The Internet of Things(IoT)

• Technology is changing all aspects of life and society
• This module will discuss how technology shapes lives and technological advancements
• Learners will identify current and emerging technology trends
• Learners will assess how technology affects culture through advancements
• Learners will evaluate the positive and negative effects of advancements

Internet of Things

• The "Internet of Things" (IoT) is increasing in popularity in both work and personal settings
• IoT can impact how people live and work
• Lightbulbs, refrigerators, coffee makers, and other household items, can turn physical information into digital data
• These devices are embedded with sensors and can see, hear, and touch, the world around them
• Anything with network connectivity belongs to IoT, including security cameras, speakers, smartwatches, and denim jackets
• IoT enabled gadgets can liberate people from chores, give back time, and add novelty

How IoT Works

• IoT ecosystems consist of web-enabled smart devices with embedded systems, processors, sensors, and communication hardware
• These devices collect, send, and act on data from their environments
• IoT devices share sensor data through an IoT gateway or edge device for cloud or local analysis
• Sometimes, devices communicate with each other and act on that information without human intervention
• People can interact with the devices to set them up or give instructions
• Connectivity, networking, and communication protocols depend on the specific IoT applications deployed
• IoT can use AI and machine learning to aid in making data collection easier and more dynamic

Why IoT is Important

• IoT helps people live and work smarter while also giving people control of their lives
• IoT provides businesses with a real-time look into how their systems really work and insights into performance
• IoT enables companies to automate processes and reduce labor costs
• It can also cut down on waste, improve service delivery, and provide transparency in customer transactions
• IoT is one of the most important technologies of everyday life, and will become more prominent as businesses realize its potential

IoT Through the Years

• 1990: John Romkey creates the first IoT device: a toaster controlled by his computer
• 1999: Kevin Ashton coins the term “internet of things”
• 2000: LG introduces its first connected refrigerator with a $20,000 price
• 2008: The world's first IoT conference is held in Zurich, Switzerland
• 2010: Tony Fadell founds Nest, maker of the smart thermostat
• 2013: Oxford Dictionary adds the term “internet of things"
• 2014: Amazon introduces the Echo speaker, with the Alexa voice assistant
• 2016: The Mirai botnet infects over 600,000 IoT devices with malware
• 2020: The number of internet-connected devices exceeds 20 billion

IOT Benefits to Organizations

• Monitor overall business processes
• Improve customer experience
• Save time and money
• Enhance employee productivity
• Integrate and adapt business models
• Improve business decisions
• Generate more revenue
• IoT encourages companies to rethink their businesses and improve their strategies

Pros and Cons of IoT

• IoT is most abundant in manufacturing, transportation, and utility organizations, agriculture, infrastructure and home automation industries
• IoT can benefit farmers by making their job easier with data collection on rainfall, humidity, temperature and soil content
• IoT benefits include: accessing information from anywhere, improved communication, transferring data packets, and automated tasks

Disadvantages of IoT

• Potential for hackers to steal confidential information increases
• Managing large numbers of IoT devices can be challenging
• Bugs in the system can corrupt connected devices
• Lack of international standard of compatibility can make cross-manufacturer communication difficult

Current Trends in Information Technology

• The latest technology methods and best practices stem from current trends in information technology
• Advancements in IT systems relate to trends and emerging developments

Cloud Computing

• Cloud computing is a network of resources that a company can access
• This method of using a digital drive increases the efficiency of organizations
• 83% of enterprise workloads will be in the cloud by 2020
• Cloud storage and sharing is a popular trend many companies have adopted
• Organizations will transfer their stored files across multiple sources using virtualization

Mobile Computing and Applications

• Mobile phones, tablets, and other devices have taken both the business world and the personal realm by storm
• Mobile usage and the number of applications generated have both skyrocketed in recent years
• Now, 77% of Americans own smartphones, a 35% increase since 2011

Big Data Analytics

• This is a trend that allows businesses to analyze extensive sets of information to achieve variety in increasing volumes and growth of velocity
• Big data has a high return on investment that boosts the productivity of marketing campaigns
• Data mining is a way companies can predict growth opportunities and achieve future success
• Examination of data to understand markets and strategies is becoming more manageable with advances in data analytic programs

Automation

• Automated processes can collect information from vendors, customers, and other documentation
• Automated processes can check invoices and expedite customer interactions
• Machine processes can automate repetitive manual tasks, rather than assigning them to employees

Emerging Trends in Information Technology

• Trends in IT are new and innovative ways for the industry to grow
• These movements in IT are the areas expected to generate revenue and increase demand for IT jobs

Artificial Intelligence and Smart Machines

• Artificial Intelligence (AI)is the ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.
• Al refers to computer systems built to mimic human intelligence and perform tasks such as recognition of images, speech or patterns, and decision making
• Five out of six Americans use Al services in one form or another every day

Virtual Reality

• Virtual reality (VR) is computer modeling and simulation that enables a person to interact with an artificial three-dimensional (3-D) visual or other sensory environment
• VR applications immerse the user in a computer-generated environment that simulates reality

Internet of Things

• The Internet of Things (IoT) is an emerging movement of products with integrated Wi-Fi and network connectivity abilities
• Cars, homes, appliances, and other products can now connect to the Internet, making activities around the home and on the road an enhanced experience
• IoT enriches the IT industry, especially in job creation

5G

• 5G is the 5th generation mobile network
• It enables a new kind of network that is designed to connect virtually everyone and everything together including machines, objects, and devices
• 5G is meant to deliver higher multi-Gbps peak data speeds, ultra low latency, more reliability, massive network capacity, increased availability, and a more uniform user experience