Internet of Things (IoT), for those unfamiliar with the term, is the concept of connecting any device to the internet and other connected devices. IoT is seeing large-scale adoption in the commercial, industrial, agricultural sectors as well as in the home. Everything from smart speakers, doorbell cameras, and smart energy meters. So is it time to see a more dominant lead of IoT in the charity sector?
IoT in Fundraising
IoT is already being used quite widely in the charity sector by Fundraising Teams. These largely consist of remote donation/payment methods. Be it portable devices at events, or fixed donation points such as this one above. This is located within the A&E department of a local hospital for the hospital charity.
Some charities such as the British Heart Foundation have even stepped into enabling donations through smart speakers. Utilizing voice recognition services such as Alexa.
With enhancements in both network connectivity and battery performance over the last decade, the cost of IoT has dramatically reduced. Devices can be turned into IoT devices quickly and cheaply and there is a multitude of services such as AWS IoT Core and AWS IoT Device Defender available at low cost.
IoT to support charity services
IoT devices aren’t just limited to fundraising, they can dramatically help with service delivery and training as well as member and staff safety and welfare.
AiS has released a multitool sensor that can send alerts on all manner of environmental factors and transmit them to a phone or other device over the internet. It can detect smoke, temperature changes, water, gas leaks, humidity changes, glass breaking, movement to name just a few. An amazing device for charities that provide supportive living services.
IoT locks enable authorized people to open the doors of their patients or workplaces with their phones, without the need to carry lots of keys or remember passcodes. They can also gain quick access to vulnerable patients homes.
IoT plugs and switches. Boil the kettle without having to get up, meaning that a person suffering from mobility issues can get up when the kettle has boiled, rather than get up twice or stand and wait.
IoT offers so many possibilities to support the great work of charities across the world.
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