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C o n s u m e r E l e c t ro n i c s D a i l y N e ws 7 3 M o n d a y, J a n u a r y 5 , 2 0 1 5 "Chief Information and Innovation Officer." It's a relatively new corporate title, but one that I believe you'll see more and more. As information technolo- gy (IT) becomes increasingly dynamic as well as critically important to businesses – with the advent of such technologies as Cloud Computing, Big Data, Mobility, DevOps, Social Networking and now the Internet of Things (IoT) – leveraging IT to drive innovation is an enormous opportunity, and I would say an impera- tive for major companies to improve their productivity and competitiveness. CEDN: How do you define the "Internet of Things?" LO: The Internet of Things refers to a level of connectivity of devices and systems that goes beyond the norm of what we already expect to provide Internet access – like PCs and smartphones. IoT covers a new class of interconnected smart objects, protocols, domains and applications that will usher in new kinds of automation for nearly all fields of human endeavor. CEDN: Why does IoT matter to you? LO: The IoT phenomenon presents unique opportunities for leveraging tech- nology and data to grow businesses while enabling delivery of unprecedented cus- tomer experiences. IoT applications across a spectrum of categories – if effec- tively harnessed – will provide customers with memorable experiences. CEDN: What is the DCIA IoT webcast? LO: The Distributed Computing Industry Association (DCIA), an interna- tional trade organization, identified IoT earlier this year as an emerging area for support as an extension of its mission to Internet of Things ( Cont'd. from p. 1) commercially advance cloud computing. As a CEA-allied association, the DCIA saw a unique opportunity to examine and promote IoT by producing a four-day IoT HD-video marathon webcast during International CES ® . Twelve hours of demos, displays and discussions will be recorded for online distribution provid- ing a status update and encouraging fur- ther innovation. CEDN: How will the webcast cover IoT? LO: Topics will include smart objects for fitness and healthcare; programmable homes and energy management; media entertainment and social networking solutions; geolocation services and vehicular automation; retail, public space and manufacturing environments; and power consumption, cybersecurity and interoperability. CEDN: Who will be participating? LO: IoT industry leaders ranging from executives at multinational corporations to entrepreneurs at start-ups. Industry analysts and observers will also provide their insights, including obstacles to over- come for IoT to reach its full potential. CEDN: When will the DCIA's IoT web- cast be released? LO: Editing of the webcast will begin immediately after CES and be completed by late January. The DCIA will distribute it to industry participants. Anyone with Internet access can view it for free. It will be indexed and searchable by category, company and other relevant criteria to make it easy to find segments of greatest interest. Visit DCIA at booth #31701. For more information, go to www.dcia .info, call 410-476-7965 or email info@dcia.info. to one that is driven by innovative thought and technology. CEDN: Do you consider this philosoph- ical change a complete paradigm shift, or more of an evolutionary step? AK: The philosophical change has been an evolutionary step, as ICM Controls has always been, and will be a growth-by- products company. Over the past 30 years, we have focused on providing a wide range of products to meet specific needs in the marketplace. Now we have a deeper focus on thoroughly understanding the applications that our products are being designed for in order to engineer products that are far more than just solutions driv- en. We are trying to look well beyond the immediate need and functional requests to develop products so far outside the box that their innovations challenge and influ- ence future market direction. CEDN: Can you give our readers an idea of just what type of innovation you've introduced to the marketplace of late and an example of how this technology might influence future market direction? AK: Earlier this year, ICM Controls launched our new, highly acclaimed i3™ Series of Touch Thermostats. When we first started the development cycle, we collectively knew that we wanted to do more than just come out with a 'me too' ICM Controls ( Cont'd. from p. 1) thermostat. What we engineered was an innovative way to deliver touch technol- ogy without the traditional high costs associated with these types of products. This new innovative platform is now being designed into dozens of additional products that we anticipate launching throughout the next 12 to 18 months – for both the OEM and aftermarket side of our business – including home automa- tion controls and a new thermostat line that we are introducing at the 2015 International CES ® . Furthermore, focusing on a platform versus a product or even product line has allowed us to expand into other markets as well, not just mainstream HVAC. We have had a lot of interest from several OEMs outside