Assume you’re heading to a nearby town for an occasion. While driving, a message flashed on the display of your device notifying you that your tank of fuel had dropped low. You were perplexed as to what was going on when another notification appeared on your smartphone device, informing you of the whereabouts of the closest gas station.
Contemplating how this can be possible?
Well, It’s nothing else but an actual representation of IoT.
Wondering what is Internet of Things (IoT) technology? How does IoT function?
Let’s get into it in depth in this post, starting with some interesting facts.
What is IoT (Internet of Things)?
The internet of things, or IoT, is a network of interconnected objects that communicate with one another and with the cloud. IoT devices, which can include mechanical and digital machinery as well as consumer products, are often incorporated with technology such as sensors and software.
Organizations in a range of industries are increasingly utilizing IoT to run more efficiently, provide better customer service, improve decision-making, and raise the value of the business.
Data can be conveyed over a network using IoT despite the need of human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
In the IOT, a thing could be a person implanted with a heart monitor, a farm animal implanted with a biochip transponder, an automobile with built-in sensors to alert the driver when the pressure in the tires is low, or any other natural or man-made object that can be assigned an IP address (Internet Protocol address) and capable of transmitting data over a network.
Coffee makers, washing machines, music systems, TVs, wearables, and other electronic gadgets can connect with one another via Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication.
While we’re all focused on what IoT is and what IOT devices are, let’s take a look at some statistics which show the explosion in the market for Internet of Things:
- By 2022, 100 % of the population is estimated to be covered by LPWAN.
- More than 75.4B internet of things devices are expected to be on the market in 2025. Due to its cost saving factor.
- 54% of businesses have invested in app development for the Internet of Things.
- In 2019, the worldwide market for Internet of Things Data reached a value of USD 250.72 billion, which is set to rise to US 1,463.19 billion by 2027 at an annual growth rate of 24.9%.
Let us take a look at how the Internet of Things works and the working principle of the Internet of Things, now that we know what the Internet of Things is and what the potential of the emerging Internet of Things technologies and concepts is in the future.
How does the Internet of Things work?
When discussing the way in which Internet of Things work, it starts with devices that build sensors on their own. These machines are connected to the Internet of Things platforms, which store data from every single device they interact with. In order to carry out the tasks that meet people’s needs, significant data shall then be collected.
It doesn’t mean all the data are useful if we say that everything is stored on an Internet of Things platform. Devices carefully select only the relevant data that will be of relevance to an action. These pieces of information may detect patterns, recommendations and problems before they occur.
This is how the Internet of Things application works with smart systems that automatically perform tasks to meet specific needs.
Moving on, let’s delve deeper into the concept of the Internet of Things and examine what the primary components of Internet of Things technology are.
Also Read: Smart Cities: How IoT Changes Urban Life
The key components to the Internet of Things ecosystem
1. Sensors/ Devices
Sensor and device technology is the most important factor to take into account when implementing Internet of Things technologies. Every minute detail is captured by the sensor in the environment. There may be a great deal of complexity in the environment. It’s these sensors, which are capable of picking up even the most sensitive changes, that make Internet of Things security so great. These sensors are being built into the equipment that’ll be collecting all these data for future use. For instance, our phone’s a device with an internal sensor such as GPS, camera, etc.
2. Connectivity
Once this data is gathered, it will be transferred to a cloud infrastructure that also includes Internet of Things platforms. But these devices will need a medium to transport the data. It is at that time which connections such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, WAN, cell network etc. become available. In order to produce the best results, these mediums vary widely and need to be selected with due care. Speed and availability of these mediums are very important for the effectiveness of Internet of Things security.
3. Data Processing
In order to take the right actions, it is important to analyze data at the time of entry into a cloud infrastructure. However, one of the greatest obstacles to app development in the field of Internet of Things is regarded as this process. The analysis may be as simple as checking the temperature of the air conditioning unit, or as complex as a situation where an intruder enters and the device must be identified by cameras. The Internet of Things application makes it possible for all the data to be processed at lightning speed in order to take action immediately.
4. User Interface
Finally, when the user is notified of an action by means of a notification or sound sent to IoT Mobile Applications, this last step will take place. This way, a user will know if his command is running in one of the systems.
It’s not as easy as it seems, though. It depends on what kind of technology the Internet of Things is and how it was developed. It becomes crucial for Internet of Things (IoT) app development companies to develop a system that can also be manually adjusted. Users should be able to do this by way of manual operation without the system being restarted when the refrigerator temperature is not sufficiently cold for ice cube freezing.
Author Bio:
Zalu Patel is a Content Writer for Webtual: IT Solution, writing blogs and content for the company’s clients’ websites. Graduating from Brock University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, Zalu ventured as a freelance journalist for a year covering politics, social issues, music and culture and has published articles based on said subjects.
