The Internet of Things
With new technologies shaping up everything in our life it was only time they started communicating with each other and this is where the Internet of things comes in the picture. The ultimate goal for a modern house would be when all the devices start exchanging data with each other and made statistical data that can be used to plot and map graphs for usage of resources per person or to program timings of electronics in referenced to each other. E.g. automatically connecting your Television to the internet and playing your TV series when your smartphone gets connected to the home Wi-Fi.
The Internet of Things is the network of physical objects or “things” embedded with electronics, software, sensors, and network connectivity, which enables these objects to collect and exchange data. The Internet of Things allows objects to be sensed and controlled remotely across existing network infrastructure, creating opportunities for more direct integration between the physical world and computer-based systems, and resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and economic benefit. Each thing is uniquely identifiable through its embedded computing system but is able to interoperate within the existing Internet infrastructure.
What are the feature of Internet of things?
The Internet of Things revolves around the machine-to-machine communication and is majorly built on cloud computing and networks of data-gathering from various devices. It’s portable, virtual, and an instant connection. Experts say that it’s going to make everything in our lives from streetlights to seaports “smart.”
Imagine a street which only lights up the path when the road below senses a car is driving and a signal that changes frequency when it senses extra traffic from one side of the road. The internet of things is not just the next big thing it has the potential to change our lives down to the smallest things from gathering data of our lives to calculating complex equations that allow enormous data points to function smoothly without any human intervention.
Industrial Uses of Internet of Things
The Internet of things has so vast applications that it can change an entire industry and the way it processes data. Imagine having a factory setup and you need new materials that have been exhausted and the computer automatically asks the provider to send the amount of material required by calculating the time and speed of other processes. That will not only fasten the speed of all the process but reshape it entirely. This technology is most used by e-commerce websites and logistics department for faster processing and smoother functioning of tasks. This has the potential to heavily improve the entire industrial sectors, from smart machines that not only manage workflow themselves but also notify if any device is lagging, getting hazardous or predict a future breakdown in the system and take adequate actions necessary to prevent it. This technology can make changes fast, see the bits and pieces if information that do not make sense and learn on the way.
Personal Uses of Internet of things
It could also be responsible for performing actions such as making the lighting dimmer during afternoon and adjusting the cooling efficiency of your house while maintaining the full functionality. Intelligent shopping systems could be designed that could monitor specific users’ purchasing habits in a store by tracking their previous shopping experiences and the amount one spends on average on one item.
These users then could be provided with special offers on there are frequent at. It can provide location of favorite products, or even sale on certain outlets that they need, which their fridge has automatically conveyed to the phone. More examples of sensing and actuating are reflected in applications that deal with electricity, heat and efficient energy management. The Internet of Things can also provide security feature such as locking the doors and windows after 8 pm and home automation such as closing the windows if it is too windy or a prediction of an incoming storm. Now, you can not only control the electrical devices installed in your house but also program them to take certain actions based on other applications.
Home automation systems or building automation systems can be used to control lighting, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, appliances, communication systems, entertainment and home security devices to improve convenience, comfort, energy efficiency, and security
Infrastructure Management
Large scale Infrastructures like wind turbines, oil refineries, draw bridges, railway tracks, and solar energy generating farms work smoothly integrated with IoT. This infrastructure can also be used for keeping eye on events and changes in the structural conditions which might compromise safety of the public and provide advance warning to save lives and avoid disasters. It can schedule repairs, maintenance activities and routine check-ups by co-ordinating tasks between various service providers. Even areas such as waste management stand to benefit from automation and optimization that could be brought in by the IoT.
With the vast effect of this technology we can say the world is only going to get more efficient and that we are going to see a new range of smart lifestyle appliances that will reshape the way we live.
