Opportunities and risks of internet of things (IoT) technologies for circular business models: A literature review

Evaluating challenges of circular economy and Internet of Things in renewable energy supply chain through a hybrid decision-making framework

Due to industrial development, expansion of communities, and attention to sustainable development, sustainable energy supply has become a big challenge for communities. In this regard, the development and use of Renewable Energy (RE) are considered due to reducing the harmful environmental effects of fossil fuels. Improving the efficiency of the Renewable Energy Supply Chain (RESC) is important for using RE. To improve the performance and efficiency of RESC, it is necessary to use emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT) and its integration with the principles of the Circular Economy (CE). Therefore, this study proposes integrating IoT and CE for sustainable development and resource management in RESC. Also, this research provides a hybrid decision framework to assess the challenges of IoT and CE in the RESC of Iran. The CRiteria Importance Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) technique is used to specify the importance of the criteria. The Fuzzy Evaluation Based on Distance from Average Solution (FEDAS) technique ranks the challenges. The findings indicated that considering the cost of investment, the rate of return on investment, and the productivity rate were the most important sub-criteria with values of 0.149, 0.129, and 0.106 respectively. Then, the sensitivity of the results is examined and the validation of the findings is analyzed with decision-making methods. The results indicate the high priority of the challenge related to transparency in the implementation procedures of IoT and RE projects and information dissemination protocols, the development of guidelines for the integration of IoT in other systems in the information network, and the amount of investment and lack of access to financial resources. This study provided practical insights for RE development based on IoT and CE capabilities for energy planning.

A bibliometric analysis of IoT applications in logistics and supply chain management

The rapid integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) into logistics and supply chain management (SCM) marks a significant transformation towards enhanced efficiencies, security, and sustainability. Through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of 2680 publications from the Scopus database, this study charts the evolution of IoT within logistics and SCM and reveals a shift from foundational explorations to mature implementations. The research unfolds a complex thematic structure, highlighting the revolutionary impacts of IoT and related technologies such as RFID, the synergy of Industry 4.0 with SCM through Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), the strategic role of blockchain for enhanced traceability and security, and the advent of novel communication and encryption technologies for secure data exchanges. Further, the analysis categorizes the scholarly discourse into critical areas including big data and IoT optimization in SCM, IoT-driven innovation in the food supply chain, applications of blockchain and smart contracts, digital transformation through Industry 4.0, security advancements with intelligent systems, and the exploration of advanced technologies for Industry 4.0 and 5.0. This review not only delineates the intellectual landscape of IoT applications in logistics and SCM but also identifies emerging research areas such as blockchain integration, 5G potential, and AI-driven optimizations, suggesting pathways for future research to broaden the understanding in this dynamically evolving field. It serves as an essential resource for academics and practitioners, providing insights into the transformative role of IoT in logistics and SCM and proposing directions for future technological and academic endeavors.

Coadaptation Between Smart Technologies and Older Adults Over Time: Protocol for a Scoping Review

BACKGROUND

The Internet of Things (IoT) has gained significant attention due to advancements in technology and has potential applications in meeting the needs of an aging population. Smart technologies, a subset of IoT, can support older adults in aging in place, promoting independent living and improving their quality of life. However, there is a lack of research on how older adults and smart technologies coadapt over time to maximize their benefits and sustain adoption.

OBJECTIVE

We will aim to comprehensively review and analyze the existing scientific literature pertaining to the coadaptation between smart technologies and older adults. The primary focus will be to investigate the extent and nature of this coadaptation process and explore how older adults and technology coevolve over time to enhance older adults' experience with technology.

METHODS

This scoping review will follow the methodology outlined in the Joanna Briggs Institute Reviewer's Manual and adhere to the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Extension for Scoping Reviews) guidelines for reporting. Peer-reviewed articles will be searched in databases like Ovid MEDLINE, OVID Embase, PEDro, OVID PsycINFO, EBSCO CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, Web of Science, and Global Index Medicus. The research team will create a data extraction form covering study characteristics, participant characteristics, underlying models and frameworks, research findings, implications for technology coadaptation, and any identified study limitations. A directed content analysis approach will be used, incorporating the Selection, Optimization, and Compensation framework and Sex- and Gender-Based Analysis Plus theoretical framework.

RESULTS

The results of this study are expected in January 2024.

CONCLUSIONS

This scoping review endeavors to present a thorough overview of the available evidence concerning how smart technologies interact with older adults over an extended period. The insights gained from this review will lay the groundwork for a research program that explores how older adults adapt to and use smart technologies throughout their lives, ultimately leading to improved user satisfaction and experience and facilitating aging in place with tailored support and user-centered design principles.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

PRR1-10.2196/51129.

Research on an Optimized Quarter-Wavelength Resonator-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for Efficient Low-Frequency Acoustic Energy Harvesting

Sound wave is an extensively existing mechanical wave, especially in marine and industrial plants where low-frequency acoustic waves are ubiquitous. The effective collection and utilization of sound waves provide a fresh new approach to supply power for the distributed nodes of the rapidly developing Internet of Things technology. In this paper, a novel acoustic triboelectric nanogenerator (QWR-TENG) was proposed for efficient low-frequency acoustic energy harvesting. QWR-TENG consisted of a quarter-wavelength resonant tube, a uniformly perforated aluminum film, an FEP membrane, and a conductive carbon nanotube coating. Simulation and experimental studies showed that QWR-TENG has two resonance peaks in the low-frequency range, which effectively extends the response bandwidth of acoustic-electrical conversion. The structural optimized QWR-TENG has excellent electrical output performance, and the maximum output voltage, short-circuit current and transferred charge are 255 V, 67 μA, and 153 nC, respectively, under the acoustic frequency of 90 Hz and sound pressure level of 100 dB. On this basis, a conical energy concentrator was introduced to the entrance of the acoustic tube, and a composite quarter-wavelength resonator-based triboelectric nanogenerator (CQWR-TENG) was designed to further enhance the electrical output. Results showed that the maximum output power and the power density per unit pressure of CQWR-TENG reached 13.47 mW and 2.27 WPa^-1m^-2, respectively. Application demonstrations indicated that QWR/CQWR-TENG has good capacitor charging performance and is expected to realize power supply for distributed sensor nodes and other small electrical devices.