Exploring the Connected World

Ever wished your surroundings could just understand and act according to your needs? Well, with the Internet of Things, that dream is already taking shape. The very room you are sitting in right now could have an IoT ecosystem. Your TV is most probably connected to your phone, as are your lights and washing machine. They communicate and share data via the internet, allowing you to watch videos on your TV screen comfortably, or switch off your lights from outside your home, saving you the stress of having to run back inside again.

What is the IoT?

The Internet of Things is the connection of everyday objects to each other and the internet. These devices are embedded with sensors, which gather data in real time. This data is either sent to the cloud through  WiFi, Bluetooth, satellite, etc., or processed locally on the device. Once it is converted into meaningful information and stored, it is sent to you through a software or application on your smartphone.

Why Do We Need IoT?

IoT helps us control the tasks in our daily routines and makes our lives stress-free. You no longer have to worry about the state of your home when you are outside, as you have security systems that would alert you in case of a break-in. It also monitors your surroundings and makes decisions that improve your lifestyle.

Further, IoT improves the efficiency of processes by monitoring them throughout and automating tasks. What’s more, it lets you know ways you can reduce energy wastage, improving sustainability.

Applications of IoT

Believe it or not, IoT has already found its way into numerous daily processes and has been making our lives more efficient in ways we are not aware of. Some ways it is improving our lives are through:

• Smart Homes: Do you have a TV that you can access from your phone and watch movies from streaming services like Netflix? Well, that’s an example of a smart device. And if you connect all the devices in your house to your phone and can control all of them with an internet connection, you’ve got yourself a smart home. Living this way makes your daily routine easier and helps you save energy.

• Healthcare: Thanks to Remote Patient Monitoring, patients no longer have to stay at the hospital for extended periods. Data on their health metrics can be sent to the doctors straight from their wearables like fitness bands and heart rate cuffs, and allow them to get the care they need even at home. 

• Manufacturing: IoT helps companies understand KPIs in manufacturing and reduce downtime. They can also measure conditions continuously and identify any defects, improving quality control. 

• Smart Vehicles: Getting to your destination is now made safer and hassle-free with smart vehicles. Vehicles can use electronic sensors like air pressure sensors, throttle position sensors, LiDAR and radar, and cameras to monitor the car’s performance in real-time and provide a comfortable driving experience. They can also update you on traffic conditions, and some cars even have self-driving abilities.

• Retail: To provide you with a better shopping experience, many companies like Amazon are using sensors to predict waiting times in line, and recommend products to you that you would most likely be interested in. They also use RFID tags and GPS trackers to monitor your delivery and keep you updated while it is en route to your destination.

Advantages of IoT

• Real-Time Access to Information: Since IoT devices gather information continuously, you can have constant access to information and can make decisions

• Better Productivity: IoT automates mundane tasks and allows people to spend their attention on more important tasks.

• Saves Time: IoT devices process data of a person’s surroundings and make the necessary changes to maintain an optimal comfort level.

• Improves Wellbeing: Wearable technology and other IoT devices track a person’s health constantly, alerting them to make changes in their lifestyle.

Disadvantages of IoT

• Security concerns: There are a number of devices connected together in an IoT system. So if one device is compromised, it can be used as a stepping stone to access other devices on the same network.

• High costs: As efficient as the IoT system is, there are costs associated as well. The sensors and actuators, along with the entire infrastructure amount to significant initial costs.

• Complexity: Integrating devices from different manufacturers and making them compatible can cause the IoT system to become more complex.

• Huge volume of data: A huge amount of data is being relayed across all the devices in an IoT network. Processing this ton of information can prove to be quite a challenge when you consider analyzing and storing it.

What is the Future of IoT?

To wrap up, we can expect the use of IoT to become even more widespread. That is, once the necessary regulations are made, and challenges such as interoperability and connectivity are overcome. This would create a much smarter way of life, especially with using other technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Blockchain as well. Not to mention, businesses would be able to go green with IoT helping them minimize waste and conserve energy.