Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet today is evolving at a fast pace. With the broadband internet becoming widely available, more devices are being created with Wifi capabilities and sensors built into them. Technology costs are coming down and smartphone apps penetration is increasing, all creating the perfect scenario for the Internet of Things or simply, “IoT”.
The concept behind IoT is to basically connect any device which performs a function, to the Internet. The device can be any of the household appliances like the coffee maker, fridge, microwave, lamps, or wearable devices, or can even be machines at a factory. IoT build a giant network of these connected devices and forms a relationship using the data that is generated from these devices. Then it uses this relationship to make important decisions or provide recommendations.
So how do you use IoT in your everyday life?
Say, you kept at an alarm for 6 AM in the morning. A voice controlled speaker like Amazon Echo wakes you up and tells you the temperature of the day, so you can dress for office accordingly. Your coffee maker gets the notification that you are getting ready and starts brewing coffee for you. The lamps in your kitchen automatically switch on after sensing your presence. The fridge sensor detects that there is less milk at home, so Amazon Echo automatically orders milk for you and notifies this action to you. While you are leaving for office, your mobile assistant detects the traffic in the vicinity and tell you the shortest way to reach office. Wearable devices like Fitbit accumulates your data and tells you how active you have been and how fit you are keeping. It can share this weekly report with you and/or your doctor.
As we speak, there are thousands of people helping build the world of IoT, as more and more devices are joining the environment. Of all the technology trends in the market, IoT is the one that’s going to give us the most disruption as well as most opportunity to grow over the next five year.
This post was also published in the “Tech Jargon of the Week” column in The Campbell Express and on my blog.
