MSc Internet of Things

• Mobile & Wireless Networks: Mobile and wireless networking technologies are ubiquitous nowadays. A key issue facing enterprises today is how to harness the potential of mobile and wireless technologies to enhance the operational effectiveness of the business and illuminate potential opportunities. This unit reviews the broad spectrum of relevant technologies (e.g., WiFi, ad hoc networks, cellular networks, etc.), examines their operating principles/protocols and applicable standards, and the use of these networks in different contexts and scenarios. The unit also explores these networks' main challenges and how they fit into the latest networking paradigms.

• Wireless, Sensor, and Actuator Networks: You will explore the operating principles, standards, design, and configuration of WSANs. Future and emerging paradigms – such as Mobile Crowdsensing Systems, and technologies, like Wireless Power Transfer in ad-hoc networks, will also be addressed.

• Security and Privacy in IoT: Smart objects, IoT applications, and their enabling platforms are often vulnerable to security attacks and changing operating and context conditions that can compromise the security of some of their components (e.g., local sensors, network components, application-level components). They also generate, use, and inter-relate massive amounts of personal data in ways that can potentially breach legal and privacy requirements. This unit will develop your ability to understand and produce security architectures for IoT-related networks and systems.

• Research Methods & Professional Issues: Research requires a structured and disciplined approach at all stages. We will help you to develop critical research skills in many areas, from project proposals and planning to critical analysis of research findings, academic writing, and dissemination. Ensuring you give due consideration to professional standards and ethical issues in research.

• Individual Masters Project: You will develop an understanding of the characteristics and implications inherent in the solution of a complex, real-world problem within the context of a substantial, independently-conducted piece of work.

Option units (choose one semester 1)

• Cloud Computing: Cloud computing provides a secure system integration, data processing, manipulation, and storage infrastructure. The concept of virtualization will be discussed, including servers, storage, and networks, as well as the cloud structure, services, and deployment models. Locally-based networks, IT resources/services, and their migration to the cloud are elaborated, and strategies for migration to the cloud will be explored.

• Blockchain & Digital Futures: The objective of this unit is to develop your skills and knowledge about Blockchain technology and its usage. The material, lectures, and seminars include defining Blockchain technology, its business aspect, issues, objectives, and challenges, covering Blockchain horizontal and vertical scaling, fundamental basics of cryptography required for understanding the Blockchain technology concepts, and different cryptocurrencies, issues, challenges, and networks. The unit also covers several data analysis-based Blockchain technology scenarios and case studies. The aim is to develop related skills and an understanding of critically evaluating the key issues, challenges, and existing solutions.

Option units (choose one semester 2)

• Human-centered Design: Computer-based interactive systems refer to a spectrum of digital products, services, and solutions that interact with human users in business, social and global contexts. The primary success factor in implementing such systems is to involve the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. You will learn how to design and develop such strategies by applying human-centered design principles and techniques and carrying out relevant activities in the planning and management to satisfy both business needs and user requirements. It will also help you develop an understanding of the interaction design process and best practices through exposure to usability, user experience, and other related fields.

• Smart Systems: Artificial Intelligence is embedded in various systems and tools to achieve better decision-making and more autonomy.   The unit draws on a large spectrum of intelligent systems technologies. It covers basic and advanced topics to introduce these technologies comprehensively. Positioned at the cross of many disciplines, this unit introduces various facets of intelligent systems technology and illustrates how they apply to different environments. In addition, a selected set of innovative applications will be discussed to provide a practical insight into such technology, particularly the underlying modeling, perception, reasoning, and learning techniques.