Get used to seeing the acronym “IoT” around Fishers. It stands for “Internet of Things” in the tech world. Fishers will soon house the new 22,000 square foot Indiana IoT Lab-Fishers, housed in a building located at 9059 Technology Drive, within the state-designated tech park.
Larry Lannan
The lab is touted as a place where “innovation and collaboration” happen among those working in the IoT field. The facility is expected to be up and running this summer.
Fishers Mayor Scott Fadness described the Internet of Things as bringing technology to devices we use everyday. He grew up on on a North Dakota farm and used a tractor traveling at 4 miles-per-hour, pulling a farm implement 17-feet wide. 7 years later the tractor speed went to 7 miles per hour, pulling a 54-foot wide farm implement with an auto-steer feature. A new tractor is about to be put into the farm fields without a farmer on the tractor. He pointed to that and other technological developments found in manufacturing facilities throughout Indiana.
“Within the next 5-10 years, we are going to see self driving vehicles,” Fadness said.
Fadness said the Internet of Things concept will lead to economic progress in Fishers and the State of Indiana.
“Fishers has, I think, built a reputation of taking steps forward, taking risks and trying new things,” according to Mayor Fadness. “This is a natural progression for our community, to create an Internet of Things Lab.”
“Fishers is on the cutting edge and on the move, as is the State of Indiana,” Governor Holcomb told the packed crowd at Launch Fishers.
“The Internet of Things is where all these industries come together. It is the hub, not just the future, it is right now,” Governor Holcomb said. “To deny that is denying your full potential.”
The governor emphasized the state will partner and support initiatives such as the IoT Lab in Fishers.
Lab members will pay a fee as low as $1,000 per year to become a part of it.
John McDonald, CEO of ClearObject (formerly known as CloudOne), announced his firm will grow its staffing on Fishers by 15% and become an anchor tenant of the IoT Lab.