The event has coincided with the opening of Innovation Voucher application windows in Ireland and Northern Ireland and has gathered companies and wantrepreneurs interested in developing innovative products using technology, such as making a product or service internet enabled. According to WiSAR Lab, the Internet of Things (IoT) describes a revolution, already under way, in which we can see a growing number of internet-enabled devices: products that can network and communicate with each other and with other web-enabled gadgets. 

Attendants have had the opportunity to learn how to bring their product idea from concept to production with speakers from industry and from Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Moreover, they have exchanged know-how expertise, heard funding mechanism explained, seen some applications and case studies using the Internet of Things and visited WiSAR Lab and see demonstrations.

To start with, Stephen Seawright, WiSAR Gateway Manager, has showcased some Innovation Vouchers & practical examples from the WiSAR Lab, such as, wireless Golf Hazard Warning, warning wireless environmental control, wireless security system, energy efficient traffic light, marine asset management and pressure monitoring.

Jim Morrison, Head of Department of Electronic & Mechanical Engineering at the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, has presented a WiSAR Lab Innovation Partnership Case Study. He has explained that the objectives of this project were to create a common electronic platform for iShake and iMix machines, to have a universal energy efficient power supply and a remote access to parameters, among others. However, Morrison has mentioned the major challenges during this process as well. He has highlighted the following ones: managing client expectation, project time constraints, limited test environment and hardware, firmware and application software integration. As a final result, WiSAR delivered a functional prototype to the customer, who continued QA testing with support from WiSAR and within six months of delivery, the system was demonstrated at European Coatings Show 2017.

David Gray, CEO at Logpro Ltd, has talked about the Electronic Product Design, a tool to exploit the power of Internet of Things. He has presented Kelsius, a leader in digital temperature monitoring system in 2001, and DeltaTrak, a portable temperature controlled container. Gray has a keen interest in wireless networks and in 2012, he founded Logpro to exploit the emergence of the IoT. Currently, Logpro Ltd designs IoT solutions, including custom hardware and software development. An IoT solution consists of several individual components, these including the IoT (end) device, the communications network(s), the cloud based server/database/web interface and the end user.

Ben Graham, Senior Engineer at the WiSAR Lab, has explained how to connect your product to the Cloud. His area of work focuses mainly on hardware and firmware development of low power electronics.

John-Paul McCorley, Director at Arbarr Electronics has highlighted the electronic design for production. The Arbarr Group provides innovative, cost effective and high quality solutions for products and services to an expanding global consumer base in a large number of key sectors and markets. Throughout his career, McCorley has been involved in product and process improvement, with strong emphasis on commercialisation and utilising a blend of Six Sigma, TQM and Lean methodologies.

William Lee, Founder & CEO at The Design Factor has spoken about Design Evolution of an IoT Enabled Product. Lee has given an insight into the evolution of a product design. He believes that the linkage of differing design skills, allows to create complete and holistic solutions across a range of design disciplines to bring effective, stylish and consistent results. It is remarkable that their products can be web, graphic, 3D image and software.

Padraic Lynch from the Department of Design & Creative Media of the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, has given his insights on reaching end users through the multidisciplinary design area.

Ultan Faherty, Area Manager at WestBIC in the North-West region, has highlighted the financing area. One of their main objectives is the provision of business planning and project development support to new high-potential start-up projects and expanding knowledge intensive businesses. In his WestBIC support activities to the Halo Business Angel Network, Faherty matches private investors with pre-screened investment opportunities in start-up, early stage and developing business across many business sectors.

It is an Enterprise Ireland supported Applied Research Centre based in the Letterkenny Institute of Technology. Their core competences are electronics, embedded systems and wireless. Furthermore, their research is based on the application of wireless sensor networks to healthcare, wearables and minimising the power consumption of wireless devices used. Their main goal is to be a centre of excellence in the Internet of Things providing solutions to industry through collaborative R&D.