You must have heard about the term Internet of Things or IoT for short and probably some examples of applications and devices like Smart locks, smart thermostats, smart cars.
Basically, Internet of Things refers to the interconnection of computer devices embedded into everyday objects with the aid of the Internet enabling it to send and receive data.
Over the coming years IoT is expected to spread at a blistering pace and this convergence will bring about a new dimension of services that improve the quality of life of consumers and industrialist.
These devices, are mostly called "smart" devices, sometimes it can send signals to other related devices, and act on the information they get from one another a process known as machine-to-machine (M2M) communication - a subset of the IOT.
How does IoT work
A complete IoT system has four distinct integral components such as sensors/devices, connectivity, data processing, and a user interface.
The sensor/devices in a way “talk” to the cloud through some kind of connectivity. Once the data or information gets to the cloud, software performs some kind of processing on it and then might decide to perform an action, such as automatically adjusting the sensors/devices without the help of a user.
A user interface allows the user to simply check in on the system whenever the user input is needed. If the user takes any action on the system, then it would be sent in the reverse direction through the system, that is, from the user interface, to the cloud, and back to the sensors/devices to make some kind of change.
How it’s being used Today
A very good example is the Nest thermostat. A device beautifully designed to help save energy and keep you comfortable. This device is Wi-Fi-connected therefore allowing you to remotely control it from anywhere via your mobile device.
It also has a convenience factor in that it can automatically turn down the temperature before going to bed. After a weeks usage it programs itself and starts building your schedule.
Another example is SmartThings, a company acquired by Samsung. This device consists of various sensors and smart-home kits which can monitor things like who is entering in and going out of your house.
On a societal note, it is being used by cities to monitor things like the number of parking spaces that are available and traffic regulation.
Companies working on IoT
There are several companies working on the IoT products ranging from smaller and start up companies to Big names like Samsung, LG, Apple, Google, Lowe’s and Philips. A research group Gartner predicts that by the year 2020 25 billion connected devices will be in use.
Security and Privacy
Many persons are being worried about the potential risk of personal data getting into the wrong hands because of the various amounts of data collected by smart home devices, connected cars and wearables. The increased number of access points also poses a security risk.
The Federal Trade Commission FTC, has shown concerns, and has advised that companies take several precautionary steps in order to protect their customers. Anyway, it’s unclear how many companies will heed its advice, since the FTC doesn’t have the authority to enforce regulations on IoT devices.
Well, most companies have all said that security and privacy were of the utmost importance. For example, Apple requires that companies should include end-to-end encryption and authentication and a privacy policy whenever products are being developed for its Homekit. The company also mentioned that anything related to HomeKit accessories it doesn’t collect any customer data.
The idea of IoT has been in existence for years and it’s just entering the consumer market, and the category has yet to reach a final or desired state. But there are good products out there already. If you want to buy now, it's better advised you do your research, buy from a company that you trust, a reputable one as such and make sure you’re getting a solution that is actually going to solve a problem.
The Internet of Things promises to deliver a step change in individuals’ quality of life and society at large.
The IoT has the potential to allow extensions and improvements to fundamental services in transportation, logistics, security, utilities, education, healthcare and other areas, while providing a new ecosystem for application development through a widely distributed, locally intelligent network of smart devices.
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