What is the IoT?
There is a lot of talk about IoT these days, but what does it actually mean? IoT is an abbreviation of Internet of Things, which is a futuristic computing concept that refers to a network of physical objects that can communicate with other devices via an internet connection. This communication is made possible by sensor technologies such as RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) or wireless technologies. The basic idea is that connected objects will be able to produce useful data and respond to database data in intelligent ways.
Put simply, IoT extends internet connectivity beyond conventional devices such as desktop PCs, laptops, tablets and smartphones. With IoT, a limitless and diverse range of everyday physical objects and devices could have technology embedded that allows them to gather data and interact with the larger network of ‘things’.
The main components of IoT include the ‘things’ (physical objects), the communication networks that connect the things and the computer systems that make use of the data that flows between the things. These components constitute an IoT infrastructure that facilitates the flow of communication between physical objects, allowing activities to be optimised based on the analysis of data from the network. IoT can be utilised privately within homes and businesses as well as publicly to connect entire towns and cities. This could potentially result in significant efficiency gains.
Technology already exists that allows you to remotely control systems within your home, such as thermostats and security systems. But IoT would take this further, allowing the devices to act on your behalf based on a number of factors such as your preferences, your location and current weather conditions. For example, using data from weather forecasts the devices within your home could regulate the temperature, open or close windows and optimise your sprinkler system to water the lawn. The difference between existing technologies that allow you to remotely control devices in your home and the Internet of Things is that IoT envisions a future where human interaction is no longer necessary. Instead, the devices in the network will analyse the information available and make decisions by themselves.
By removing the need for human involvement, IoT has the potential to eliminate the burden of many daily chores. Devices would be able to work together to order our shopping and schedule delivery times based on our online calendars. On a larger scale, IoT could allow cars, traffic lights and roads to interact and act in ways that enhance the flow of traffic through cities.
In terms of business, IoT has the potential to transform the way we gather and use data. Data gathered by a network of things in our environment is likely to be much faster as well as more detailed and accurate than the process of data gathering by humans. This, coupled with the reduced need for human involvement in various tasks, could dramatically enhance efficiency within organisations. Smart devices could send sales and stock information to warehouses and offices, to optimise buying and speed up deliveries. Technical information can be sent directly from devices to the relevant maintenance people, to improve reliability and increase uptime. Marketing strategies could be devised based on data gathered from a wide range of things in the environment. The possibilities are endless.
With all its potential, IoT does bring increased privacy and security concerns. Increased online data collection inevitably leads to an increased risk of hackers stealing private information from individuals and businesses. Privacy advocates have also raised concerns about the amount of data that businesses can collect about individuals. Despite this, this Internet of Things is fast becoming a reality.