What is Internet of Things (IoT)?
Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects or things embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity which enables these objects to collect and exchange data.
Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of physical devices which are connected to the Internet. Internet of Things (IoT) is the interconnection of the network devices. They share data with each other.
This technology can be anything such as mobile, computers, tablets, Google chrome cast, smart security camera, etc.
Basically, the Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as a network of physical objects that are embedded with electronics that enable the objects to provide greater value and service.
Internet of Things was developed to merge the devices whose have internet facilities.
It’s evolved due to the convergence of multiple technologies, machine learning, embedded systems, real-time analytics, and commodity sensors.
What is IoT Devices –
Any stand-alone Internet-connected device that can be monitored or controlled from a remote location is considered an IoT device.
With more smaller, more powerful chips, almost all products can be an Internet of Things (IoT) devices.
Things such as smart light switches, smart thermostats, smart locks, home security cameras, and smart appliances are Inter of Things devices. Smart homes products from robot vacuums to smart pressure cookers are all IoT devices.
The “things” can refer to a variety of smart devices such as:-
- Heart-monitoring Implants
- Biochip Transponders on Farm Animals
- Automobiles with Built-in Sensors
- Field-operation Devices Assisting First Responders
- Electric Clams in Coastal Waters
- Assist Fire-fighters in Search and Rescue Operations
IoT devices collect useful data with the help of various existing technologies and autonomously flow the data between other devices.
The Internet of Things (IoT) allows devices to be sensed and controlled remotely across the existing network infrastructure.
The market examples include smart thermostat systems and washer/dryers that use Wi-Fi for remote monitoring.
IoT creates opportunities for direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems and it’ll improve efficiency, accuracy, and economic benefit.
Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system, but it’s able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is emerging as the third revolution after the first revolution of the Internet, and the second revolution of mobile in the development of the Internet.
The 1990s’ Internet revolution connected 1 billion users while the 2000s’ mobile revolution connected another 2 billion.
The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to connect 10 times more things to the Internet by 2020 ranging from smartwatches to self-driving cars.
Significant Technology Changes in IoT –
Many significant technology changes have come together to enable the rise of the IoT which includes the following:-
# Cheap Sensors – Sensor prices have dropped to an average of 60% in the past 10 years.
# Cheap Bandwidth – The cost of bandwidth has also declined sharply by a factor of 40% over the past 10 years.
# Cheap Processing – The processing costs have declined by nearly 60% over the past 10 years. It can connect more devices and it’s also smart enough to know what to do with all the new data they’re generating or receiving.
# Smartphones – Smartphones are becoming the personal gateway to the IoT. It serves as a remote control or hub for the connected homes, and connected cars. The health and fitness devices customers are increasingly starting to wear.
# Wireless Coverage – Everywhere Wi-Fi coverage is now available for free or at a very low cost. It’s given Wi-Fi utilizes unlicensed spectrum and it doesn’t require monthly access fees to a carrier.
# BigData – The availability of big data analytics is a key enabler as the IoT will generate high volume amounts of unstructured data.
# IPv6 – Now most of the networking equipment supports Ipv6. It’s the newest version of the Internet Protocol (IP) standard which is intended to replace IPv4. IPv4 supports 32-bit addresses which translate to about 4.3 billion address.
IPv6 can support 128-bit addresses which translate approximately 3529 billion addresses. It’s an almost limitless number that can adequately handle all possible IoT devices.
Main Parts of Internet of Things (IoT) –
The Internet of Things (IoT) is made of four main parts:-
# Hardware encompasses everything from the newly connected devices to the networks and servers needed to support operations.
# Software includes all applications that access or control all connected systems. These applications can come from a variety of providers.
# Rules and standards will be needed in order to realize the true potential of technology.
# Services will be laid on top of this multifarious scene to provide value for a broad range of companies.
The Benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) –
The Internet of Things (IoT) can do a lot more than humans. It leads to greater efficiency, convenience, and safety:-
# Faster Data – There’s always a significant lag in human to human interactions. When you send an email to know how long until the recipients it read and processes it. Machines can analyze, interpret, and reply to data much faster than we can.
# Better at Managing Data – Devices are designed to dedicate all of their resources to a specific set of tasks whereas humans are multi-tasker.
# Automation Process – In the future, all cars are self-driven and can communicate in real-time with nearby cars which will be leading to fewer accidents and traffic jams.
All electrical appliances have access to the city’s electrical grid data and only run during low-demand times of day when electricity is cheapest.
Main Components to the Internet of Things (IoT) –
# Communication – An Internet of Things (IoT) device can collect and communicate information. The Internet of Things (IoT) enabled HVAC system can report automatically about its air filter is clean and functioning properly.
A shipping company could use sensors to track the location of a refrigerated shipping container and its current temperature.
# Control – You can remotely or automatically control an Internet of Things (IoT) device. IoT enabled controls can remotely turn on or shut down a specific piece of equipment or adjust the temperature in a climate-controlled environment.
You can imagine saying Alexa, goodnight which will trigger a scene that automatically causes your smart door to lock, smart blinds to close, and smart lights to turn off.
# Cost Savings – Customers will adopt IoT to automate processes in their home as well as to save money while many companies will adopt IoT to save money.
You can use the Internet of Things (IoT) enabled sensors to measure items like driving behavior and speed to reduce fuel expenses.
The Challenges of the Internet of Things (IoT) –
# Standards and Regulations – A device can only speak to another device if they understand the same language. Now, there are too many languages, and too many devices are incompatible with each other.
The growing number of connected devices makes the standardization and regulation of the Internet of Things (IoT) a complicated affair. Standardization and regulation issues can range from technical problems to legal matters.
