What is Internet of things 'A Simple Explanation'

What is Internet of things 'A Simple Explanation'

The 'Internet Of Things' is a very conversational and hot topic these days  It's a concept that not only has the potential to impact how we live but also how we work. But what exactly is the "Internet of things" and what impact is it going to have on you, if any? There are a lot of complexities around the "Internet of things" but I want to stick to the basics. Lots of technical and policy-related conversations are being had but many people are still just trying to grasp the foundation of what the heck these conversations are about.


So What is 'Internet Of Things' ???






In the broadest sense, the term IoT includes everything associated with the web, however it is progressively being utilized to characterize objects that "talk" to each other. "Just, the Internet of Things is comprised of gadgets – from basic sensors to cell phones and wearables – associated together," Matthew Evans, the IoT program head at techUK, told WIRED. 

By consolidating these associated gadgets with mechanized frameworks, it is conceivable to "assemble data, break down it and make an activity" to help somebody with a specific assignment, or gain from a procedure. As a general rule, this extents from keen mirrors to signals in shops and past. 


"It's about systems, it's about gadgets, and it's about information," Caroline Gorski, the head of IoT at Digital Catapult told WIRED. IoT permits gadgets on shut private web associations with speak with others and "the Internet of Things unites those systems. It gives the open door for gadgets to convey inside close storehouses as well as crosswise over various systems administration sorts and makes a significantly more associated world."

How Does This Impact You?

The new rule for the future is going to be, "Anything that can be connected, will be connected." But why on earth would you want so many connected devices talking to each other? There are many examples for what this might look like or what the potential value might be. Say for example you are on your way to a meeting; your car could have access to your calendar and already know the best route to take. If the traffic is heavy your car might send a text to the other party notifying them that you will be late. What if your alarm clock wakes up you at 6 a.m. and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee for you? What if your office equipment knew when it was running low on supplies and automatically re-ordered more?  What if the wearable device you used in the workplace could tell you when and where you were most active and productive and shared that information with other devices that you used while working?

On a broader scale, the IoT can be applied to things like transportation networks: "smart cities" which can help us reduce waste and improve efficiency for things such as energy use; this helping us understand and improve how we work and live. Take a look at the visual below to see what something like that can look like.

Where does the IoT go next?

Even those who have purchased one of the myriad smart home products – from lightbulbs, switches, to motion sensors – will attest to the fact IoT is in its infancy.

Products don't always easily connect to each other and there are significant security issues that need to be addressed.

A report from Samsung says the need to secure every connected device by 2020 is "critical". The firm's Open Economy document says "there is a very clear danger that technology is running ahead of the game". The firm said more than 7.3 billion devices will need to be made secure by their manufacturers in the next three years.

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“We are looking at a future in which companies will indulge in digital Darwinism, using IoT, AI and machine learning to rapidly evolve in a way we’ve never seen before," Brian Solis, from Altimeter Group, who helped on the research said.

IoT botnets, created using a network of out-of-date devices recently took large websites and services offline. A Chinese firm later recalled 4.3 million unsecured connected cameras.

At the centre of creating a vast, reliable IoT network lies one significant issue: compatible standards. Connected objects need to be able to speak to each other to transfer data and share what they are recording. If they all run on different standards, they struggle to communicate and share. The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Standards Association lists a huge number of standards being developed and worked on for different applications.

"Additional needs are emerging for standardisation," the Internet Society says. If standardisation happens it will let more devices and applications be connected.

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To try and tackle this issue on an enterprise scale, Microsoft has introduced its own system for IoT devices. Called IoT Central, TechCrunch, reports the system gives businesses a managed central platform for setting up IoT devices. Microsoft claims the system will simply the creation of IoT networks.

Gorski described IoT, even among those with the most experience of the concept, as a "relatively immature market" but said 2016 may have been a turning point. The Hypercat standard is now supported by ARM, Intel, Amey, Bae Systems and Accenture and the firms are currently agreeing on a format for "exposing collections" of URLs, for example.

"In the short term, we know [IoT] will impact on anything where there is a high cost of not intervening," Evans said. "And it’ll be for simpler day-to-day issues – like finding a car parking space in busy areas, linking up your home entertainment system and using your fridge webcam to check if you need more milk on the way home.

"Ultimately what makes it exciting is that we don’t yet know the exact use cases and just that it has the potential to have a major impact on our lives."