#howiotworks

The Internet of Things (IoT) is not a new term anymore; all of you are much familiar with it. Perhaps you have come across its application at work or read about it somewhere. Even though most of us have heard about IoT, let’s just have a brief about it.

What is Internet of Things(IoT)?

Internet of Things is a network of various physical devices that are connected with software, sensors to collect and exchange data. To put it simply, IoT is a platform where devices are connected through the internet; these devices collect and exchange data with one another. With the collection of these relevant data, IoT can converse and learn from one device to another, just like human beings.

Anything related to IoT means turning it into a ‘smart’ object. IoT enables them to transmit data and convert the work into an automated one, without the need for manual intervention. Think of the time, when everything in your surrounding like your home, car, city and other daily needs are all connected with IoT based machines. IoT can create the world and it is still getting bigger and better. IoT based devices will bridge the gap between the physical and digital equipment together with that of society and industry, also not to forget the humans in the world.

Have you ever seen a scene in a movie where someone claps and the lights come on. Cool right? Well, such technology is no longer a fiction. With the Internet of Things, many devices in your home can connect together and send information. But what exactly is it? Technopedia defines the concept (IoT) as: "The Internet of Things (IoT) is a computing concept that describes the idea that everyday physical objects are connected to the Internet and can be identified with other devices." This would mean integrating regular everyday household items with advanced technology to do more. You may also know IoT as 'smart'. At the moment, it is currently in the early stages with some gadgets like smart TVs, smart fridges and smart access locks. Sooner or later, things like self-driving cars and personal assistant devices (e.g. Google Glass) would become the norm. These devices work through sensors that send data to a computer or software, enabling them to perform important tasks. Due to its usefulness and high degree of automation, the number of devices connected to the Internet has increased. On average, 127 objects are synchronized every second *. 5 benefits of the Internet of Things: IoT is an important piece of technology that will improve enormously over time. Connecting things has many advantages. Here are some of the benefits:

 1) More data means better decisions 

With added sensors, these devices can collect a large amount of data in many different areas. In addition to the practicalities of knowing which foods are out of date in your smart fridge, this improved household item can, for example, give you additional information about your energy consumption, temperature, average time that you have been open the door and much more. A greater flow of information means that the company behind the device can analyze major trends in the data to better improve the features of the device. Many companies realize the power of this technology and it is leading to a massive increase in the market. In fact, the total market value of IoT is expected to grow to more than $ 3 trillion per year * by 2026.

 2)  Ability to track and monitor things

 Ability to track and track things Besides keeping records for use by a business, it also has great benefits for the user. These devices would have the ability to monitor the current quality of products in the home. By knowing the status of their items, the owner can know when to replace an item, without having to constantly check the quality

 3) Relieve workload with automation

 Having a device that does most of the work for you can save you more time and costs. Imagine your refrigerator ordering a new carton of milk to be delivered when it reaches a certain expiration date? Sounds good. This significantly reduces human effort. It also results in the creation of devices that require little or no human intervention, allowing them to function completely independently.

 4) Increase efficiency by saving money and resources. 

In addition to saving time for the device owner, it can also provide cost savings. For example, if the lights go out automatically when you leave the room, you can save a lot of money on your electricity bill. As you can see, connected devices can provide many useful implementations. The IoT system promotes machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, resulting in greater long-term efficiency for both the business and the user. The growth of machine-to-machine communication is high. The total number of connections is expected to grow from 5 billion in 2014 to 27 billion in 2024 *.

 5) Better quality of life All benefits ultimately lead to a better quality of life. 

Letting your devices track and sort things for you, turn off light switches, and help you manage important tasks that you no doubt don't have time for, takes a lot of stress out. There is no doubt that as the years go by people are getting busier and busier. With so many devices being created and new technology being implemented, it's hard to keep track. It's great to be able to do the things you love and have a computer that takes care of the everyday things you know need to be done. Lifestyle improvements, health benefits and improved wellness are also part of the future of IoT. For example, those who exercise regularly can consume tea.

