What is the Internet of Things

"If you think that the internet has changed your life, think again. The IoT is about to change it all over again!"

Brendan O’Brien - Co-Founder at Aria Systems

Internet of Things

In a nutshell, the Internet of Things is the concept of connecting any device to the Internet and to other connected devices. IoT is a giant network of connected things and people – all of which collect and share data about the way they are used and about the environment around them. That includes an extraordinary number of objects of all shapes and sizes. From smart microwaves, which automatically cook your food for the right length of time, to self-driving cars, whose complex sensors detect objects in their path, to wearable fitness devices that measure your heart rate and the number of steps you’ve taken that day, then use that information to suggest exercise plans tailored to you. There are even connected footballs that can track how far and fast they are thrown and record those statistics via an app for future training purposes. How does it work? Devices and objects with built in sensors are connected to an Internet of Things platform, which integrates data from the different devices and applies analytics to share the most valuable information with applications built to address specific needs. These powerful IoT platforms can pinpoint exactly what information is useful and what can safely be ignored. This information can be used to detect patterns, make recommendations, and detect possible problems before they occur.

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How Does IoT Work

We will have to take a closer look at how things work within. To understand IoT better, there is a definite need to understand the underlying architecture. This will not only give you the details that are required to carry out an experiment all by yourself but also will provide you a better understanding of the whole concept. IoT system altogether consists of these 4 different components.

Devices that measure and record real-world attributes and things. This can mean e.g. detecting changes in room temperature or if a door is left open.

The devices are connected to each other. This means that the machines can both send out and receive data packages and that those packages are possible to be read by them and the other machines they are communicating with.

To make use of the network's data it needs advanced processing. Sorting out the useful or meaningful bits and trying to understand what the data is telling us. Data is processed automatically rather than manually by a human.

For the IoT to be useful to us humans we need an interface to observe and control the things we are connected to through it. This can be anything from a set of mechanical switches to a web or phone application.

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IoT is always connected to our physical world in some ways, it is responding to effects in real-world attributes.

IoT Is About Physical Actions

Unlike many IT devices in existence, IoT in a large part is about a physical action or event. The IoT starts or ends with an event: a simple motion, a temperature change, perhaps an actuator moving on a lock. Sometimes this involves large amounts of data being generated from a single sensor over time, such as auditory sensing for preventative maintenance of machinery. Other times, it's a single bit of data indicating vital health data from a patient.

Knowledge Check

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