as well as everything digital. I follow your work on TWIT and your IOT podcast.
I want to add my encouragement for you start an affiliate link website. The time delay from listening to you talk about and recommend a product and me finally actioning purchasing it can be months. Being able to remember what smart plug or switch what device you recommended can be difficult. So unfortunately I end up the defaulting to the wire cutter. I would much rather support you and your site.
Keep up the great work.
Thank you. I appreciate your willingness to support us and the site. I’ll get it started 🙂
Your explanation in simple terms makes me more understand the complexity of Internet things; the different technologies; platforms and how it affects businesses. Good Job! I read some of your work on TWIT and your IOT podcast.
Thank you