By Shalini Madhav
There's a lot of noise at the moment about the Internet of Things (or IoT) and its impact on everything from the way we travel and do our shopping to the way manufacturers keep track of inventory. But what is the Internet of Things? How does it work? And is it really that important?
What is the Internet of Things?
In short, this technology connects any device to the web and many other devices. In simple terms, this is a complex network of things connected with each other. This network collects and shares data and information.
The devices include a number of objects, such as smart microwaves, self-driving cars, wearable devices, and complex sensors, to name a few.
How does it work?
Devices that feature built-in sensors connect to the IoT platforms that integrate information and data from a number of commonly used devices. Then powerful analytics are used to share useful information in order to resolve specific needs.
IoT platforms can identify useful information and the information that can be ignored. Then the info can be used in order to identify patterns, give suggestions and point out problems prior to their occurrence.
For instance, if you deal in a car making business, you may need to find out the optional and important parts.
Based on the insight and analytics offered, you can easily make the processes a lot more efficient. Moreover, smart systems and objects can also help you make some tasks automatic, especially when these tasks are mundane, repetitive and time-consuming by nature. Let's take a look at some real life examples.
IoT use in your own residence
Suppose you get up at 7am to go to your office. Like most people, you can set the alarm to wake you up at the right time. This works until something wrong happens. For instance, your train may get cancelled. Now, you have another problem. You have to drive to work but you are already late. To make the matters worse, the rain starts pouring in.
Now, if you use an IoT alarm clock, it will rest automatically on the basis of these factors. The clock will figure out the distance you need to cover, and will suggest an alternative route.
IoT in your car
Once you wake up to the alarm, you can drive to work. You won't just head to the garage. However, what would you do if you have an emergency? If you have a connected car, your vehicle will share information with others in the vehicle. Another component will gather data from the sensors and will pass the information to the platform of the manufacturer. Moreover, the manufacturer can make use of the data from the vehicle to provide you with the information that you can use to fix the car by sending the info to the closest dealer.
Long story short, this is the introduction to the Internet of Things and the way it can help you to make your life easier. Hopefully, you will be able to get the most out of this technology down the road.
If you are interested in the Internet of Things, OROSK is a great resource that you may want to check out.