Internet of things “IoT”
The Internet of things (IoT) describes the network of physical objects — “things” or objects — that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the Internet.
The internet of things, or IoT, is a system of interrelated computing devices, mechanical and digital machines, objects, animals, or people that are provided with unique identifiers (UIDs) and the ability to transfer data over a network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
A thing in the internet of things can be a person with a heart monitor implant, a farm animal with a biochip transponder, an automobile that has built-in sensors to alert the driver when tire pressure is low, or any other natural or man-made object that can be assigned an Internet Protocol (IP) address and can transfer data over a network.
The evolution of the IoT
The idea of connecting ‘things to the internet extends much further back than the use of the term ‘Internet of Things. In the early 1980s students at Carnegie Melon University fitted internet-connected photosensors to soft drinks vending machines, which allowed them to count the number of cans that were being dispensed. This enabled anyone with access to the internet to determine how many drinks had been dispensed, and thus how many were remaining (Vetter 1995).
Even before the first webpage was created, John Romkey and Simon Hackett introduced a toaster that was connected to the internet in 1990. Romney's presentation at the 1990 Interop Conference featured an internet-connected Sunbeam Deluxe Automatic Radiant Control toaster and arose as the result of a challenge at the previous year’s conference from Dan Lynch, President of Interop, to Romkey. Lynch had promised Romkey center stage at the event if he succeeded. The toaster was connected using TCP/IP and had a Simple Networking Management Protocol Management Information Base (SNMP MIB) controller; it's one function was to turn the power on or off. The first use of the term ‘Internet of Things’ came much later, and is widely attributed to Ashton (Ashton 2009), when he used it as the title of a presentation at Procter and Gamble in 1999.
The growth of the IoT
There has been rapid growth in the number of devices connected to the internet. A number of analysts, notably Cisco and Ericcson (Dave Evans and Hans Vestburg, respectively), have predicted that there will be 50 billion devices connected to the internet by 2020. Of course, these estimates are difficult to assert with confidence, and both have now revised their estimates down. Evans, now at Stringify, predicts 30 million whist Ericcson estimates 28 billion by 2021. One reason that it is difficult to predict growth is that there are not even consistent figures for the number of devices connected to the internet today. Not only is there a significant difference in figures using the same definitions, but the issue concerning the varying interpretations of the IoT also has an impact. Some figures clearly state the difference between machine-to-machine (M2M) and IoT devices, such as those of the GSMA, whose analysis of M2M ‘focuses on cellular M2M connectivity and excludes computing devices in consumer electronics such as smartphones, e-readers, tablets, as well as other types of M2M connection technologies that support the wider universe of the Internet of Things (IoT)’ (Kechiche 2015). A 2015 report by Machine Research predicted that the total number of M2M connections will grow from 5 billion in 2014 to 27 billion in 2024 (Machina 2015). Nordrum (2016) observed that, in 2016, Gartner estimated that there were 6.4 billion devices (excluding smartphones, tablets, and computers), the International Data Corporation estimated 9 billion (with the same exclusions) and IHS estimated 17.6 billion (including smartphones, tablets, and computers). A similar study by Juniper Research estimated that there were 16 billion devices.
Whilst there are not consistent figures for the number of connected IoT devices, it can be seen that the number of devices is enormous, and growth has been and is predicted to be, rapid.
Why do connected devices need to share data?
An argument has been raised that only because something can be connected to the internet doesn’t mean it should be, but each device collects data for a specific purpose that may be useful to a buyer and impact the wider economy.
Within industrial applications, sensors on product lines can increase efficiency and cut down on waste. One study estimates 35 percent of US manufacturers are using data from smart sensors within their set-ups already. US firm Concrete Sensors has created a device that can be inserted into concrete to provide data on the material’s condition, for instance.
“IoT offers us the opportunity to be more efficient in how we do things, saving us time, money, and often emissions in the process,” Evans says. It allows companies, governments, and public authorities to re-think how they deliver services and produce goods.
“The quality and scope of the data across the Internet of Things generate an opportunity for much more contextualized and responsive interactions with devices to create a potential for change,” continued Gorski. It “doesn’t stop at a screen”.
Below are 9 of the best examples of how IoT impacts our daily lives, at work and home.
