The Things Conference is a hybrid event taking place September 22-23
In September, more than 1,500 leading IoT experts from around the world will gather in Amsterdam for The Things Conference. We live in a world where every other device becomes a connected device. Since we see everything from tiny sensors to vacuum cleaners to our cars connected to the network, this also needs a protocol.
The IoT conference serves as an anchor for LoRaWAN®, a low-power wide area network (LPWA) networking protocol designed to wirelessly connect battery-powered devices to the Internet. The LoRaWAN specification also supports key Internet of Things (IoT) requirements such as two-way communication, end-to-end security, mobility, and localized services.
Every industry has its must-attend events. If Mobile World Congress is a must for telecom and networking professionals, then IoT professionals should attend The Things Conference. The Thing conference hopes to show the way the connected device industry is moving forward, and its success seems plausible.
The Thing Conference demonstrates the harsh realities of the world we now live in. While the COVID-19 pandemic will not affect us the way it did in 2020, the pandemic has not yet been reflected in the rearview mirror.
The Things Conference takes place in Amsterdam and online. Vincke Giesemann, CEO of The Things Industries, said the physical events are “filled with unique content planned for live attendees.” The physical event will also allow the LoRaWAN community to interact with partners, participate in hands-on workshops, and interact with equipment in real time.
“The virtual part of The Things Conference will have its own unique content for online communication. We understand that different countries still have different restrictions on Covid-19, and since our audience is from all continents, we hope to give everyone the opportunity to attend the conference “Giseman added.
In the final stages of preparation, The Things reached the milestone of 120% collaboration, with 60 partners joining the conference, Giseman said. One area where The Things Conference stands out is its unique exhibition space, called the Wall of Fame.
This physical wall showcases devices, including LoRaWAN-enabled sensors and gateways, and there will be more device manufacturers showcasing their hardware at The Things Conference this year.
If that sounds uninteresting, Giseman says they’re planning something they’ve never done before at the event. In partnership with Microsoft, The Things Conference will showcase the world’s largest digital twin. The digital twin will cover the entire area of the event and its surroundings, covering about 4,357 square meters.
Conference attendees, both live and online, will be able to see data sent from sensors located around the venue and will be able to interact through AR applications. Impressive is an understatement to describe the experience.
The IoT conference is dedicated not only to the LoRaWAN protocol or all companies that create connected devices based on it. He also pays great attention to Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands, as a leader in European smart cities. According to Giesemann, Amsterdam is uniquely positioned to provide citizens with a smart city.
He cited the meetjestad.nl website as an example, where citizens measure the microclimate and much more. The smart city project puts the power of sensory data in the hands of the Dutch. Amsterdam is already the largest startup ecosystem in the EU and at The Things Conference attendees will learn how small and medium enterprises are using technology.
“The conference will showcase technologies that SMBs are using for a variety of efficiency-enhancing applications, such as measuring the temperature of food products for compliance,” Giseman said.
The physical event will take place at the Kromhoutal in Amsterdam from 22 to 23 September, and event tickets give attendees access to live sessions, workshops, keynotes and a curatorial network. The Things Conference is also celebrating its fifth anniversary this year.
“We have a lot of exciting content for everyone who wants to expand with the Internet of Things,” said Gieseman. You will see real examples of how companies are using LoRaWAN for large scale deployments, finding and purchasing the right hardware for your needs.
Gizeman said that this year’s The Things conference on the Wall of Fame will feature devices and gateways from more than 100 device manufacturers. The event is expected to be attended in person by 1,500 people, and attendees will have the opportunity to touch various IoT equipment, interact, and even view all information about the device using a special QR code.
“The Wall of Fame is the perfect place to find sensors that fit your needs,” Giseman explains.
However, digital twins, which we mentioned earlier, may be more attractive. Tech companies create digital twins to complement the real environment in the digital world. Digital twins help us make informed decisions by interacting with products and validating them before the next step with the developer or customer.
Things Conference makes a statement by installing the world’s largest digital twin in and around the conference venue. The digital twins will communicate in real time with the buildings they are physically connected to.
Gieseman added, “The Things Stack (our core product is the LoRaWAN web server) integrates directly with the Microsoft Azure Digital Twin platform, allowing you to connect and visualize data in 2D or 3D.”
3D visualization of data from hundreds of sensors placed at the event will be “the most successful and informative way to present the digital twin through AR.” Conference attendees will be able to see real-time data from hundreds of sensors throughout the conference venue, interact with them through the application and thus learn a lot about the device.
With the advent of 5G, the desire to connect anything is growing. However, Giesemann thinks the idea of ”wanting to connect everything in the world” is scary. He finds it more appropriate to connect things and sensors based on value or business use cases.
The main goal of the Things conference is to bring the LoRaWAN community together and look into the future of the protocol. However, we are also talking about the development of the LoRa and LoRaWAN ecosystem. Gieseman sees “growing maturity” as an important factor in ensuring a smart and responsible connected future.
With LoRaWAN, it is possible to build such an ecosystem by building the entire solution yourself. The protocol is so user-friendly that a device purchased 7 years ago can run on a gateway purchased today, and vice versa. Gieseman said that LoRa and LoRaWAN are great because all development is based on use cases, not core technologies.
When asked about use cases, he said that there are many ESG-related use cases. “In fact, almost all use cases revolve around business process efficiency. 90% of the time is directly related to reducing resource consumption and reducing carbon emissions. So the future of LoRa is efficiency and sustainability,” said Gieseman.
Post time: Aug-30-2022
