IoT

The term “The Internet of Things” (IoT) was coined by Kevin Ashton in a presentation
to Proctor & Gamble in 1999. He is a co-founder of MIT’s Auto-ID Lab. He pioneered RFID
(used in bar code detector) for the supply-chain management domain. He also started Zensi, a
company that makes energy sensing and monitoring technology.
IoT (Internet of Things) is an advanced automation and analytics system which exploits
networking, sensing, big data, and artificial intelligence technology to deliver complete systems
for a product or service. These systems allow greater transparency, control, and performance
when applied to any industry or system.
IoT systems have applications across industries through their unique flexibility and ability to be
suitable in any environment. They enhance data collection, automation, operations, and much
more through smart devices and powerful enabling technology.
The ‘Thing’ in IoT can be any device with any kind of built-in-sensors with the ability to collect
and transfer data over a network without manual intervention. The embedded technology in the
object helps them to interact with internal states and the external environment, which in turn
helps in decisions making process.

IoT is a concept that connects all the devices to the internet and let them communicate with each
other over the internet. IoT is a giant network of connected devices – all of which gather and
share data about how they are used and the environments in which they are operated.

By doing so, each of your devices will be learning from the experience of other devices, as
humans do. IoT is trying to expand the interdependence in human- i.e interact, contribute and
collaborate to things
Features of IoT

 AI – IoT technically makes things smart, meaning that it enhances different aspects of
life through proper usage of that data, networks, and algorithms. This can range from
something as simple as improving or enhancing your refrigerator by embedding it with
sensors that automatically detect when milk and eggs run low, and to then place an order
with your choice of the grocer to automatically send them over.
 Connectivity – The notion of networking doesn’t always have to restrict to large
networks, it can also exist on a smaller and cheaper scale without compromising its
efficiency. IoT comes into the picture and creates these small networks between its
system devices.
 Sensors – The true essence of IoT would not hold effective or true without sensors. They
are basically the reason and the crux of why this technology stands out. They play a
major role in defining boundaries of IOT by converting it from a passive to an active
network.
 Active Engagement – Today’s interaction between different connected technologies
happens through passive engagement. IoT sets a new example by bringing in active
content, product, or service engagement.
 Devices – Devices are more powerful, cheaper and smaller over time, Internet of Things
purposely makes use of small devices to deliver its scalability, versatility, and accuracy.

How IoT Works?

The entire process starts with the devices themselves, such as smartphones, digital watches,
electronic appliances which securely communicate with an internet of things platform. IoT
platform collects and combines data from multiple devices and platforms and applies analytics to
share the most valuable data with applications to address industry-specific needs.
Let’s start with a simple real-life example- a car after taking a long road trip, Rajesh notices that
his check engine light and finds that it needs to look by a mechanic, but doesn’t know if there is
something minor or serious. As it finds out, the sensor that triggered the check engine light
monitors the pressure in the inner break line. This sensor is one of the many sensors present in
the car which are constantly communicating with each other.
IoT Hardware

 Sensors are needed that will sense the environment, then a remote dashboard to monitor
your output and display it in a clearer & conceivable form. At last, a device is needed
with the capability of serving & routing. The key task of the system would be detecting
specific conditions and taking actions accordingly. One thing to keep in mind is securing
the communication between the devices and the dashboard.
 Some of the common sensors that you are surrounded by are accelerometers, temperature
sensors, magnetometers, proximity sensors, gyroscopes, image sensors, acoustic sensors,
light sensors, pressure sensors, gas RFID sensors, humidity sensors & micro flow
sensors.
 Nowadays we also have many wearable devices like smartwatches, shoes & 3D glasses.
This is the best example of a smart solution. 3D glasses adjust television’s brightness and
contrast according to your eye and your smartwatches keeps track of your daily activities
and fitness.
 Mobile apps have immensely contributed to revolutionizing the technology world. Cell
phones are already encased with applications and sensors that reveals lots of information
about its user. It has Geo-location information, it can sense and trace light condition, the
orientation of your device and a lot more information. It also comes with multiple
connectivity options like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and cellular that helps them to communicate
with other devices. Thus, due to these default qualities of cell phones, it is the core of the
IoT ecosystem. Today, Smartphone can interact with smartwatch and fitness band to
further ease and enhance the user experience.
 IoT uses multiple technologies and protocols to communicate with devices based on the
requirements. The major technologies & protocols are Bluetooth, wireless, NFC, RFID,
radio protocols and WiFi-Direct.
  IoT applications are flourishing across all industries & market. The IoT has a multitude
of expansion over various industries. It spans over all groups of users, from those who are
trying to reduce & conserve energy in their home to large organizations who want to
improve their business operations. IoT has not only proved itself useful in optimizing
critical applications in many organisations, but also have boosted the concept of
advanced automation which we have imagined a decade before. Let’s understand the
capabilities of IoT across different industries and look how they are revolutionizing them.

IOT Application

 Healthcare Application: These days we have digital watches and fitness monitoring
devices that have changed the ways of healthcare monitoring. People can now monitor
their own health at regular intervals of time. These days if a person is being rushed to the
hospital by an ambulance, his/her healthcare statistics are already given to the doctor, and
the treatment gets started well in time. Data collected from different patients is now being
put to use for the cure.
 Energy Applications: The energy rates have become paramount. All Individuals and
organizations, both are searching ways to reduce and control the consumption of energy.
IoT provides a way to monitor energy usages not only at the appliance-level but also at
the grid level, house-level or even at the distribution level. Smart systems such as Meters
& Smart Grids are installed at various organizations to monitor energy consumption.
 Education: IoT’s yet another great application lies in the field of education. IoT helps in
fulfilling the gaps and loopholes in the education industry. It improves the quality of
education being offered to students by optimizing the cost. It also improves the
administration and the management by taking into consideration students response and
performance.
 Government: The smart city initiative by our government is an example of how efficient
and big this technology is. Its incorporation in sectors like transportation, healthcare,
armed forces and security can increase importance in the coming years.
Benefits of IoT

Since IoT allows devices to be controlled remotely across the internet, thus it created
opportunities to directly connect & integrate the physical world to the computer-based systems
using sensors and internet. The interconnection of these multiple embedded devices will be
resulting in automation in nearly all fields and also enabling advanced applications. This is
resulting in improved accuracy, efficiency and economic benefit with reduced human
intervention. It encompasses technologies such as smart grids, smart homes, intelligent
transportation and smart cities. The major benefits of IoT are:

 Improved Customer Engagement – IoT improves customer experience by automating

the action. For e.g. any issue in the car will be automatically detected by the sensors. The
driver, as well as the manufacturer, will be notified about it. Till the time driver reaches
the service station, the manufacturer will make sure that the faulty part is available at the
service station.
 Technical Optimization – IoT has helped a lot in improving technologies and making
them better. The manufacturer can collect data from different car sensors and analyze
them to improve their design and make them much more efficient.
 Reduced Waste – Our current insights are superficial, but IoT provides real-time
information leading to effective decision making & management of resources. For
example, if a manufacturer finds fault in multiple engines, he can track the manufacturing
plant of those engines and can rectify the issue with manufacturing belt.