Home Security
The Internet of Things is the key driver behind a completely smart and secure home. IoT connects a variety of sensors, alarms, cameras, lights, and microphones to provide 24/7/365 security — all of which can be controlled from a smartphone. For example, the Ring doorbell camera security system allows users to see, hear, and speak to visitors at their door via a computer, tablet, or mobile phone.
Activity Trackers
These sensor devices are designed to be worn during the day to monitor and transmit key health indicators in real-time, such as fatigue, appetite, physical movement, oxygen levels, blood pressure, fall detection, and compliance with taking medicine. At-home health monitoring reduces the number of the emergency doctor or hospital visits and helps elderly or disabled people live more independent lives.
Digital Twins
In the manufacturing world, a digital twin is essentially an identical digital copy of a physical object. Using technologies including IoT, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, the digital twin can update itself as the physical object changes in response to its surrounding conditions. Engineers can use the digital twin, instead of the actual physical object, to make adjustments or test updates.
Self-Healing Machines
Relying on arrays of thousands of sensors, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, manufacturing equipment can be designed to recognize variances in its own operation, and correct them before they turn into problems that require downtime and repair. This saves companies time and money and frees up employees who would normally monitor equipment and undertake maintenance to work on higher-level tasks.
Wearable gadgets
Wearable devices have been a hot topic across the tech world since the release of smartwatches and smartglasses. Today there are many wearable gadgets on the market, from fitness trackers to GPS shoes.
Connected Car
This is a quite new concept and expected to come into the limelight slowly. Generally, app development for the automotive industry takes two to four years. Everyone from large-scale automobile companies to small-scale start-ups is working on connected car solutions. If BMW and Ford do not announce Internet-connected car solutions soon, the tech giants such as Google, Apple, and Microsoft are set to develop and release the next generation of connected car solutions.
Smart Home
IoT provides us space where we find comfort and can manage our routine tasks easily in our daily busy life. There are various popular devices for the smart home; include a smart thermostat, connected lights, smart fridge, smart television, smart door lock, etc.
Smart City
Smart city helps people to avoid the issues of traffic management, social security, environment monitoring, waste management, water distribution, etc. Improved IoT apps will help resolve various issues related to traffic, noise pollution, air pollution, etc., and make cities safer.
Smart Grid
It is a vital niche of IoT. It provides information about consumers and electricity providers in an automated way. It always helps improve efficiency, economics, and electricity steadiness.
But aren’t their privacy implications?
Everything that’s connected to the internet can be hacked, IoT products are no exception to this unwritten rule. Insecure IoT systems led to toy manufacturer VTech losing videos and pictures of children using its connected devices.
There’s also the issue of surveillance. If every product becomes connected then there’s the potential for unbridled observation of users. If a connected fridge tracks food usage and consumption, takeaways could be targeted at hungry people who have no food. If a smartwatch can detect when you’re having sex, what is to stop people with that data from using it against the watches’ wearer.
“In the future, intelligence services might use the [internet of things] for identification, surveillance, monitoring, location tracking, and targeting for recruitment, or to gain access to networks or user credentials,” James Clapper, the US direction or national intelligence said in 2016. Wikileaks later claimed the CIA has been developing security exploits for a connected Samsung TV.
IoT security and privacy concerns
Although IoT is rapidly growing, it still faces security and privacy issues:
Security Risks
- IoT devices are connected to your desktop or laptop. Lack of security increases the risk of your personal information leaking while the data is collected and transmitted to the IoT device.
- IoT devices are connected with a consumer network. This network is also connected with other systems. So if the IoT device contains any security vulnerabilities, it can be harmful to the consumer’s network. This vulnerability can attack other systems and damage them.
- Sometimes unauthorized people might exploit the security vulnerabilities to create risks to physical safety.
Privacy Risks
- In IoT, devices are interconnected with various hardware and software, so there are obvious chances of sensitive information leaking through unauthorized manipulation.
- All the devices are transmitting the user’s personal information such as name, address, date of birth, health card information, credit card detail, and much more without encryption.
Though there are security and privacy concerns with IoT, it adds value to our lives by allowing us to manage our daily routine tasks remotely and automatically, and more importantly, it is a game-changer for industries.
Resources
https://www.wired.co.uk/article/internet-of-things-what-is-explained-iot