The Internet of Things (IoT) is the connection of a device to the internet or to each other. Devices in this category include cell phones, washing machines, fridges, lamps, coffee makers and wearable devices, basically any device. The IoT can also apply to components of machines such as the engine of an aeroplane or the drill used on an oil rig. A study has shown that by the year 2020 the world will see 26 billion devices connected to the internet. The IoT is a huge network of connected devices, which may also include people.
The IoT will affect how people work and the degree of this will vary depending on the type of industry. The manufacturing industry has progressed quite far as the IoT has been very useful in organising tools, machines and keeping track of where they are. The farming industry has also benefited from it and can be used to keep tabs on crops and livestock and in so doing hopefully increasing production and efficiency as well as monitoring the health of their livestock. With the IoT the ways it can be used are manifold and it will likely be used in all areas of business in the future.
Benefits of IoT
Healthcare will also benefit from the IoT and currently there are smart pills available and monitoring patches which emphasise the great potential the IoT has. Many people are now using smartwatches and fitness bands to keep track of their activity which in turn makes for a healthier society who are health conscious. Intel has developed a smart band which is used in patients with Parkinson’s to track their progress and study the disease in order to collect accurate data. Sonamba made by Pomdevices is a well being monitoring device and is used for the elderly who are living alone and acts as a medical alert system.
The AliveCor Kardia Mobile ECG is a cardiac event recorder and works by means of an app that records electrocardiograms. This device is compatible with most iOS and Android devices and communicates via wireless. The Smart Meter was developed to measure electricity and gas supply and will digitally send these reading to the supplier which will mean more accurate bills. These Smart Meters will also have an in home display which makes monitoring electricity or gas usage much easier.
Safety and Security of IoT
Safety is always an issue, whether playing at Canadian mobile casinos or shopping online, and for the IoT security is a challenge. The majority of devices have the capacity of storing personal information and this is often shared by other devices and stored in databases. Many security experts have agreed that much more has to be done to ensure security and have proved by hacking into certain personal items. Granted, a hacker is probably not going to be interested in what a person has in their fridge, but when it comes to banking, a hacker will always be on the lookout for a way in. IoT is reasonably safe and people are not really likely to experience any serious damage or loss because of their smart meter
The IoT is changing the world and how it functions and new and improved devices are constantly being developed in order to help people improve their lives.
