The Internet of things, often shortened to IoT, is a novel technology that refers to the interconnection of devices over a network, allowing them to share data with one another for purposes of sharing or collecting information. Internet of things technology itself is not new as we see it being used in various industries including infrastructure and transportation, smart electricity and gas meters, vehicle telematics, and car-to-car communication.
The Internet of Things revolution definitely isn’t one that can be exaggerated as it has had a significant impact in developing countries where security systems were lacking. Businesses that were previously relying on centralized proprietary systems could easily replace their existing products with the latest IoT technologies.
In this article we are going to give you a complete overview of internet of things and IOT connectivity technology and if it will benefit you or your business.
What is the Internet of things?
The concept was first proposed by Kevin Ashton in 1999. Ashton was running technology firm Proctor & Gamble’s European operations at the time, but his mind was already thinking about how the internet could change things. At a meeting in Paris, he used a whiteboard to describe what would later become known as “the internet of things.” Here’s what he wrote:
“IoT is a network of things that collect data with sensors and share data with the other things or the cloud. Each thing has a unique ID linked to an IP address.”
Uses of Internet of things
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network infrastructure that allows physical devices to connect, communicate, and exchange data. This network is composed of uniquely identifiable embedded computing devices within objects that are connected through Internet Protocol. IoT can be used for numerous applications such as:
Home automation: allows users to control and manage their home appliances wirelessly from anywhere in the world.
Smart Grid: allows utility companies to collect and use information from smart meters to operate more efficiently.
Industrial Automation: allows manufacturers to monitor their assembly lines, production process and other systems remotely.
Healthcare: helps monitor patient health by tracking vital signs such as heart rate, breathing, etc. It also enables doctors to monitor the health of patients remotely.
Security and Surveillance: helps protect a facility or neighborhood by monitoring it 24/7 without any human intervention.
Commercial building automation: helps keep track of real-time data on the assets of a company. Information such as temperature, humidity, security systems are monitored by sensors which is then transmitted to a cloud database for further analysis and actions.
With IoT tech becoming increasingly prevalent in our society, it’s more important than ever for buyers to ask themselves one question before making any purchase: what does this item enable me to do? If the answer isn’t something truly useful and meaningful, then it might be best not to buy it.
Before you decide to take a plunge into the Internet of things, make sure that you go through the details mentioned above.