# Data Security – Security concerns will always be present when handling of data and information is involved.
Any breach, attack, and exposure with a single Internet of Things (IoT) device can weaken the overall security of the concerned networks.
Device-to-device communication is good until human decides to take-off a connection and remotely hijack a device for malicious purposes. You can imagine if hijacker access to a network of medical devices.
The growing number of cross border attacks will start pushing national governments towards breaking-up the internet in walled gardens.
It’ll create major problems for the concept and practice of a global IoT leading to the erection of barriers to the flow of content and transactions.
A large amount of the data will run the Internet of Things (IoT) that would be stored in the cloud.
Cyber-security is under-resourced in comparison to the potential scale of the threat while there is a growing awareness of this problem.
# Device Malfunctions – Software and hardware can be broken down and sometimes bugs are major.
Bugs in data collection or data processing can introduce massive problems into large systems when network crashes could be devastating.
# Data Privacy – Determining the points where data collection should be limited. The stopping of data all together on account of user privacy concerns is difficult to achieve with the automated nature of IoT systems.
The widespread collection and processing of data is something that we shouldn’t pursue, even with the promise of a more efficient and more convenient tomorrow.
Now millions of new IoT devices are making a surface for hackers who will continue to explore the connections between low-power, poor devices and critical infrastructure.
Internet of Things (IoT) can direct a large group of connected sensors like thermostats or sprinkler controllers to cause damaging and unpredictable points in infrastructure use.
It’ll be leading to things like power surges, destructive water hammer attacks or reduced availability of critical infrastructure.
Internet of Things (IoT) Applications –
Most Internet of Things (IoT) applications has the goal of maximizing resources while increasing profits. IoT automation and IoT optimization will make our lives easier, safer, and more productive.
# Smart Home – IoT devices can be used for more connected, energy-efficient, and conveniently run home.
Different aspects of a connected home can also be remotely accessed and controlled by homeowners through a computer or smart device.
Now, we have the ability to control the temperature of our homes, monitor our homes security systems, and monitor the level of detergent in washing machines from a smartphone.
We can also be turning on the lights in our living room with the power of our voice or smartphone as well.
Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s Echo are the excellent Internet of Things (IoT) devices. They are essential platforms for companies’ respective Artificial Intelligence.
These AI platforms have a lot to offer people with regards to interconnectivity and home automation.
An individual can use his/her voice to check on all of the interconnected devices in the home and perform daily tasks like searching the Internet for movie times, checking the calendar, or shop online.
# Retail – Retails is undergoing a transformation with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT) like Amazon’s new Amazon Go shopping centers.
Amazon’s futuristic grocery store uses technologies of IoT projects work such as computer vision, sensor fusion, and deep learning.
When you shop at Amazon Go, you don’t have to check out and you can simply walk out of the store with them. Amazon Go store can determine what groceries you’ve added to the cart and you’ll automatically get the bill.
You’ll no longer have to waste time to check out with an IoT enabled retail store. But, this type of automation will lead to jobs losses.
# Self Driving Cars – Sensors within a moving vehicle makes it possible to collect real-time data about the vehicle and its surroundings.
Autonomous vehicles use different sensors in combination with advanced control systems to assess their environment and drive themselves.
Self-driving cars are the future, plain and simple. Self-driving cars offer the promise of safer roads and the elimination of traffic jams.
These cars have the ability to get you where you need to go faster than ever before. Self-driving cars work because they integrate everything that makes the Internet of Things (IoT) powerful.
Self-driving cars know and see everything that is occurring around them. These cars can adapt and alter their positions and route in real-time.
# Smart Cities – The combined uses of different IoT devices can cover urban and public areas.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices can gather data and affect its environment to help manage the various aspects of city governance like traffic control, resource management, and public safety.
Smart cities are extensions of our smart home and we can expect that the cities of the future will feature certain advantages with interconnectivity.
Smart cities can help us to save energy, keep citizens safer, and better help manage resources like power, water, etc. during difficult times.
# Healthcare – Internet of Things (IoT) technologies also has a variety of applications in healthcare. The high-tech fitness wearable like Apple and Fitbit are great for tracking your heartbeat, activity levels, and nutrition.
In the future, we’ll be able to implant ourselves with sensors that can give us real-time readings about our vitals and overall health.
During a medical emergency, the IoT data could be automatically sent to a local ambulance service over the Internet and signaling them to come to your rescue.
# Agriculture – Internet of Things (IoT) devices can get a detailed look at weather forecasts and satellite imagery. It’ll help farmers to do a better job of producing more and better food.
IoT interconnectivity can also provide farmers with detailed readouts about water and fertilizer usage per crop with less water and higher production.
Future of the Internet of Things (IoT) –
The majority of our electronic or quantum devices will be connected to the Internet via a unique IP address. The wearable connected devices and smart homes would be key to a smart and sustainable future.
Applications of IoT are divided into three categories:-
# Innovation – Innovation in new product and services provides a platform for the business from the start-up level. It’s transforming the business view of the internet.
# Operations – It’s beneficial for providers which makes easy to ensure the customers about their service. It reorganizes customer service by winding up the gaps between service fulfillment and assurance.
# Customer Service – Customer service is customer-focused and marketing. It’s potential to increase customer satisfaction with an extensive customer management platform. IoT allows providers to utilize automation to deal with customer problems easily.
Conclusion – The Internet of Things (IoT) is a truly amazing development that is likely going to change our lives for the better. Now the Internet of Things (IoT) trends are revolving around Artificial Intelligence and there’ll be a huge focus on providing users with an interface to control all of these devices. In the current scenario, few big companies are providing an easy to use interface to manage all of the owned IoT products. In coming years, we’ll live our lives with the help and guidance of digital assistant which will make our connection to the IoT more real and physical.