By Ekta Jain
What is the Internet of Things ?
- The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals or humans that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs such as IP address) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring any human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
- The Internet of Things , also called the internet of objects, refers to a wireless network between objects.
- The Internet of Things is the concept of connecting any device to the Internet and to other connected devices. The IoT is a giant network of connected things and people — all of which collect and share data about the way they are used and about the environment around them.That includes an extraordinary number of objects of all shapes and sizes — from smart microwaves, which automatically cook your food for the right length of time, to wearable fitness devices that measure your heart rate and the number of steps you’ve taken that day, then use that information to suggest exercise plans tailored to you.
How does IoT work?
An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that incorporate the use of embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments. IoT devices share the sensor data they collect by connecting to an IoT gateway or other edge device where data is either sent to the cloud to be analysed or analysed locally. Sometimes, these devices communicate with other related devices and act on the information they get from one another. The devices do most of the work without human intervention, although people can interact with the devices, for instance, to set them up, give them instructions or access the data.The connectivity, networking and communication protocols used with these web-enabled devices largely depend on the specific IoT applications deployed. IoT can also take use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to aid in making data collecting processes easier and more dynamic.
IoT Working Process:-
- The process begins with devices that have built-in sensors.
- These devices are connected to IoT platforms which store data from all the connected devices.
- The important data is then used to perform tasks that fulfil the needs of people. Devices carefully select only particular data that is relevant to execute an action.
- These pieces of information can detect patterns, recommendations and problems before they occur.
This is how an IoT application works with smart systems that automate tasks to address specific needs.
What are the Major components of the IoT Ecosystem?
1. Sensors/ Devices
The foremost component to consider in Internet of Things technology is sensor/devices. A sensor picks up all the minute details from an environment. The environment can have many complexities. What makes IoT security so great is these sensors that pick up even the most sensitive changes. These sensors are built in the devices which collect all the data to be used later. For instance, our phone is a device with built-in sensors like GPS, camera, etc.
2. Connectivity
Once the data is collected it is sent to the cloud infrastructure (IoT platforms). But to transfer the data, the devices will need a medium. That’s when connections like Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WAN, cellular networks, etc come into play. These mediums are all different and must be chosen wisely for best results.The effectiveness of IoT security highly depends on the speed and availability of these mediums.
3. Data Processing
After reaching the cloud infrastructure the data has to be analysed. This process is however considered one of the most crucial obstacles in front of IoT app development. The analysis can be as simple as checking the temperature of the AC or a complex one such as a situation where an intruder comes in and the device has to identify it through cameras. The IoT application is made such that it can process all the data at a fast rate to take immediate actions.
4. User Interface
The last step is when the user is notified about the action with the help of a notification or an alert sound sent to the IoT mobile apps. This way the user will know that his command has been run through the systems.
Why is IoT important ?
The internet of things helps people live and work smarter, as well as gain complete control over their lives. In addition to offering smart devices to automate homes, IoT is essential to business. 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 enables companies to automate processes and reduce labour 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.
As such, IoT is one of the most important technologies of everyday life, and it will continue to pick up steam as more businesses realise the potential of connected devices to keep them competitive.s
What are the IoT benefits to organisations?
The internet of things offers several benefits to organisations. Some benefits are industry-specific, and some are applicable across multiple industries. Some of the common benefits of IoT enable businesses to:
- Monitor their overall business processes
- Improve the customer experience (CX)
- Save time and money
- Enhance employee productivity
- Integrate and adapt business models
- Make better business decisions
- Generate more revenue
A Scenario: IoT in your home
Imagine you wake up at 7am every day to go to work. Your alarm clock does the job of waking you just fine. That is, until something goes wrong. Your trains are cancelled and you have to drive to work instead. The only problem is that it takes longer to drive, and you would have needed to get up at 6.45am to avoid being late. Oh, and it’s pouring with rain, so you’ll need to drive slower than usual. A connected or IoT-enabled alarm clock would reset itself based on all these factors, to ensure you got to work on time. It could recognise that your usual train is cancelled, calculate the driving distance and travel time for your alternative route to work, check the weather and factor in slower travelling speed because of heavy rain, and calculate when it needs to wake you up so you’re not late. If it’s super-smart, it might even sync with your IoT-enabled coffee maker, to ensure your morning caffeine’s ready to go when you get up.
Pros and cons of IoT
Some of the advantages of IoT include the following:
- Ability to access information from anywhere at any time on any device;
- Improved communication between connected electronic devices;
- Transferring data packets over a connected network saving time and money; and
- Automating tasks helping to improve the quality of a business’s services and reducing the need for human intervention.
Some disadvantages of IoT include the following:
- As the number of connected devices increases and more information is shared between devices, the potential that a hacker could steal confidential information also increases.
- Enterprises may eventually have to deal with massive numbers — maybe even millions — of IoT devices, and collecting and managing the data from all those devices will be challenging.
- If there’s a bug in the system, it’s likely that every connected device will become corrupted.
- Since there’s no international standard of compatibility for IoT, it’s difficult for devices from different manufacturers to communicate with each other.
Applications of IoT
1. Wearable
Wearable technology is the hallmark of IoT applications and one of the earliest industries to deploy IoT. We have fit bits, heart rate monitors and smartwatches these days.
2. Smart Home Applications
The smart home is probably the first thing when we talk about the IoT application. The example we see of AI home automation is employed by Mark Zuckerberg. Alan Pan’s home automation system, where a string of musical notes uses in-house functions.
3. Health care
IoT applications can transform reactive medical-based systems into active wellness-based systems.
4. Smart Cities
The smart city includes improving transportation and social services, promoting stability and giving voice to their citizens.Governments and engineers use the Internet of Things to analyse the complex factors of town and each city. IoT applications help in the area of water management, waste control and emergencies.
5. Agriculture
To feed a large population, agriculture needs to marry technology and get the best results. There are many possibilities in this area. One of them is Smart Greenhouse.The greenhouse makes it easy to monitor and enables you to control the climate inside it.
