The year 2014 is when Malaysians started to Google the term “IoT” and ever since, the hype has been ups and downs. Many were very fascinated with the idea of having some form of IoT inside their organization or using in their daily lives. However, it was short lived when the deployment of IoT is not at the fast pace as what many predicted. It has own challenges and the journey is not as easy as one would expect.

But on the positive side, we are seeing many companies, universities and individuals are now giving training and consultancies. Check out what’s happening to Malaysia in 2018.

What are we going to expect in the year 2019? Here’re my predictions:

1. IoT Talents will be mushrooming. This is expected and a good sign for the industry. We will see the young generation that enters the job market will have some experience with IoT, especially during their final year projects. This brings a higher value to their potential employers.
2. Enterprise IoT vs Consumer IoT. Most of the consumer IoT devices and solutions will be from overseas but ere will be a lot more requests about building enterprise ioT solutions for companies.
3. IoT data to the Cloud. Many will realize that there’s no use to build their own IoT platform and will be more ready to push their data the Cloud. This is a better and more cost-effective way to deploy IoT when it is on a small scale.
4. Choices of IoT Middlewares. This is the main IoT component missing in the Universities when they learn IoT because most of their final year projects are stand-alone Raspberry Pi and Arduino with some sensors. When they are the industry, they will have a hard time to choose which middleware to choose.
5. LPWAN Rollout. We have seen the 1st IoT network based on SigFox this year and probably see NB-IoT in 2019. It will no longer about technology but also how attractive are the price, large coverage and the matured device ecosystem.
6. Top IoT applications remained unpredictable. It’s difficult to see which IoT solution will be the most popular. Although smart cities are seen to be a key enabler, we have not seen any big deployment of IoT in such initiatives yet.
7. Government’s IoT deployment still lacking. Due to the budget constraint, many projects will be KIV unless it’s industry-driven or PPP-based.
8. Industry 4wrd policy to drive the manufacturing sector. Thus, we need to revisit and revive the National IoT Strategic Framework developed in 2014 to move forward. We can’t limit the growth of IoT in manufacturing only.

Malaysia can become a powerhouse again if we are able to execute all the plans that we have laid out for many years. We need to have Champions that can drive the Digital Transformation.

It’s Now or Never.

We end the year 2018 with a big launch of Industry 4WRD (Malaysia National Policy) which is Malaysia’s response to Industry 4.0 to strengthen the Manufacturing sector. It is seen as the key economic enabler for Malaysia in future years. Although, we should not forget that Industry 4.0 is only a subset of a bigger picture i.e. Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) which goes beyond manufacturing. It covers the way we live, works and entertains ourselves in all sectors.

Earlier this year, I have made some IoT predictions for 2018. Now, let’s review what we have learned in 2018.

1. Industry 4.0 has become the latest jargon and hottest topic of the year. But many have different interpretations and misconceptions when we juggled between both words – 4IR (Fourth Industrial Revolution) or IR4.0 or I4.0 (Industry 4.0). And it’s true that some important technology like IoT has somehow become “sideline” even though that’s key in any 4IR initiatives. Many have included the “4.0” in many of their initiatives, brands, proposals, events and even in the job titles.
2. Training, Workshops, and Conferences are somehow all related to “4.0”. This gives a great opportunity for training and consultancy. It will continue for the next year in 2019.
3. A lot to play catch-up by the Universities. Before 2019, many Universities have started to introduce Internet of Things (IoT) as part of their subject but now they have to include Blockchain too. Fortunately, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Virtual Reality (VR), and Augmented Reality (AR) are already taught in many Computer Sciences courses. The lecturers now have a tough time to learn new things. The good thing is that many Malaysian Universities have somehow and somewhat incorporated the elements of IoT in their courses in 2018.
4. IoT Startups still lack of exposure. We heard a lot of funding goes to Startups that are based on Fintech, Blockchain, AI, eMarketplace that are mainly focused on software/applications but not many IoT startups get the right attention or funding. Maybe it’s because many of them have B2C business model and thus their brand is more prominent compared to IoT startups that are mainly B2B. However, the recent ASEAN Rice Bowl Startup Awards (Rice Bowl), organized by New Entrepreneurs Foundation have started to include IoT as one of the categories and this is a good indication of recognition. Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator (CLLA), MDEC’s #mydigitalmaker hero, MCMC’s KLESF and CREST The Great Lab Challenges are some other notable initiatives on IoT.
5. Unfortunately, there’s no announcement of any National IoT Projects except maybe smaller projects by State such as Smart Selangor and the announcement of Industry 4wrd.

In my next article, I will write about “IoT in Malaysia – 2019 Predictions”.

I was invited to give a TEDx Talk last year in 2017 but I have to decline because of my unavailability. However, I was invited again for this year (2018) TEDx Kenyalang which I almost decline because of another important engagement that might happen at the same time. However, the other engagement was called off and thus, I have the last minute preparation to give my first TEDx Talk.

Although I have made numerous Talks in various big or small events, private or public, in a small room to a large hall, somehow I felt this Talk is going to be very different. And that jitters and nervousness sends a chill down to my spine. Here’s why:

1. Time is quite strict to limit the Talk within less than 18 minutes!
2. How to convey a very engaging and captivating story to a general audience when we talk on a technology topic.
3. But the scariest thought of all is when they Even though I was given several opportunity ideas got stuck and we start talking gibberish or mumbling words which will be recorded and publish in the Official TEDx YouTube Channel.

The host gave me the opportunity to have a session with the TEDx coach to get tips on how to give the presentation. However, due to time unavailability I did not manage to have that personal coach session. I was only given an “Illustrated TEDx Speaker Guide” to read and prepare by myself.

Here’s what I did to allow prepare myself until the day of the presentation:

1. Select the closest topic at heart so that I don’t have to do any further research
2. Recycle some of the slides which I have presented in my previous Talks
3. The arrangement of the slides are very important because it will tell the story during that 17-minute slot
4. I have read some tips regarding how to convey a story in TEDx Talks which includes some emotions, the ups-and downs and focus on only one main idea
5. I rarely practice speaking in front of a mirror. Most of my talks are arranged in my mind and sometimes I do speak aloud in my car to practice the timing.
6. Review many of TEDx speakers around the world and see how they convey the message with ease.
7. Personally, I feel that the start of the Talk is the most important part because that’s the time I watch to catch the attention of the audience. Furthermore, that first minute is always the nervous period with adrenaline rushing before we settle down.
8. Talking with other fellow speakers before my turn is very important bring down the stage jitters.
9. I need to inject some humour to ensure that I can get the reaction of the audience and gauge whether my Talk is dry or engaging.
10. Actually when I am standing in front of the audience and the spotlight directly shines on me, I can’t actually see the the whole audience clearly. I can only see some faces in couple of front rows whereas the back is pitch black! You just assumed that they are listening to you.
11. I love to walk around the stage but when it’s limited to a circle, I have difficulty to engage with the audience.
12. There is a Timer in front of me that shows how much time left and it helps to gauge my length of Talk.
13. The great part is that I don’t fumble much, I managed to present less than 18 minutes, the YouTube video looks ok and the I have managed to convey my message.

That’s my story and my first TEDx Talk experience. I am thankful to TEDx kenyalang for giving me this opportunity. I have never imagined to be part of the TEDx Speakers although I have seen many of the Talks in their channel.