IT Life: Martin Woolley, Technical Program Manager At Bluetooth SIG

What three apps could you not live without?

Heavens. I don’t think there are any I simply could not live without. But the ones I use most are the BBC news and Guardian apps (I like to keep up with the news), TripIT as I travel a lot in this job and Strava because I love cycling and am very goal-oriented, which Strava helps with. In fact, there’s an IoT example if ever I saw one. Strava. Data collected from sensors on my bike using Bluetooth to my cycle computer, then uploaded to Strava’s servers for analysis. Pure IoT at its best.

What new technology are you most excited for a) your business and b) yourself?

Bluetooth mesh will change everything for the industry. Judging by the unusually large number of Bluetooth SIG member companies that have been involved in creating the technology, there’s a substantial pent up appetite for a global, industry standard for mesh networking over Bluetooth. Expect to see Smart Buildings in the commercial sector adopt Bluetooth mesh quite quickly.

Beyond that, I’m very interested in energy harvesting and alternative energy technologies. Energy harvesting is critical to the IoT. Sensors are a critical ingredient. Think about where they need to be installed and ask yourself how they might be powered and how that power source will be maintained over the years?

If you weren’t doing the job you do now, what would you be doing?

I think I’d get a lot of satisfaction from working as a full-time volunteer in the world of STEM. I’ve gained a whole new appreciation of education and educators over the last couple of years and I’ve met some incredible youngsters; creative, serious and determined.

There’s a lot to be optimistic about when you meet an 11 year old who is engaging you in an earnest discussion about wireless communication systems because they’ve had an awesome idea!

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