Technology and IoT will become embedded in everything we do. It’s just a matter of time. So how will both the problem solvers and dreamers apply these instruments to new fields?

At a recent gathering in San Francisco for Dell, Inc.’s 1-5-10 Series IoT Discussion, customers are gaining insights into the development and deployment of new enterprises for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. From analysts to corporate leaders of divisions dedicated to devising new IoT strategies, the event targeted a broad spectrum of interests and information.

Joyce Mullen, VP/GM of Global OEM and IoT Solutions at Dell, met with John Furrier, cohost of theCUBE, from the SiliconANGLE Media team, to talk about some of the directions she sees IoT moving toward currently and in the future.

Perspectives and possibilities

Mullen started off the conversation by explaining the idea behind the event, with expos in the 1-5-10 series, intended to help figure out “exactly what’s happening in the short term and what’s going to happen in the long term with these industry trends.”

She also said the event made it “really, really fun” to hear the various perspectives, hype, and even disillusionment surrounding IoT. She also said the event helped shine a light on “how much practical advice and opportunity is there, and then what are some of the big issues that are going to impact us in the short and medium term.”

For all of the perspectives and angles present at the event, Mullen said that the most exciting part for her is how IoT and technology can solve some of the biggest problems. “We’ve got a lot of work to do to make that happen, but the opportunity is amazing,” she said. “I really think it’s about figuring out how to use technology to enable customers to solve problems in a different way, a much more efficient way.”

Pragmatics and dreamers

In considering the customers and companies that provide IoT, Mullen divided IoT users into two categories: the pragmatic problem-solvers and the dreamers who apply the instruments to new fields. However, as Mullen explained, people in one group can very easily make the switch to the other side.

“When we talk to customers about this, they’re very pragmatic … and that’s a very, very good start,” she said. “But I think as this evolves, it’s really about what kind of understanding are they developing, because they’re watching exactly how their solution’s being used, or how people behave, or how the processes unfold. That’s going to be the most valuable element of that. We won’t see that for several years, but in the short term, it’s going to save some money and it’s going to make customers happier.”

Touching on examples of IoT usage — from improving hotel experiences, to retail environments, to energy efficiency in buildings and a special project devoted to understanding recent drops in bee populations — Mullen provided a look at many fields in which IoT is already being put to work. However, looking ahead to future increases in data generation and harvesting, she anticipated a huge importance from edge-of-network processing.

“Technology and this notion of instrumentation of environments is embedded in everything we do,” she said. “It’s coming; it’s just a question of how fast will it come, how effective will it be, and how do you manage it and make it secure.”

Watch the full interview below, and be sure to check out more of SiliconANGLE and theCUBE’s coverage of Dell’s 1-5-10 IoT event.

Photo by SiliconANGLE