What Is Internet Of Things (IoT)?
The Internet of Things or IoT is influencing our lifestyle from the way we behave, from air conditioners that you can control your smartphones to smart cars providing the shortest route. Or, your smartwatch which is tracking your daily activities. IoT is a giant network with connected devices. These devices gather and share data about how they are used and the environment in which they are operated. It’s all done using sensors, sensors are embedded in every physical device.
It can be your mobile phone, electrical appliances, Pecos barcode sensors, traffic lights and almost everything that you come across in a day to day life. These sensors continously emit data about the working state of the devices. But the important question is how do they share this huge amount of data?
And how do we put this data to our benefit? IoT provides a common platform for all these devices to dump their data. And a common language for all the devices to communicate with each other. Data is emitted from various sensors and sent to IoT. Platform security IoT platform integrates the collected data from various sources, further analytics is performed on the data and valuable information is extracted as per requirement.
Finally, the result is shared with other devices for better user experience automation and improving efficiencies. Let us look at a scenario where IoT is doing wonders. In an AC manufacturing industry, both the manufacturing machine and the best have sensors attached they continously send data regarding the machine health, and the production specifics to the manufacturer to identify issues beforehand. A barcode to each product before leaving the belt is assigned.
It contains the product code, manufacturer details, special instructions etc. The manufacturer uses this data to identify where the product was distributed and track the Retailer’s inventory. Hence, the manufacturer can make the product running out of stock available. Next, this product is packed to different retailers.
Each retailer has a barcode reader to track the product coming from different manufacturers, manage inventory, check special instructions and many more. The compressor of air conditioner has an embedded sensor, that emits data regarding its health and temperature. This data is not allied, continously allowing the customer care to contact you for the repair work in time. This is just one of the million scenarios.
We have smart appliances, smart cars, smart homes, smart cities where IoT is redefining our life staying and transforming the way we interact with technologies. The future of the IoT industry is huge. Business Insider Intelligence estimates that 24 billion IoT devices will be installed by 2020. And, ITC predicts that IoT revenue will reach around three hundred and fifty-seven billion in 2019 resulting in a lot of job opportunities in the IT industry.
How IoT Works?
The Internet of Things is changing much about the world we live in. From the way we drive to how we make purchases and even how we get energy for our homes. Sophisticated sensors and chips are embedded in the physical things that surround us each transmitting valuable data. Data that let us better understand how these things work and work together. But, how exactly do all these devices share such large quantities of data and how do we put that information to work. Whether we’re improving the production of a factory, giving city residents real-time updates on where to park or monitoring our health.
It’s the common internet of things platform that brings us diverse information together and provides the common language for the devices and apps to communicate with each other. The process starts with the devices themselves which securely communicate with an Internet of Things platforms.
This platform integrates this data from many devices and data analytics to share the most valuable data with applications that address industry-specific needs. Let’s start with a simple example. A car after taking a long road trip, Rebecca notices that her check engine light has come on she knows that she needs to have her car looked at by a mechanic. But is not sure whether it’s something minor or something that needs immediate attention as it turns out the sensor that triggered Rebecca’s check engine light monitors the pressure in her brake line.
This sensor is one of the many monitoring processes of the car which are constantly communicating with each other. A component in the car called the diagnostic bus gathers the data from all these sensors then passes it to a gateway in the car. The Gateway integrates and sorts the data from the sensors. This way, only the most relevant diagnostic information will be transmitted to the manufacturers’ platform. But, before sending this organized data, the cars gateway and platform must first register with each other and confirm a secure communication. The platform is constantly gathering and storing thousands of bits of information from Rebecca’s car and hundreds of thousands of cars like hers building a historical record in a secure database.
The manufacturers added rules and logic to the platform so when Rebecca’s car sends a signal that her brake could be dropped below a recommended level. The platform triggers an alert in her car. The manufacturer also uses the platform to create and manage applications that solve specific issues in this case. The manufacturer can deploy an application on the platform called the asset management system. This application oversees all of their customers’ cars on the roads as well as all the parts in their warehouses. It uses the data from Rebecca’s car to offer her a potential appointment time to service her car directions to the nearest certified dealer.
And, a coupon for the service. What’s more? The app will ensure that Rebecca’s brakes are covered under her warranty that the correct replacement part is ordered and then sent to the dealership so it is ready when she arrives. But the manufacturer’s analysis does not stop there. They have also deployed a continuous engineering application that tracks not only Rebecca’s car but hundreds of thousands of others looking for ways to improve the design and manufacturing process of the car itself.
If the same problem in her brake line crops up in a critical number of other cars, the manufacturer uses applications, custom-built for the automobile industry to pinpoint the exact problem. They can see if these cars were made at the same factory used the same parts or came off the assembly line on the same day.
So, what do all these pieces add upto streamlines inventory management for the dealer? A better, safer car from the manufacturer and for Rebecca, it means, she can be back on the road faster and get to where she’s going safely. All thanks to the Internet of Things.
