In this episode of IoT Unplugged, Brian Bishop, President of the Open Connectivity Foundation (OCF), delves into the importance of collaboration and setting global standards in the Internet of Things (IoT) space, particularly within smart cities.
Bishop’s journey with OCF began with research on smart cities through his company, Data People Connected. He emphasised the role of OCF’s standards in supporting the development of national cyber-physical infrastructure and the value of data management in smart cities. According to Bishop: “The integrity around the standard was being maintained by the membership.”
As President of OCF, Bishop aims to bridge regional disconnects and elevate the OCF to the forefront of global smart city infrastructure. He pointed out: “We’ve been liaising with our membership through newsletters to explain why they should be part of that ecosystem.”
Bishop also highlighted OCF’s commitment to security, noting that it meets more than 95% of global security baselines, making it a trusted standard for IoT development. He advocates for a collaborative, rather than competitive, approach between standards organisations, stating: “There should be no competition in the space. Standards should be there to benefit people and the environment.”
The episode further touches on the development of smart cities, with Bishop focusing on the need for a framework that ensures data sharing and infrastructure connectivity. He believes this will drive both economic and social growth, concluding: “We’re trying to build a marketplace of companies that can help cities around the world.”
The discussion provided valuable insights into OCF’s role in enabling smart cities through trusted, open standards.
To hear more from Brian Bishop and OCF’s insights on collaboration and IoT standards, tune into the full podcast episode available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and at the link below.
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