INTERNET OF THINGS

Andy Senay

Contents
What effect will the internet of things (IoT) have on our daily lives? ................................... 2
Will it impact sustainability? ................................................................................................. 2
Why do we need IoT? ............................................................................................................ 2
Who is going to benefit from it? ............................................................................................ 3
What do you regard as the most interesting use of the Internet of Things?........................... 3
Conclusion ............................................................................................................................. 4
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 5

 Advances in intelligent digital technologies have radically changed our world. What we can
do today surpasses anything we have done before, but it is only a fraction of what we will be
able to do tomorrow. Today, a lot of attention is paid to energy and/or sustainability issues.
Due to the increasing realization that our energy consumption is accompanied by
irreversibly high CO2 emissions, we as a society are looking for clean alternatives (Ranger,
2020).

What effect will the internet of things (IoT) have on our daily lives?
The internet of things has been integrated in nearly every aspect of our daily lives, from the
comfort of our homes to public places like grocery stores, hospitals, schools, etc. And it has
only improved our quality of living by providing us with efficiency, comfort, security and
privacy.
It can provide us with an interface to interact with our homes and appliances whether that
be using predictive algorithms or manual remote control. Smart home energy management
systems include our home’s lighting, temperature, air flow, and access control. In a house
fully furnished with these systems we could live peacefully and comfortably not worrying
about being too hot or too cold.
New technology such as the smart healthcare system brings this to whole other level, it
brings the care you receive at hospitals and doctors’ offices to your own home by having
various monitors sending your stats to the doctors. This is excellent for patients with chronic
illnesses who need frequent medical examination.
Owning a smart home device that controls the air quality in your house can sometimes save
you from getting sick. There are various diseases one could get simply because of bad air
and pollution, think of carbon monoxide poisoning or bacteria or mold. Long term effects of
exposure to such compounds can cause diseases like dementia, pneumonia or even death.
The best effect IoT will have on us will be our ability to save money on the energy we spend.
The implementation of predictive controls will limit the energy usage during peak energy
demand times and reschedule to use it when the energy unit is at a lower price. Thus leading
to a lower energy bill (SaiduAliero, 2021).
Will it impact sustainability?
Contrary to what one may think, smart technology will actually have a positive effect
sustainability. It will not add to the current levels of daily energy usage because energy will
be used whether it is controlled manually or automatically. Smart grid technologies will
actually save energy by managing energy sources storage and supply and utilizing it in the
most (cost) efficient way. Their algorithms can predict peak demand and adjust energy
usage accordingly. If you include adding a renewable energy generator to your house like a
solar panel you can have a local reliable income making your home even more sustainable.
Energy can also be saved by controlling the expenses like heating or air conditioning in a
smart way, having them be controlled automatically by sensors accordingly to the presence
of people in the room (SaiduAliero, 2021).
Why do we need IoT?
The need for IoT has been proven to us in 2020 when society collapsed due to a pandemic.
For weeks multiple establishments had to shut down because of the new safety regulations.
Only after some given thought to a solution did we start seeing schools and businesses
introducing remote learning and working. This is all made possible due to the smart
technology that exists in the current age. This has saved a generation of students who would
otherwise have suffered from missing out school and then having to catch up years later.
 Businesses could continue to function by holding meetings online. And everyone else cou ld
keep their sanity by connecting to their peers online. Imagine if we didn’t have a way of
talking to our relatives who live far away from us during a pandemic and then worrying
constantly that they might not be doing good. The human connection that IoT provides kept
us sane throughout the chaos. Undeniably other events will occur that will test us and we
will be grateful for our technological advances that we will then have, this is why it is
important to invest in the future (SaiduAliero, 2021).
Who is going to benefit from it?
Nearly everyone can benefit from the automation of buildings and products. Everyone who
will have a fully furnished smart house will benefit from peace of mind knowing the
environment in the house is safe and comfortable and fit for their needs. How many times
have you been sat in a comfy position on your couch or in your bed and needed to turn off a
light switch? All of these small inconveniences will be a thing of the past. One might say the
house will take care of you more than you will take care of the house.
Chores like vacuuming and dishwashing are already being replaced by Roombas and
dishwashers. Washing dishes might be a minor inconvenience to regular people, but think
about the disabled people whose lives have been completely changed with the access of
these appliances.
People who suffer from allergies or other diseases caused by pathogens in the air will
definitely be glad to have air quality monitoring in their homes.
As previously mentioned people who suffer from chronic illness will benefit from the care of
doctors remotely. To bring up a relevant issue, people infected with the highly contagious
coronavirus can be treated remotely without endangering doctors and healthcare workers
(SaiduAliero, 2021).
What do you regard as the most interesting use of the Internet of Things?
Reading up on the internet of things made me very excited for the future, it made me think
of the various electronics and appliances I will put in my future home. Since I come from a
generation where I grew up mostly without any smart appliances, owning them and the
entire normalization of the what seemed to me before very luxurious and futuristic
technology, makes me feel very hopeful for the progression in our society.
The most interesting use in my opinion is the way these smart systems will help me
remember certain things and prevent annoying situations I experience. I have multiple
examples for this. A smart fridge that shows me its contents and the information on when
certain things will expire, or will make me a grocery list based on items I’m running low on. A
smart closet that will help me create outfits based on my schedule and appropriate to the
weather and type of activity I will be doing. A smart car that will heat up a few minutes
before I will enter it, and my home that will cool down when I leave and heat up when I’m
nearing it (SaiduAliero, 2021) .

Conclusion
The Internet of Things you could say has no end. Of course technology has a lot of
domination over our lives, but there is always room for innovation and improvement.
In the last few years we have seen the climate go downhill. This all because the
technology we have reached in this century is not good enough to adapt to this world
we live in. the first step towards a healthier future is adapting energy so that it
becomes sustainable to the world.
Bibliography
Ranger, S. (2020, february 03). What is the IoT? Everything you need to know about the
Internet of Things right now. Retrieved from zdnet:
https://www.zdnet.com/article/what-is-the-internet-of-things-everything-you-need-to-
know-about-the-iot-right-now/
SaiduAliero, M. (2021, May 22). Environmental Technology & Innovation. Retrieved from
sciencedirect: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352186421000912