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In my previous article, I described another software superpower: the power of Scalability.

IoT systems are adaptable, efficient, and scalable. Such attributes are software superpowers—they offer benefits that help your bottom line (e.g. lowered costs, better resource management, and a superior customer experience). Of course, digital adoption skyrocketed as everyone rushed to capitalize on the advantages of a digital-first model. The landscape continues to accelerate with a rapid pace of evolution.

But how do you implement and leverage these software superpowers? We already noted the impact of Mutation and Scale. Now we turn to Polymorphism. Read on to discover how you can use the power of polymorphism to enhance the quality of your connected equipment systems.

Software polymorphism refers to a single software solution within one codebase that can change its form or behavior based on specific contexts. It is a type of intelligent adaptation. Developers use the polymorphism superpower to create systems that understand their environments and organically respond. As a result, overall performance and user experience improve across various scenarios.

In short, polymorphism enables a single piece of code to serve multiple purposes. And that is a highly efficient approach, for you can accomplish changes without the extensive modifications or separate implementations usually demanded for each use case. As a result, you earn a more streamlined development process and enhanced adaptability, no matter the context.

What is context?

Context in IoT includes any information that defines a given scenario. For example, a customer may use a specific device, at a specific time and place, and with a unique identity or purpose. The factors related to an external environment give context.

Context is important because a change in the defining circumstances impacts how an app or device performs. Developers need to understand and account for the many possible contexts so that software operates in all situations (e.g. a device that works in cold climates can malfunction with warmer temperatures). Not all environments are the same. If left unaddressed, performance can suffer, and the overall product reach and market share dwindle.

Common context elements include:

• Demographic information: the type of user, age, location, etc

• Device type: Built-in security options, resource capabilities, etc

• User personas/roles/permissions: authentication, access control, encryption, etc

• Subscription level plans: Connectivity, resource usage, service offerings for free/basic/pro, etc

• Type/quantity of equipment: availability of batteries, power sources, Wifi, etc

• User preferences: Speed, security, access, features, convenience, etc

• Environmental factors: temperature, humidity, light, noise levels, etc

What is form?

Form refers to the different expressions of software behavior. Some applications or products can alter their form quite easily. For example, a web page can change its button and feature sizes for the visually impaired. Such adaptability (even for highly complex IOT systems) makes it easy to maintain performance regardless of context. You can cater to the diverse requirements expected of your connected equipment without changing the underlying core system.

Key aspects of software form include:

• Adaptive User Interfaces: Adaptive User Interfaces (UI’s) can change their form and layout according to personalized preference. For instance, elements may alter based on subscription, where premium features might only be visible to high-tier users (basic users see a scaled-down version).

• Adaptive algorithms: Adaptive algorithms alter their own behavior over time as they learn from collected data. AI and machine learning techniques analyze rich contextual data (e.g., millions or billions of data points) and deliver optimal outputs based on that understanding. Examples include adjusting system parameters, making real-time decisions, or predicting future trends based on historical information.

• Adaptive connectivity: Adaptive connectivity changes performance based on real-time device conditions dynamically discovered from external services. A common example includes Customer Relationship Management (CRM) services. An abstraction layer could send key data points about equipment usage by a client to the CRM. Account managers can then use that info to understand equipment usage and anticipate maintenance needs more effectively.

The following real-world examples demonstrate how companies have successfully leveraged the polymorphism software superpower in their connected equipment systems:

Tesla: Auto-pilot feature unlocking

Tesla vehicles come pre-installed with auto-pilot software. However, the feature only activates when purchased by users. The “unlocking” occurs within the codebase. Tesla embeds the function into every vehicle but keeps it dormant until needed — an efficient way to manage updates and streamline the development process.

Netflix: Show cover A/B testing

Netflix uses A/B testing to determine which show cover images perform best among viewers. Machine learning then optimizes content presentations through adaptive UIs. By employing context-driven polymorphism in its recommendation algorithms and user interfaces, Netflix can continuously refine its platform for maximum engagement and viewer satisfaction.

If you want to harness the polymorphism software superpower in your connected equipment systems, here are a few key strategies you can utilize:

• Feature toggling: Use dynamic flags or switches within your code to activate or deactivate features based on context. Enable and disable features to personalize services, all during runtime. Earn greater flexibility in managing system behavior without extensive code alterations.

• Loosely coupled and modular design: Organize your software components with minimal interdependencies. A modular design subdivides your system into smaller parts, making swapping or adapting elements easier. The approach promotes code reusability, maintainability, and scalability.

• Separation of concerns: Ensure each part of the system is responsible for a single aspect (a coding approach known as the single responsibility principle). Each module should have a singular reason for changing. This helps create a more streamlined architecture that can adapt quickly to different contexts while maintaining core functionality.

• Capturing/Understanding context: Develop methods for gathering context data from various sources (e.g., user profiles, device sensors, external APIs). Once captured, centralize the information within your system. Modules or components with access to this context-awareness layer can then make informed decisions about which forms they should take in specific situations.

Combine Polymorphism With Other Superpowers for Better Results

Polymorphism will already yield several advantages (flexibility, agility, improved customer personalizations, etc). But to supercharge the process, you can combine polymorphism with the other superpowers previously described in our software superpower series: 

• Mutation: Continuous delivery techniques allow you to evolve your software solutions. You can combine those adaptations with polymorphism, incorporating new adaptive behaviors with context-awareness capabilities. Regularly update algorithms, interfaces, and integrations from real-world usage patterns and feedback. Effectiveness will increase over time.

• Scalability: Apply polymorphism improvements across large equipment fleets. Push updates to potentially millions of users simultaneously without compromising performance or stability. By designing systems that scale efficiently – both horizontally (adding more machines) and vertically (improving resource utilization) – developers can ensure their solutions remain robust even as demand grows.

The polymorphism software superpower in connected equipment systems creates adaptable, efficient, scalable solutions that intelligently respond to various contexts. More importantly, you can deliver personalized service experiences to customers according to a wide range of external scenarios. The customer experience is everything — earn a competitive edge with such a context-sensitive superpower.

Be sure to integrate polymorphism strategies (feature toggling, modular design, and separation of concerns) with other advanced techniques like mutation and scalability. Together, each superpower lets you maximize the value of your digital layers in IoT applications. These strategies will help create more versatile and future-proof connected equipment systems. Deliver exceptional performance and user experience.

Coming up

In my next article, I will describe another software superpower: the power of Omniscience. Stay tuned!