The testing processes for software and hardware were rocked when the mobile revolution began. Development teams and testers were forced to think about power sources, the implications of touch technology, bandwidth and dropped connections. But testing trends and recognised procedures are set to see further disruption, this time from the looming shadow of The Internet of Things (IoT) and its far-reaching impact.

IoT is a unique phrase. Obscure yet obvious sounding, it is clear to see why understanding its exact meaning is the first stumbling block in adopting this new technology. Simply put, it means connecting ‘things’ to the internet that didn’t have the capacity for connection before. For example, your thermostat or your washing machine. Smart watches are the most pertinent example. Once a humble time piece they are now a demi-smartphone, connecting you to your calendar, emails, and social networks in addition to being able to track fitness and daily vitals.

The IoT is becoming something that we rely upon to optimise personal performance and enhance domestic life whilst reporting and collating huge volumes of data. With a task so big it is essential these devices are tested adequately using processes that are fit-for-purpose and mindful of this ever-developing technology.

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Usability

‍As for consumer electronics, leveraging a balance between functionality and intuitive usability is an important consideration. Devices must adhere to specification whilst being usable by the average user without hefty training. This becomes crucially important for connected IoT devices as they are often small and minimal for a key purpose.

Think of your Nest. It is collating and sending and receiving data readily across several functions. Making the design consideration of how to integrate these services into a slick, small user interface, quite challenging. These gadgets are geared towards becoming digital partners in life, work and play but it is only achievable through user-centric design. Carrying out user testing to validate interface and experience design is a core process.

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Connectivity

‍Connectivity is the backbone of successful IoT integration, an obvious but central necessity. In cases where connections may be intermittent or unpredictable, it is vital that data will be delivered and saved correctly when it is restored. Testing for this is important and can be achieved by disabling connections during bench testing alongside scalability testing to guarantee connectivity in scenarios with a high number of user instances across numerous features.

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Security

‍According to studies conducted by Hewlett Packard, 70% of connected IoT devices are vulnerable to security breaks with issues surrounding data encryption and password requirements.

Integrating security best practice into the development process as well as understanding expert knowledge on the subject isa necessary task with ever-growing IoT customer bases. Testing for security short comings through development, and prior to release, is the next step. It’s best not to wait for the headline or damning PR incident to uncover your product’s security shortcomings.

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Devices

‍Depending on the purpose of the product, connecting to other devices in the connected homes of our future may be crucial. Having these devices available to test may be a challenge due to the sheer size of the market so gathering a minimal reference set to test on is the next best option. Coordinating user testing during proto release stages goes further by arming your team with the analytics to understand which devices are the most frequently connected, guiding the direction of further testing.

The key to testing for IoT is being mindful of the developing market it sits in. Any process must be regularly reviewed and kept attuned to changes. The rules are almost certainly set to evolve as we see the industry take a firmer hold.