Machine-to-machine (M2M) technology

by | Apr 9, 2025 | Analysis

 

What is machine-to-machine (M2M) technology? Give an example of a business process that could be automated with M2M.

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Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

What is Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Technology?

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology refers to the direct communication and exchange of information between two or more devices or machines without significant human intervention. This communication can occur over various wired and wireless networks, enabling devices to automatically collect data, transmit it, and perform actions based on that information.

Key characteristics of M2M technology include:

  • Automated Communication: Devices communicate directly with each other or with a central server without requiring manual input at every step.
  • Data Collection: Sensors and other embedded systems are used to gather real-world data (e.g., temperature, pressure, location, inventory levels).
  • Network Connectivity: Data is transmitted over various networks, including cellular (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) like LoRaWAN and Sigfox, and even satellite.
  • Action and Control: Based on the received and analyzed data, M2M systems can trigger automated actions, such as adjusting settings, sending alerts, or initiating other processes.

While often discussed in conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT), M2M is considered a foundational component. M2M typically involves direct, point-to-point communication between a limited number of devices for specific applications, whereas IoT encompasses a broader network of interconnected “things” communicating over the internet, often involving more complex data analysis and integration with cloud platforms.

Example of a Business Process Automated with M2M:

Consider the business process of inventory management for vending machines located across a city (like various points in Kisumu).

What is Machine-to-Machine (M2M) Technology?

Machine-to-Machine (M2M) technology refers to the direct communication and exchange of information between two or more devices or machines without significant human intervention. This communication can occur over various wired and wireless networks, enabling devices to automatically collect data, transmit it, and perform actions based on that information.

Key characteristics of M2M technology include:

  • Automated Communication: Devices communicate directly with each other or with a central server without requiring manual input at every step.
  • Data Collection: Sensors and other embedded systems are used to gather real-world data (e.g., temperature, pressure, location, inventory levels).
  • Network Connectivity: Data is transmitted over various networks, including cellular (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G), Wi-Fi, Ethernet, Low-Power Wide-Area Networks (LPWAN) like LoRaWAN and Sigfox, and even satellite.
  • Action and Control: Based on the received and analyzed data, M2M systems can trigger automated actions, such as adjusting settings, sending alerts, or initiating other processes.

While often discussed in conjunction with the Internet of Things (IoT), M2M is considered a foundational component. M2M typically involves direct, point-to-point communication between a limited number of devices for specific applications, whereas IoT encompasses a broader network of interconnected “things” communicating over the internet, often involving more complex data analysis and integration with cloud platforms.

Example of a Business Process Automated with M2M:

Consider the business process of inventory management for vending machines located across a city (like various points in Kisumu).

Current Process (Without M2M):

  • Human operators are periodically dispatched to check the stock levels of each vending machine.
  • This process is time-consuming, inefficient, and often leads to either stockouts (lost sales) or unnecessary trips to machines that are still well-stocked.
  • Data on sales and inventory levels is collected manually, leading to potential inaccuracies and delays in restocking decisions.

Automated Process with M2M:

  1. Sensors Integrated into Vending Machines: Each vending machine is equipped with sensors that can monitor the inventory levels of different products (e.g., the number of remaining soda cans, snack bars).
  2. M2M Communication Module: Each machine has an embedded M2M module with a SIM card or other network connectivity (potentially a local cellular network in Kisumu).
  3. Real-time Data Transmission: The inventory level data from the sensors is automatically transmitted in real-time over the cellular network to a central inventory management system.
  4. Centralized Monitoring and Analysis: The central system receives data from all the vending machines, providing a live overview of stock levels across the entire network.
  5. Automated Restock Alerts and Scheduling:
    • When the inventory of a particular product in a machine falls below a predefined threshold, the central system automatically generates an alert.
    • Based on these alerts and potentially sales data trends, the system can automatically schedule restocking trips for the operators, optimizing routes to visit only the machines that actually need refilling.
  6. Efficient Logistics: Operators receive optimized routes and information about which items need restocking at each machine, making the process faster and more efficient.

Benefits of Automation with M2M in this Business Process:

  • Reduced Operational Costs: Fewer unnecessary trips for operators, optimized routes, and reduced labor.
  • Minimized Stockouts: Real-time monitoring ensures timely restocking, leading to increased sales and customer satisfaction.
  • Improved Efficiency: Operators focus only on machines that need attention, maximizing their productivity.
  • Real-time Data Insights: Accurate data on inventory levels and sales patterns can be used for better product planning and assortment decisions.
  • Enhanced Customer Satisfaction: Consistently stocked machines lead to a better customer experience.

This example demonstrates how M2M technology can automate a previously manual and inefficient business process, leading to significant improvements in cost-effectiveness, efficiency, and customer satisfaction. This type of automation can be applied to numerous other industries and processes in Kisumu and beyond.

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