What is the IoT (Internet of Things) - A Complete Guide for Beginners

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Definition: The Internet of Things (IoT) describes physical objects (or groups of such objects) that are embedded with sensors, processing ability, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet. Thermostats, cars, lights, refrigerators, and more appliances can all be connected to the IoT.

In short, the Internet of Things refers to the rapidly growing network of connected objects that are able to collect and exchange data in real time using embedded sensors.

The goal behind the Internet of things is to have devices that self report in real-time, improving efficiency and bringing important information to the surface more quickly than a system depending on human intervention.

Some real-world examples of IoT are: wearable fitness and trackers (like Fitbits) and IoT healthcare applications, voice assistants (Siri and Alexa), smart cars (Tesla), and smart appliances (iRobot) etc.

A Brief History of the Internet of Things (IoT)

This will be a complete guide for beginners – What is the IoT (Internet of Things). The world’s first IoT device was invented in the early 1980s at the Carnegie Melon University. A group of students from the university created a way to get their campus Coca-Cola vending machine to report on its contents through a network in order to save them the trek if the machine was out of Coke.

The main concept of a network of smart devices was discussed as early as 1982, with a modified Coca-Cola vending machine at Carnegie Mellon University becoming the first ARPANET-connected appliance, able to report its inventory and whether newly loaded drinks were cold or not.

But the actual term ‘Internet of Things (IoT)’ was coined by KEVIN ASHTON, co-founder of the Auto-ID Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in 1999 during his work at Procter&Gamble. At that point, he viewed radio-frequency identification (RFID) as essential to the Internet of things, which would allow computers to manage all individual things.

Defining the Internet of things as “simply the point in time when more ‘things or objects’ were connected to the Internet than people”, Cisco Systems estimated that the IoT was “born” between 2008 and 2009, with the things/people ratio growing from 0.08 in 2003 to 1.84 in 2010.

How Does the IoT System Actually Work?

An IoT ecosystem consists of web-enabled smart devices that use embedded systems, such as processors, sensors and communication hardware, to collect, send and act on data they acquire from their environments.

Devices and objects with built in sensors are connected to an Internet of Things platform, which integrates data from the different devices and applies analytics to share the most valuable information with applications built to address specific needs.

Let’s discuss the Major Components of the IoT Ecosystem:-

1. IoT Devices

The foremost component to consider in Internet of Things technology is IoT devices. IoT devices are pieces of hardware, such as sensors, actuators, gadgets, appliances, or machines, that are programmed for certain applications and can transmit data over the internet or other networks.

Examples of IoT Devices: Smart Mobiles, smartwatches, smart fire alarms, smart refrigerators, smart bicycles, medical sensors, fitness trackers, smart door locks, smart security systems, etc.

2. Network

An IoT network refers to a collection of interconnected devices that communicate with other devices to share or spread the data to other devices or interfaces available within reachable distance, without the need for human involvement. There are various types of IoT networks available for IoT devices to communicate.

3. IoT Platforms

An IoT platform is an on-premises software suite or a cloud service (IoT platform as a service – PaaS) that allows developers to spread out the applications, remotely collect data, secure connectivity, and execute sensor management. An IoT platform manages the connectivity of the devices and allows developers to build new mobile software applications.

Once the data gets to the cloud, software processes it and then might decide to perform an action, such as sending an alert or automatically adjusting the sensors/devices without the need for the user.

Examples of IoT connectivity platforms include Curiosity by Sprint, Jasper by Cisco, IoT Accelerator by Ericsson, and Pelion by ARM.

4. User Interface (UI)

Finally, the end-users need a way to view and understand the data captured by IoT. People are an essential part of this equation. Many of us think of UIs as just software or any application on phones and computers, but a user interface could be anything from a smartwatch to voice-controlled Amazon Echo to the buttons on a smart tractor dashboard.

However, this isn’t as easy as it seems. It all depends on what is IoT technology and how it has been developed. An IoT ecosystem is a very complex concept that eludes (avoid) easy classification, as its characteristics vary from deployment to deployment. Much like our world, the IoT world comprises numerous different ecosystems that evolve and adapt.

What Is the Importance of IoT?

Internet of Things in short IoT is a trending technological field that converts any electronic device into a smarter one. The true value of the Industrial IoT will be eventualized when all devices are connected to the cloud and their data is collectively analyzed, revealing actionable insights that can transform your business.

From smart watches to remote door locks in houses, IoT technology is bringing a large number of day-to-day objects into the digital fold to make them smarter.

Internet of Things can create information about the connected objects, analyze it, and make decisions; in other words, one can tell that the Internet of Things is smarter than the Internet.

This innovative technology not only connects the device to the internet but also provides the user, various features like real-time analytics, platform to analyze the collected data, cloud data storage, trigger an action from a remote location, remote notifications etc.

It has created an ecosystem that links many systems to give smart performances in every task.

The Industrial IoT is defined as the automated interaction between smart devices and systems, exchanging data to an offsite or cloud-based solution for meaningful, time-sensitive analytics using components with very low energy consumption, which are simple to install and based on industry standards.

The proliferation of the IoT has created a new evolution of cell phones, home and other embedded applications that are all connected to the internet.

The importance of IoT is its influence. A lot of industries are beginning to adopt this technology to their operations to increase their productivity and improve efficiency. In a world dominated by digital technology, the IoT plays a prominent role in our lives.

Frequently Asked Questions about IoT

1. Which Is The Mostly Used IoT Device?

Smart watches are the most popular IoT devices. The real-world device data clearly shows that smart watches are third among all connected devices, trailing only smart phones and computers.

2. How Many Iot Smart Devices May Be There By The Year 2022?

Approximately there are around 7.62 billion humans on our planet, but to your surprise, by the year 2022 with an increasing graph of IoT devices, there may be around 20 billion IoT smart devices up and running with an increase in the demand of 5g network.

3. What Is The Most Interesting Use of IoT?

Some of the prominent IoT applications which are used in the smart cities include Smart Water Management, Smart Waste Management, and Smart Parking. The water system is one of the most critical infrastructure items for smart cities. With the growing population, the consumption of water is also growing.

4. What Is The Future of IoT?

The future of IoT has the potential to be limitless. There is simply so much potential for innovation in this field. Advances to the industrial internet will be accelerated through increased network agility, integrated artificial intelligence (AI) and the capacity to deploy, automate, orchestrate and secure diverse use cases at hyperscale.

5. How Much Is The IoT Market Worth?

The global IoT market is expected to reach a value of USD 1,386.06 billion by 2026 from USD 761.4 billion in 2020 at a CAGR of 10.53% during the forecast period (2021-2026).

6. How Much Is The IoT Growing?

Overall enterprise Internet of Things (IoT) spending grew 12.1% in 2020 to $128.9 billion. Asia-Pacific (APAC) saw the fastest growth (17.0%), followed by North America (14.9%) and Europe (9.7%). 2021 IoT spending for enterprises is expected to grow 24.0% in 2021.

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