List of IoT Devices?
Currently, there are thousands of Internet of Things devices that exist on the planet earth. But when our team accumulated the list of most familiar and most used ones, here it is –
- Bitdefender BOX IoT Security Solution
- Google Home Voice controller
- Amazon Echo (2nd Generation) Voice controller
- Nest Cam Indoor camera
- Mr Coffee Smart Coffeemaker
- SmartMat Intelligent Yoga Mat
- Philips Hue Hue Go
- TrackR bravo Tracking Device
- Linquist Bluetooth tracking sensor
- Amazon Echo Spot Smart Alarm Clock
- BB8 SE Droid with force band
- Nest Thermostat Smart Thermostat
- Amazon Echo Plus Voice controller
- Logitech Pop Smart button controller
- Nest Cam Outdoor Outdoor camera
- AWS IoT Button Programmable Dash Button
- Logitech Circle Portable Wi-Fi video camera
- Logitech Harmony Elite Smart Controller
- Awair Smart Air Quality Monitor
- Nest Protect Smoke and CO detector
- Navdy Smart navigation system
- Hydrawise Smart Irrigation Controller
- Sync Smartband Activity Tracker
- Ninja Sphere Smart Household Appliances
- Airy iBeacon for home automation
- June Intelligent oven
- August Outdoor Camera
- singlecue Gesture Controller
- Triby Smart portable speaker
- Kinsa Smart thermometer
- Ring Pro Smart Video Doorbell
- Withings Blood Pressure Monitor
- Fitbit Surge SmartWatch
- August Smart Lock
- Scout Alarm Home Security Sensors
- Canary Home Security Device
- Eero Home WiFi System
- Amazon Echo Connect Connects Phone to Echo
- Norm Connected Thermostat
- Honeywell Wifi Smart Thermostat
- Chamberlain Garage Appliances
- Blossom Smart watering controller
- Edyn Garden Sensor, iGrill Mini Smart grill thermometer
- iGrill 2 Smart grill thermometer,
- Mimo Smart baby monitoring
- Skydrop Sprinkler Controller
- Ambi Climate Add-on for Air Conditioner
- MaxMyTV TV Home Automation
- Notion Home Intelligence Sensors
- Ring Smart Video Doorbell
- Aura Connected Alarm Clock
- ZEN Thermostat Connected Thermostat
- Kepler Gas and CO detector
- Sense Sleep Tracker
- Iota GPS Tracking Device
- Hicon Wearable Smart Bracelet
- Table Air Air Purifier
- Amazon Tap Portable Bluetooth speaker
- PulseOn Heart Rate Monitoring
- Keen Home Smart Vent System
- Petnet Automatic feeder
- Amazon Echo Dot (2nd Generation) Voice controller
- Lockitron Bolt Smart Lock
- Parrot Wireless plant monitor
- Denon Heos Wireless speaker system
- Sight wireless baby monitor
- Foobot Indoor air quality monitor
- Sonos Play:5 Smart speaker
- Click & Grow Herb garden
- Beddit Sleep tracker
- Misfit Bolt Bluetooth smart bulb
- Arlo Home security camera
- Sphero 2.0 Robotic ball
- Sugar Cube Smart wifi speaker
- Muzo Cobblestone Wireless music receiver
- SkyBell Smart video doorbell
- Prodigio Connected espresso machine
- Garageio Garage door automation
- Anova Precision Cooker
In the future, every car is going to be connected to the internet. It is going to be a part of the IoT revolution. Today the cars are connected because of the application that we are having inside our car but in future, cars are going to be fully connected and are going to be even autonomous.
One of the best IoT devices is Google Glass. You see the Google glass started to become smart. And, this smart Google Glass, what we can do with them, we can navigate the internet and see many things. There are a small display and a camera. And, in the future, such glasses will even be able to tell us if somebody in front of us is lying or not. Another very good example in the household is the fridge. Because this fridge is not a normal fridge, it has a smart display with which you can order the groceries. And, also, it has a very nice dashboard where the house owner can put all the tasks that are to be left for another person.
In the IoT devices list, there are also drones. These drones are amazing, you can take a lot of photos with it. It’s also connected to the internet via a mobile phone. In the futures, drones are going to be completely autonomous and are going to bring us groceries in our house. Then, again in the evening or maybe in the morning, you must be coming across your Smart TV. This Smart TV will also be connected to the internet and will allow you to access to many content providers and get a lot of free interesting videos and content.
In the future, these are Smart televisions will automatically know what we are supposed to watch. What interests us. All these things that are mentioned above are a part of the Internet of Things revolution. As you can see, many devices that you’re using today are going to be connected to the internet. And, they are going to provide you with much better services. Why it is so important? Mainly because in the past, you had a heart rate monitor. The heart rate monitor could collect information about your heart status. And, then to provide you with a diagnosis about whatsoever the problem is.