Internet of Things (IoT) Overview

The Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical devices that can transfer data to one another without human intervention. These devices, which can include anything with a sensor and a unique identifier (UID), are designed to communicate with each other and with users in real-time. IoT devices are not limited to computers or machinery; they can be found in various aspects of daily life, such as smart home devices, wearable technologies, and personal medical devices.

Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices, like thermostats and home security systems, can work autonomously to assist with daily tasks. For example, a smart thermostat can be programmed to adjust automatically to a cooler setting before a user arrives home from work. Security cameras can notify a user when someone is at the door when they are not home. These devices are part of the consumer IoT, which refers to personal and wearable devices that connect to the internet.

Wearable Technologies

Wearable IoT technology, such as smartwatches, can connect to other devices (like a smartphone) to share data. They typically also connect to the internet to track GPS locations.

Personal Medical Devices

Personal medical devices, like pacemakers, are also IoT devices. Remote medical devices can help monitor and share a patient's vital signs or detect early signs of health issues for fast intervention.

Autonomous Vehicles

Self-driving cars and other connected vehicles rely on the internet to share real-time information. Sensors throughout the vehicle help map its surroundings, transmit camera footage, and respond to traffic signals.

Building Your Own IoT Device

If you're interested in building your own IoT device, you can try the University of Colorado Boulder's online program, Hands-On Internet of Things.

IoT Platforms

An IoT platform manages device connectivity and can be a software suite or a cloud service. It is responsible for managing and monitoring the hardware, software, processing abilities, and application layers of IoT devices.

IoT Sensors

IoT sensors, sometimes called smart sensors, convert real-world variables into data that devices can interpret and share. Many different types of sensors exist, such as temperature sensors, motion sensors, and ultrasonic sensors.

Unique Identifiers

Unique identifiers (UIDs) establish the context of a device within the larger network to enable communication. Identifiers can be patterns like numeric or alphanumeric strings, such as internet protocol (IP) addresses.

IoT Applications

IoT applications span various industries and settings, including consumer, industrial, and commercial applications. Consumer IoT includes devices like smartphones and smart TVs, while industrial IoT (IIoT) focuses on instrumentation and control of sensors and devices that engage cloud technologies. Commercial IoT is used for auditable data trails and consumer management.

IoT for Healthcare

IoT is used in healthcare for tracking physical assets like wheelchairs and improving worker safety. It also allows for remote monitoring of patients with wearables and in-home sensors.

IoT in Transportation and Logistics

Fleets of cars, trucks, ships, and trains can be rerouted based on weather conditions, vehicle availability, or driver availability. The inventory itself can be equipped with sensors for track-and-trace and temperature-control monitoring.

IoT for Retail and Inventory Management

IoT applications can help retail companies manage inventory, improve customer experience, optimize supply chain, and reduce operational costs. For example, smart shelves with weight sensors can collect RFID-based information and send the data to the IoT platform to optimize inventory.

IoT for Public Sector and Service-Related Environments

Government-owned utilities can use IoT-based applications to notify users of mass outages and smaller power or sewer services. IoT asset monitoring provides multiple benefits to the healthcare industry, including tracking the location of patient-assistance assets, improving worker safety, and monitoring patients remotely.

IoT's Impact on Business and Economy

IoT has become one of the most significant trends in the digital transformation of business and the economy. It enables new opportunities for companies to innovate products and services, increase the efficiency of operations, and improve decision-making. With IoT, data is transferable over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interactions.