Internet of Things (IoT): Connecting the Physical and Digital Worlds 

Smartphones, smart watches, smart TVs, smart refrigerators, and even a smart washing machine. We have heard all these terms before. The wonderful internet which was only available on computers and laptops is now finding its way in all types of appliances that we use daily. How did the Internet of computers become the Internet of Things, what does it mean and what is its future? We will discuss all these things in this post. So, let’s dive in! 

What is the internet of things (IoT)? 

The Internet of Things or IoT is a network of devices or “physical things” that have some type of sensors, software, or some other technologies present in them. It allows them to collect and share data with other devices or systems over the internet.  

In simple terms, an IoT device can be anything like lights in your room that automatically turn on when you clap your hands or give voice commands. Or a smartwatch on your wrist that counts all the steps you take in a day, your heart rate, and blood pressure. Including phones, laptops, and computers, there are billions of connected IoT devices on earth. And it’s just the beginning. We are on our way to seeing a boom in IoT adoption. From regular households to large industries, all things are on their way to go smart.  

Applications of the Internet of Things (IoT) 

The world is going in a direction where all types of things will become internet of things. So, the scope of application of IoT devices is very broad. But to discuss a few, these are some of the applications: 

1. Smart Homes: 

Have you ever wondered how nice it would be if you could just switch off the lights in your homes with your voice commands? Or how nice it would be if your favorite music could be played according to the environment of the house. Or the doors locked by themselves, the stove is turned off, and lights are turned off as soon as you leave your home.  

All these things in our house will make our lives easier and better. Such a home that is built with so many IoT devices is called a smart home. This is an application of IoT that is already in the market and is changing our homes for the better. Smart lights, refrigerators, doors, and speakers are making our lives more convenient. Also, technologies like Google Home and Alexa etc, are playing a major role in building smart homes. 

2. Smart Vehicles: 

IoT devices include smart vehicles as well. These vehicles are mostly cars that are self-driving with cutting-edge technology. They make driving very convenient, and they are a boon for people who might not know how to drive perfectly but need to go to a place urgently like a hospital. These cars do need a lot more testing and high-end tech to become completely automated, but the technology right now is also a very important step towards the future. 

3. Smart Agriculture: 

IoT technology can be used to revolutionize agriculture. As the food gets wasted a lot without ever reaching the needy. IoT technology can help us collect data about soil, rainfall, and other environmental conditions and give us a detailed report on how and where we can do agriculture to yield the produce. 

4. Smart Healthcare: 

Using IoT technologies in the healthcare sector can change how we think about medical treatment forever. Using high-tech robots that can perform surgeries, nursing robots that can take care of patients needing long-term support, and robots as assistants making sure every procedure is going right, and nothing is missed while performing medical procedures. IoT devices that can monitor a patient’s condition without the need to manually check.  

All these technologies will create a healthcare system that is convenient for both the patients and the doctors. 

5. Smart Shops: 

Another very useful applications of IoT technology are the smart shops. A concept that has already been introduced in some retail shops today such as brands like Azorte. In these smart stores, a customer can buy clothes according to their body type and color seasons. Inside the changing room, a customer can ask for whatever clothes they want using their smart screen. Customers can pay the amount at the counter using smart pay systems and leave the store with a unique and convenient experience. 

Benefits of the Internet of Things (IoT) 

There are multiple benefits of the technology of the Internet of Things (IoT). Some of these are discussed below: 

1. Reduction in Costs: 

As we use IoT devices more and more, we can save a lot of money and reduce costs. For example, the automatic turning off of lights, stoves, and heating systems when you are not using them, taps turning off automatically as you remove your hands or brush, using nursing robots to care for chronically sick patients instead of human nurses, opting for self-driving cars instead of cabs, and optimizing the agriculture. All these technologies need a lot more time to develop but if they reach this point, they can significantly reduce costs and help save a lot of money. 

2. Better Efficiency: 

There is no doubt that IoT technologies have the potential to be highly efficient as compared to our traditional ways. Using IoT devices extensively increases our efficiency a lot. As most things will get automated, we can focus on things that matter to us. We can invest the time we save on doing things that are more important increase our productivity and grow further. 

3. Safety: 

IoT technologies are not just limited to homes hospitals or offices. It will be used in streets, police stations, and courts as well. Installing smart cameras on the roads and streets that can identify people, share data with the nearest police station or hospital if someone needs help, and create a detailed report with photos and videos of what happened will help solve cases quickly and more fairly.  

The robots that we talked about in healthcare will also keep track of every procedure that happens with the patients and reduce the volume of malpractices that happen in the hospitals. 

If someone is alone and gets very sick in their home, the IoT devices of homes will send a notification to the nearest hospitals and clinics to make sure he/she gets medical attention ASAP. 

Future of the Internet of Things (IoT) 

The future of the Internet of Things (IoT) is very promising. We can expect to see a double in the number of IoT devices by 2030. As the world is embracing artificial intelligence and machine learning, IoT devices are not far behind being the next big industry. Great career opportunities will open for people who are passionate about this sector in the future. 

Many factors are going to enhance the growth of this field, such as the introduction of artificial intelligence, machine learning, or 5G networks will make IoT devices more accessible to everyone.
 

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