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Privacy, security concerns around IoT need to be addressed strongly

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As more and more people start using devices enabled by the internet of things (IoT), which are then connected to the cloud computing network, there is an increasing concern around privacy and security among these systems.

Security issues around IoT need to be addressed strongly in order to pave the way for more adoption of IoT in India and around the globe. There could be personal details—such as pictures and videos of users on their connected devices—and when these go to the cloud network, the users may be concerned about their privacy and security. Though there has been a lot of talk around IoT over the last few years, the technology still needs to see mass-scale adoption in the west and in India, though its future looks bright as the usage of intelligent devices is increasing. These observations were made by Jean Boufarhat, senior vice president, Mobile Silicon Engineering, at Synaptics, a human interface, software and hardware company with headquarters in the US.

Boufarhat feels that devices have now become intelligent and are thinking like human beings, and touch, voice and gestures are going to become increasingly popular on them. “Once, IoT crosses a threshold, then it is bound to see mass adoption. Take the case of touch phones, which have now become a norm among users and have seen mass adoption. We are working towards making IoT-enabled devices secure. Now, IoT and smart devices can recognise the surroundings of a user, it can also determine the voice of a user etc. There are a whole lot of applications possible through this technology. As the ecosystem for this technology expands, so will its adoption,” Boufarhat told THE WEEK.

Synaptics has been working on developing some innovative solutions in the field of human interface technology. A unique innovation has been the fingerprint sensors that can be used to secure electronic transactions as an alternative to simple passwords and personal identification numbers that were not much secure and could be compromised. Fingerprint authentication can enable a user's biometric identity to replace a password or PIN whether in display or using traditional buttons.

Interestingly, Synaptics—which broadly specialises in solutions around touch, display, biometrics, voice, audio and multimedia products—has opened a new 21,000 square feet design centre in Bengaluru. The centre will develop human interface solutions to support its consumer IoT market including smart homes. The design centre has a initial capacity to accommodate 150 employees, with 65 joining immediately.

This centre will also serve as a hub to support the company's global and Southeast Asia markets. Synaptics already has a presence in India and had established its operations in Hyderabad earlier. Globally, Synaptics has around 2,300 people, with majority of them being technology specialists.

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