Peggy encourages listeners to register to attend the Peggy Smedley Institute to explore new IoT (Internet of Things) ideas and implementations. She says IoT technology is changing fast across the verticals and this day of education will provide new insights and information.

Tom Ivory, head of strategic innovation, Capgemini, explains companies are looking to transform business processes to become faster and more efficient. He says automation can free up workers from mundane activities, allowing them to spend time on more valuable tasks.

Roberto Aiello, managing director, Itron Idea Labs, says machines can make better decisions than we can, which is why there needs to be a push for more intelligence everywhere. He explains water and energy have had connected devices for awhile but the next step is making them more intelligent.

Peggy discusses the recent acquisition of Yahoo by Verizon for comparative "chump change." She says Yahoo was once the king of the Internet, but how could it compete with Google, a true powerhouse IoT (Internet of Things) company?

Dan Whitten, VP of communications, Solar Energy Industries Assn., says solar panels are popping up on homes in all sorts of income groups and they are in all 50 states. He explains solar panels offer financial incentives as well as environmental benefits for those who choose to adopt the technology.

Massoud Amin , IEEE fellow, chair of the IEEE smart grid, and director/professor, University Of Minnesota, explains the smart self-healing grid can sense and react to abnormalities in a fraction of a second. He says there is a need for a grid overhaul in the U.S. in the near future for economic and environmental security.