The Internet of Things - Updated Version PDF

**Mega-Trend 1: The Internet of Things** I want you to take a deep breath and think of all the important objects in your life that are connected to the internet. Your list will probably include your smartphone, your computer, the smart TV, and maybe a watch and a smart speaker. But whether we real...

**Mega-Trend 1: The Internet of Things** I want you to take a deep breath and think of all the important objects in your life that are connected to the internet. Your list will probably include your smartphone, your computer, the smart TV, and maybe a watch and a smart speaker. But whether we realize it or not, we are already surrounded by a vast number of other devices which happily chat away with each other without us paying nearly as much attention to them as we do to our 'productivity' devices like our phones or laptops. So imagine this scenario: you wake up and groan -- that hasn't changed. But in this scenario you might be wearing a bracelet that tracks your body's sleep data and vital signs. That bracelet -- which is of course connected to the internet -- will sense your raised heartrate and increased movement, and will inform the stove and the coffee machine in your kitchen -- which will ALSO be connected to the internet -- that you just woke up. That's great, because as you enter the kitchen, a bowl of porridge and a steaming cup of coffee is already waiting for you. You might open the refrigerator to get some milk for your coffee. Since your refrigerator contains sensors and is also connected to the internet, it will alert you that soon you'll be running out of milk, eggs, and that moldy green stuff in the corner, and it'll offer to automatically order some for you from a food delivery service. While you have breakfast, you might get startled by your automatic vacuum cleaner -- it has started cleaning much earlier than its usual evening time - it has access to your calendar and knows you're planning to have guests over right after work. Sparky, your cat, has heard the commotion and escaped to the garden though the cat door, which, also being smart, has already alerted you via SMS about it. You finish your breakfast and head out the door. Your home automation system locks the door's smart lock behind you, rolls down the blinds, and, much to Sparky's dismay, turns on the garden sprinkler system. And before you even got in your car it has activated all alarms and cameras, turning your house into an impenetrable fortress. What kind of magic technology are we describing here? Welcome to the Internet of Things, here to make your life easier, more efficient, safer, and more enjoyable! At first glance, this Internet of Things seems to be made of many different devices, communicating with each other to make your day better. That's a good start, but if we want to be more precise, we should define the IOT as a **network of physical objects** (which are the 'things' in the IOT). But being simply connected with each other doesn't yet make an object smart, or part of the IoT. In order for these various physical objects, or devices, to be defined as a 'smart' device and part of the Internet of Things, it must contain embedded **sensors, software, communication protocols and other technologies** in order to **gather data and exchange this data with other devices and systems in the cloud** for various purposes. But that kind of sounds just like what a normal computer might be doing, right? That's right, and technically, your PC or smartphone IS an IoT device. In practice though, IoT devices are either tailored to fulfill one, or few very **specific purposes**, or they perform functions which historically would not be associated with network computing, but have been upgraded with cloud functionality. Think of the bracelet that tracks your biometric data and then sends it to various other network nodes to start yet other actions -- it will do this very well, but don't rely on it to help you with your tax spreadsheet. Sparky's collar tag will show you on your smartphone exactly where he's hiding from the sprinklers, but won't do much more. And the fridge and coffee machine? Both are appliances which we have been successfully using for decades in their 'dumb' form, but which now have been upgraded with sensors and communication features. But home automation or personal smart gadgets are only a small part of the IoT -- it has a vast number of other application cases: **Healthcare -** In the healthcare industry, IoT devices can be used to monitor patients remotely and collect real-time data on their vital signs. **Manufacturing -** Industrial IoT devices can be used in manufacturing to detect equipment failures, monitor machine performance, optimize production processes, and much more. In fact, Industrial IoT is such an expansive new technology area that it has its own abbreviation: IIoT (Industrial IoT). **Retail -** In the retail industry, IoT devices can be used to track customer behaviour, monitor inventory levels and optimize store layouts. IoT devices can also be used to monitor supply chains, track shipments and manage inventory levels. **Agriculture -** IoT devices can be used to monitor livestock health, track equipment and manage supply chains. They can also monitor soil conditions, weather patterns and crop growth. **Transportation -** In the transportation industry, IoT devices can be used to monitor vehicle performance, optimize routes, and track shipments. For example, sensors can be used to monitor the fuel efficiency of connected cars, reducing fuel costs and improving sustainability. This is a big deal. A 2020 McKinsey report estimates that in 2025, the IOT will have around \$2.8 trillion to \$6.3 trillion in potential economic value. The forecast for the number of connected devices in that same year is estimated to be 75.44 billion IOT devices. But the Internet of Things also poses significant challenges and risks, more so than established, 'classical' computing systems do. The include: **Data overload**: IoT devices generate such vast amounts of data that they can overwhelm businesses and networks which are not prepared to handle and analyze such a data load. **Interoperability issues**: IoT devices from different manufacturers often use different standards and protocols, making it difficult for them to perform what's called "machine to machine" communication, which can lead to interoperability issues between them. **Regulatory and legal challenges**: As IoT devices become more widespread, businesses need to comply with various data protection, privacy and cybersecurity regulations, which can vary from country to country, and are constantly changing. **Cost and complexity**: Implementing and maintaining an IoT system beyond simple home automation can be costly and complex, requiring significant investments in hardware, software, and infrastructure. And finally, a risk which concerns both large companies and private users: **Security and privacy risks**:  Many IoT devices are vulnerable to hackers and other cyberthreats, which can compromise the security and privacy of sensitive data. They can also collect vast amounts of personal data, raising concerns about privacy and data protection. \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-- But not all is doom and gloom - to end this topic on a lighter note, here are a few IoT devices which have been let loose upon our world: \-\-\-\-\-- END \-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\-\--