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Internet Of Things (IOT)

Internet Of Things (IOT)

What is Internet of Things?

Internet of Things (IoT) is the network of physical objects - "things" - that contain sensors, software and other technologies to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems on the Internet. These devices can range from simple household items to sophisticated industrial tools equipped with chips, through which they collect and communicate various information. There are currently more than 7 billion IoT-connected devices, and is expected that number to grow to 50 billion by 2030.

How does Internet of Things work?

According to the mode of operation, the devices in IoT network are of three types:

  • devices that collect the information and pass it on to other devices or the user;
  • devices that receive information from other devices or from the user and act accordingly;
  • devices that perform both of the functions described above.

From a commercial point of view, many of these objects are aimed at improving what is known as Quality of Life (QoL), making people's daily activities easier.

At an industrial level, the interconnection of machines and devices is revolutionizing the market. According to a Gartner (Technological Research and Consulting Company) report, more than 50% of new businesses will incorporate elements of IOT. Combining the connectivity of devices with the automation of systems allows the collection of information, its analysis and, implicitly, making a decision based on it. IoT can thus contribute to the achievement of a task by a person. Moreover, IoT gives devices the opportunity to communicate not only within a private network, but also between different types of networking, creating an interconnected world.

What are the benefits of IoT for businesses?

Even if the business benefits differ depending on how they are implemented, a common denominator can be seen: companies have access to more data and internal systems, thus possessing a greater ability to change things.

For example, within the manufacturing sector, various players are inserting sensors into product components that transmit data about their performance. So, companies can identify the moments when a component is prone to failure, replacing it before it becomes a real danger. Moreover, businesses can use the data to streamline their systems and supply chains by having accurate information about their operations.

What are the benefits of IoT for consumers?

Not only companies can benefit from IOT, new technologies also find their place in our everyday life. They come with the promise of making our environment (cities, homes, cars, household items, etc.) smarter, easier to measure and manage. In this way, consumers will benefit from smarter cities, houses, cars and respectively household appliances, and implicitly easier to use.

You certainly Didn't know that:

  • The term "Internet of Things" was coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999, while working for Procter & Gamble. But the phrase did not become known in the public consciousness then. It was rarely used between 1999 and 2005, and then suddenly the term exploded all over the internet in 2008 as IoT technology began to grow.
  •  Internet Of Things wasn't actually called IoT in the early years. Twitter users started using the hashtag #IoT, also in 2008, as a short way to talk about the Internet Of Things. So we can say with certainty that this acronym was born on Twitter.
  • According to research by Intel, ATMs were the first end-user devices to be connected to the Internet, dating back to the 1970s. However, another popular opinion says that a modified Coca-Cola machine from Carnegie University Mellon was the first online device. This machine was capable of reporting its inventory and whether newly loaded drinks were cold or not.
  • Since 2008, more IoT devices than people have been connected to Internet, and  IoT is now, and has been for some time, bigger than the web itself! Forecasts suggest that by 2030, the number of IoT devices in use worldwide will increase to 50 billion, creating a gigantic network of interconnected devices spanning everything from smartphones to toothbrushes.
  • IoT involves so much data that it is measured in zettabytes. For reference, there are 21 zeros in a zettabyte.

Article published by Daniela Popa