 Some of the real-life application of IoT in today’s worldNeedless to say, a buzz around IoT is massive. This disruptive innovation is infiltrating into different enterprises, growing new real-life applications of IoT and associating each web empowered device around us. As per study, it is found that IoT would cover 31 billion connected gadgets by 2020 and by 2025—more than 75 IoT devices billion will be connected to the web.Yet, among the mad rush of ‘newer’ and ‘better’ IoT applications, some radiate through more than the rest.Here are few of the IoT applications that blew our mind and some will do so in the near future.

Smart Toothbrush

A smart toothbrush has high-quality sensors on its head that can capture the data related to your brushing frequency. The brush would send information on your missed spots, the pressure applied and much more by tracking all the crucial information on your smart phone and would also provide information to improve your oral health.

    2   Fitness Trackers

Fitness Tracker is one of the best devices for all fitness freaks. This device would track all your daily activities ranging from a sleeping pattern, heart rate, workout timings, calories burnt and much more. This indeed will allow you to monitor and schedule your fitness plans.

    3  Kid Finder

The feeling of losing your loved ones itself gives goosebumps right!!! But with the IoT-connected device ranging from the smartwatch, alarm to GPS tracker attached to your smartphone; would help you track your child’s location in real-time. This would help you stay at peace when away from your kids.

    4 Child Monitor

One more IoT enabled device for all the parents out here!!! You can monitor your toddler’s activities with your smartphone from anywhere across the globe. This equipment would provide you with information about your infant’s respiration data, body temperature, sleeping positions and some more.

   5  Smart Shelves

These gadgets are being widely used in retail industries since its inceptions. With sensors or the cameras instilled on the shelf, the retailers can get updates on product details, helping them replenish when required along with alerts of the misplaced products on their smart connected devices.

   6  Health Monitoring

Regular check-up of our kid or parents has become the necessity nowadays. Sudden change in body temperature, heartbeat, breathing, oxygen level, blood pressure etc. can be notified through these gadgets, helping you to take wise actions if needed.

    7 Smart Refrigerators

How smart can it be to peep inside your fridge without even opening it!!! Well, this is not a fiction now!!! The sensor and camera on the refrigerator allow you to keep the track of spoiled or leftover food without opening its door.

      8  Smart Shoes

The smart shoe would allow the user to change its colour with a tap on their smartphones. The user can send a text message, call a cab, or can also monitor the footsteps, wearing these shoes on.

      9 Pollution Warning

These are the smart air monitors that can detect the pollutants emitted from the vehicles in a particular area. Such updates can help the government bodies take necessary steps.

We talked about the recent development of IoT in today’s world above and how that can change the future. But some IoT applications are currently being worked upon for better performance, they are:

      10 Driverless Cars

One of the most futuristic uses of IoT is the driverless automatic car that can take you to the destination on their own. Such cars are equipped with sensors; internet that can sense traffic, corners, speed breakers, everything that a human can sense. Some of the companies working on such cars are Tesla, BMW, Volvo, Google and Uber. The days are not too far when we can see such cars hitting the market.

       11 Smart Homes

This is one of the best examples of IoT that can provide you comfort as per your needs. Imagine turning on your AC while you are on your way back home from the office; just to get the perfect temperature when you reach home. Or, think of the day, when you can record your favourite show from anywhere although you are not at home so that you can watch it later. Well, Philips has come up with smart illumination software , with which you can set the colour of your room lighting and create an ambience as per your moods. 

       12 Smart Cities

Smart cities mean a blend of genuine utilization of IoT in today’s world. This may incorporate smart parking, smart lighting, smart home automation, smart retail and so on in the city. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up an initiative to make 100 smart cities in India. This means the execution of a citizen-friendly city and to make it more sustainable.

Honestly, IoT has indeed made its presence everywhere and we are enjoying its applications; something that we never thought of, some years back. IoT whole together means better future in a much easier way.

Doesn’t it sound more interesting and exciting???