the HVAC marketplace that have embraced and want to incorpo- rate our technology into their systems. CEDN: What types of investments did ICM Controls make to get to this point? AK: ICM Controls is an exceptionally vertically integrated company and contin- ues to reinvest millions of dollars annual- ly in not only capital equipment, but also in talent acquisition and intellectual thought. As such, I would consider our recent investments, both personnel and equipment, more of a continued strategy. Visit ICM Controls at booth #70231. For more information, go to www.icm controls.com, call 315-233-5266 or email info@icmcontrols.com. CEDN: What are you hoping to accom- plish this year at International CES ® ? KP: We are going to be showcasing one of the most exciting and innovative new programs in Girl Scouts: Digital Cookie. Digital Cookie is revolutionizing our iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program, teach- ing 21st century skills in 21st century ways to 21st century girls. Girls are going to be onsite to interact with atten- dees to show how, for the first time, they will be selling cookies digitally. Our Movement is girl-led and girl-driven, so girls are the ones who will be out front, demonstrating how Girl Scouts is diving into the digital space. CEDN: How will the Digital Cookie program work? KP: Digital Cookie allows girls to vastly expand the reach and effectiveness of their cookie business by bringing the marketing and business process into the digital space. Girls will use either a mobile transaction app or online person- alized website to market and sell cookies. Customers can order either online or face-to-face, from girls using the mobile app, and have their orders shipped any- where in the U.S. CEDN: Why is CES the place to show- case this new program? KP: CES is the biggest, most exciting electronic and tech conference in the world, so where better to demonstrate the biggest, most exciting new addition to our G irl Scouts ( Cont'd. from p. 1) Cookie Program? Technology is helping Girl Scouts revolutionize the skills girls learn through our cookie program, and the fun, new ways girls learn those skills. CES is the perfect place to tell the world about that exciting revolution. CEDN: What do you hope CES atten- dees will do with this information? KP: I want them to come to our booth, interact with our amazing girls, and learn how sales are done, both online and off. We're excited to introduce this new layer of our program to the world. Our Cookie Program is about so much more than a delicious treat … it's the econom- ic engine that fuels a girl's activism as a Girl Scout. They are learning the finan- cial literacy skills that help them compete in today's modern, fast paced market- place, and deciding how to invest their cookie money back into their communi- ties. CEDN: Will cookies be for sale at the booth? KP: Cookies will be for sale at the booth – digitally. CES attendees will be among the first ever to purchase Girl Scout Cookies through Digital Cookie! People can come by, meet the girls and place their orders for convenient shipment to their homes. In addition to buying your favorite cookies, make sure to ask girls what they're learning through Digital Cookie. Visit Girl Scouts of the USA in booth #74740, in the Tech West Marketplace on level 2 of Sands Expo. VIVALNK DEMONSTRATES SMART THERMOMETER VivaLnk, Inc. is demonstrating a new innovation, eSkin™ Thermometer, that will transform the way you measure and monitor your body temperature at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics (CES) Show in Las Vegas. VivaLnk's breakthrough eSkin technology enables complex electronic circuitry with embed- ded tiny sensors on a thin flexible mate- rial to adhere comfortably to your skin. Using an NFC chip solution from NXP Semiconductors, together with state-of- the-art temperature sensing technology, this electronic patch makes highly accu- rate temperature measurements without requiring a battery. "VivaLnk's eSkin technology has placed NXP's technology adoption into new and exciting applications," said Victor Vega, Director, NFC/RFID Solutions at NXP Semiconductors. Leveraging this extraordinary form factor, the engineering team at VivaLnk created an easy-to-use, func- tion-rich smart thermometer for par- ents to measure and monitor fevers of young children. The eSkin Thermometer patch works with a smartphone to provide a range of smart feature possibilities. The initial product release will include the ability to record and track fevers, simplifying the illness monitoring process. eSkin Thermometer is extremely easy to use and takes an accurate body temperature reading in less than three seconds. The smart functionalities of eSkin Thermometer meets the expectation of technology savvy adults, and the thermometer patch is designed to be attractive for young children. Since the patch looks and feels like a kids' sticker, similar to a Band-Aid, it alleviates the fear and anxiety associated with taking their temperature. VivaLnk is in the process of com- pleting the initial product design. A limit- ed amount of samples will be available for interested partners in January, 2015.