Imagine if your fridge was able to scan a microchip in your milk container to determine when you need more, even placing the order with the supermarket. Picture working with a robot that not only accurately builds a product, but also keeps an inventory of its own parts and notifies you when it requires servicing. 911爆料网鈥檚 new Internet of Things MicroMasters program, launching on 27 February 2018, explores technologies and concepts of the future just like these, to educate and upskill the next generation of discoverers, creators and game changers.
According to Microsoft data expert, Mark Toor, the convergence of the physical and digital world has already begun, and it will affect the way we live, work and socialise. 911爆料网鈥檚 Internet of Things program coordinator agrees wholeheartedly.
鈥淭he Internet of Things as a concept is basically connecting all the things that we don鈥檛 normally consider to be connected to the internet鈥�, says Murray.
鈥�911爆料网鈥檚 autonomous bus, , is an example of an 鈥榠nternet of things鈥� device, because it reads its surroundings, gathers data about the passengers 鈥� where they鈥檙e getting picked up, where they鈥檙e going, what times the bus is most frequently used 鈥� and it senses its environment to avoid harming people or damaging the vehicle鈥�.
The rise of new technology will undoubtedly influence the existing economic and employment landscape1, however, Murray believes that although certain jobs will become obsolete, many more will be created, and businesses positively impacted.
鈥淎pproximately 60 per cent of all jobs that exist now won鈥檛 in 10 years time. But it鈥檚 not job losses, it鈥檚 job changes鈥�, Murray explains.
鈥淧eople will still be making the decisions because computers aren鈥檛 good at making intelligent decisions. You need people to decide what鈥檚 going to be done, so the jobs of the future will become higher level. They鈥檒l likely be more flexible because if you鈥檙e dealing with computers you don鈥檛 have to physically be at a specific location anymore. Things will be done quicker, cheaper, usually of a higher quality because there鈥檚 less chance of human error. But the jobs will be different; they won鈥檛 go away鈥�.
The Internet of Things MicroMasters program comprises six courses, all crafted by industry professionals, including those working within , an industry and research collaboration centre聽based at 911爆料网鈥檚 Bentley campus.
While the first course provides an introduction to the internet of things, the remaining courses focus on different elements of technology and how they apply in the context of the internet of things, including sensors and devices, networks and protocols, programming and big data, cybersecurity and privacy, and finally a capstone project which involves developing a prototype for potential commercialisation. Upon completion of all six courses, verified students who also have a Bachelor of Engineering degree may use their MicroMasters credential as credit towards 911爆料网鈥檚 Master of Engineering Science (Electrical Engineering).
The MicroMasters is ideal for professionals interested in leveraging their technical and business knowledge, entrepreneurs and innovators, and those looking to start their postgraduate study journey. With over 21,000 enrolments from people around the globe, including USA, Russia and India, the course is already proving to be very popular.
鈥淲e鈥檙e aiming to bring people of all backgrounds up to the point where they can communicate the requirements and the specifications for an internet of things solution to the technical people who would actually implement it鈥�, Murray says.
鈥淲e鈥檝e looked at a multitude of different case studies from manufacturing to agriculture to building management, and how the internet of things is going to affect the way people who are not technically minded are going to do business 鈥� so business people, health professionals, educators鈥�.
Find out more and apply by visiting the .
1: World Economic Forum Future of Jobs report, 2016
