What IS the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things, otherwise known as IoT, is a popular topic to discuss both inside and outside of the workplace. This new concept impacts the way we work, and live, but it’s not something that everyone understands. There are a lot of complexities involved in IoT, but here, we’ll stick to the basics.
First of all, Broadband Internet is growing more widely available, with the costs of connections decreasing. More devices are being built with sensors and Wi-Fi capabilities, and technology expenses are falling while smartphone prevalence sky-rockets. This atmosphere is perfect for IoT.
What is IoT?
Basically, the Internet of Things refers to the idea of being able to connect almost any electrical device to the internet. These devices might include washing machines, coffee makers, smartphones, wearable devices, and just about anything else you can think of.
IoT can also apply to the components of machines, such as the drill in an oil-rig, or the engine of a jet. If the item has an off/on switch, then it can probably join the IoT. In a forecast published earlier this year, Gartner has said that there will be more than 20 billion devices connected to the internet by 2020. The IoT is simply the huge network of connected “things”, including people.
How IoT Impacts You
It seems that the rule for the future is that anything which can be connected, will be connected. The potential for these devices is unlimited. For instance, you might be heading to work and your car has access to your calendar, so it can plan the ideal route. If there’s too much traffic, your car might send texts to your partners, letting them know you’ll be late. On the other hand, your alarm could wake you up at 6 am, and set the coffee machine brewing at the same time. Your office equipment could identify when it was running low, and order new supplies automatically.
At a broader level, the Internet of Things applies to networks in transportation. For instance, smart cities can help support the reduction of waste and improve energy efficiency, helping us to understand the way we live and work.
The truth is that IoT allows for almost unlimited opportunities to take place, prompted by connections that we can barely comprehend. It’s easy to see why this concept is so engaging today, as it opens the door to a range of both opportunities, and challenges.
One concern that’s often risen with IoT is security. As billions of devices connect, it’s hard to determine what can be done to ensure that information remains secure. At the same time, we have the issue of data-sharing and privacy too. Another issue that companies are facing are the huge amounts of data that each device produces. For instance, businesses need to learn how to track, store, and make sense of that data.
What’s Next in IoT?
Conversations about the opportunities of IoT have been taking place for a number of years as we attempt to understand how it might impact our lives. We’re trying to understand what the challenges and opportunities are going to be as we join the revolution for an interconnected world. For now, it’s up to us to educate ourselves about what the internet of things really means, and how it can impact us.
