Today, Physical World meets the Digital World—and they cooperate each other.
The term IoT, or Internet of Things, refers to the collective network of connected billions of physical devices around the world and the technology that facilitates collecting, exchanging data, communication between devices and the cloud. IoT system works through the real-time collection and exchange of data. The Internet of Things (IoT) integrates everyday physical objects “things” with the internet. In particular, the IoT delivers large amounts of real-time data.
A thing on the Internet of Things (IoT) can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a bio-chip transponder, an automobile that has built-in sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low or any other natural or man-made object that can be assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address and is able to transfer data over a network. PC isn’t generally considered an IoT device, and neither is a smartphone, whereas a smartwatch or a fitness band or other wearable device might be counted as an IoT device, however.
IoT devices are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies. Devices range from ordinary household objects to sophisticated industrial tools. Now we can connect everyday objects—home/kitchen appliances, cars, thermostats, baby monitors—to the internet via embedded devices, seamless communication is possible between people, processes, and things.
IoT can also make use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic. IoT provides businesses with a real-time look into how their systems really work, delivering insights into everything from the performance of machines to supply chain and logistics operations.
IoT encourages companies to rethink the ways they approach their businesses and gives them the tools to improve their business strategies. IoT enables companies to automate processes and reduce labor costs. It also cuts down on waste and improves service delivery, making it less expensive to manufacture and deliver goods, as well as offering transparency into customer transactions.
IoT System Components
- Smart Devices – This is a device, like a television, security camera, or exercise equipment that has been given computing capabilities. It collects data from its environment, user inputs, or usage patterns and communicates data over the internet to and from its IoT application.
- IoT Application – An IoT application is a collection of services and software that integrates data received from various IoT devices. It uses machine learning or artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze this data and make informed decisions. These decisions are communicated back to the IoT device and the IoT device then responds intelligently to inputs.
- A Graphical User Interface – The IoT device or fleet of devices can be managed through a graphical user interface. Common examples include a mobile application or website that can be used to register and control smart devices.
While the idea of IoT has been in existence for a long time, a collection of recent advances in a number of different technologies has made it practical.
- Access to Low-Cost, Low-Power Sensor Technology – Affordable and reliable sensors are making IoT technology possible for more manufacturers.
- Connectivity – A host of network protocols for the internet has made it easy to connect sensors to the cloud and to other “things” for efficient data transfer.
- Cloud Computing Platforms – The increase in the availability of cloud platforms enables both businesses and consumers to access the infrastructure they need to scale up without actually having to manage it all.
- Machine Learning and Analytics – With advances in machine learning and analytics, along with access to varied and vast amounts of data stored in the cloud, businesses can gather insights faster and more easily. The emergence of these allied technologies continues to push the boundaries of IoT, and the data produced by IoT also feeds these technologies.
- Conversational Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Advances in neural networks have brought natural-language processing (NLP) to IoT devices (such as digital personal assistants Alexa, Cortana, and Siri) and made them appealing, affordable, and viable for home use.
Crucial Risk
- The IoT bridges the gap between the digital world and the physical world, which means that hacking into devices can have dangerous real-world consequences. Hacking into the sensors controlling the temperature in a power station could trick the operators into making a catastrophic decision, taking control of a driver-less car could also end in disaster.
- With all those sensors collecting data on everything you do, the IoT is a potentially vast privacy and security headache. Take the smart home: it can tell when you wake up (when the smart coffee machine is activated) and how well you brush your teeth (thanks to your smart toothbrush), what radio station you listen to (thanks to your smart speaker), what type of food you eat (thanks to your smart oven or fridge), what your children think (thanks to their smart toys), and who visits you and passes by your house (thanks to your smart doorbell). While companies will make money from selling you the smart object in the first place, their IoT business model probably involves selling at least some of that data, too.
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