Connected devices. Sprawling networks. Massive amounts of data. In a nutshell, that’s the Internet of Things. And there’ve never been more things in the ever-expanding IoT ecosystem. From smart cities and cars to smart stethoscopes and dog collars, the world is becoming more interconnected every day.
It isn’t news that the Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing our lives – IoT is Everywhere. IoT is now
portable, wearable, and implantable, creating a ubiquitous and connected universe, and transforming
physical objects that surround us into an ecosystem of information that is rapidly changing the way we
live. IoT technology has already changed when and where work is done, in almost every industry.
Businesses are transitioning to the Internet of Everything (IoE), an unprecedented network connection
that encompasses machines, individuals, processes, and data that can have a huge impact on our daily
lives.
Smart home: Smart home is the most popular thing which is the application of IoT. There are
more than 60,000 people search for the keyword "Smart Home" each month. Moreover, The
total amount of funding for Smart Home startups now exceeds $ 2.5bn. IoT devices in the smart
home can be used to monitor and control the mechanical, electrical, and electronic systems
used in various types of buildings in home automation and building automation systems.
Driverless Cars: One of the most futuristic applications of IoT is the autonomous car. If you have
seen the hit TV series Silicon Valley (S1), you would know what we are talking about. These cars that
seem like a product from the near future exist today and are mostly under development or prototype
stages. The cars don’t have drivers and are sensible enough to take you to your destination on their own.
Equipped with tons of devices like sensors, gyroscopes, cloud architecture, internet, and more, these
cars sense huge chunks of data on traffic, pedestrians, conditions of the road such speed breakers,
potholes, corners, and sharp turns and immediately process them at rapid speeds. This information is
passed to the controller which takes corresponding driving decisions. Artificial Intelligence and Machine
Learning is a crucial aspect of driverless cars as well.
Energy management: The integration of sensing and actuation systems, connected to the
The Internet is likely to optimize energy consumption as a whole. IoT devices will be integrated into
all forms of energy-consuming devices such as switches, power outlets, bulbs, televisions, etc.
Also, it can communicate with the utility supply company to effectively balance power generation
and energy usage. Those IoT devices can remotely control user's devices or centrally manage
them via a cloud-based interface. It also enables advanced functions like scheduling. For
example, remotely powering on or off heating systems, controlling ovens, changing lighting
conditions.
Smart Hotel Rooms: This might be a little new to you but hotel chains like Hilton are eyeing
on the potential of the Internet of things to create better travel and stay experiences to its
customers. Replacing card-based door keys with smartphone apps, Hilton ensures to deliver
better safety and security to rooms by allowing you to show your smartphone to the room locks
to enter. Similarly, the heating and lighting systems are connected to the Internet to enable a
personalized experience for visitors. With this feature, you can set lighting according to your
preferences and control the temperatures of the heater as well. Besides, you can also check-in
easily and get more information on hotel deals and travel suggestions. Who doesn’t want peace
of mind during a vacation!
Smarter Healthcare: Wearable devices that detect a host of health problems, potentially
before they even occur, and immediately administer life-saving drugs or deploy emergency
responders with detailed information placed instantly in their hands or alert family members as-
needed. The ideas above barely skim the surface of the deep sea of possibilities afforded by the coming
IoT age and they all share a common (and not accidental) adjective here: “smarter”. If “smart” is
defined by the confluence of access to information and the ability to utilize that information in
meaningful and appropriate ways, then the promise of the Internet of Things is, simply, a much
“smarter” planet that keeps us safer, balances the personal good with the greater good, and
improves humankind’s chances at providing a more sustainable legacy for future generations.
