What is Internet of Things?

The interconnections of things such as gadgets, electronic devices, smart appliances, machines etc. with the help of embedded software’s, actuators, and network via the Internet forming a holistic grid is called as the internet of things or IoT. IoT enables these devices to communicate, share data & information amongst each other.

“Internet” means ‘The connections of the global computer network’ and “Things” means ‘An inanimate material object as distinct from a living sentient being.’

In a gist, it is nothing but connecting the physical world with the virtual world or the internet as we know it today.

IoT enables to control or sense these objects remotely via the network grid in order to reduce human interventions & massive capital expenditures thus resulting in complete automation, improved efficiency, accuracy & also reducing losses.

According to Forbes statistics, it is estimated that IoT will comprise of 30 million devices by the end 2020 and B2B spending on IoT technologies will reach up to $267 Billion. Mind boggling, isn’t it?

Dawn of IoT

IoT has been in development phase since decades now the first machine which was connected to the internet was in the 1980s. A programmer at Carnegie Mellon University was able to connect a Coke Vending machine to the internet which would help to determine the status of the machine of making the cold drink. Fascinating, isn’t it? Although the whole concept of IoT wasn’t announced until the late 90s when Kevin Ashton, co-founder of Auto-ID Center at MIT for the first time coined the term of “The Internet of Things” in 1999 to elaborate a system where devices are connected to the internet via ubiquitous sensors that was the beginning of the new era in the world of technology. However, Cloud Computing and IPv6 (Internet Protocol Version 6) plays a major role in the implementation of IoT with the help of IPv6s any atom on the back of the planet can be connected to the internet by assigning it with a unique IP address and still we will be left with unique IP addresses which can cater for many other planets like earth & cloud computing enables us to store massive amount of data & information relentlessly which can eventually be used to generate a lot of business value.

Applications of IoT

The applications of IoT are beyond human imaginations still to name a few it ranges from Healthcare, Manufacturing, Transportation, Logistics, Retail, Banks, Agriculture, Government, Defense, Infrastructure, Mining, Natural Resources, Hospitality, Homes and the list can go on. Companies such as the likes of Amazon, Microsoft, Apple, Google, Hitachi, T-Mobile, AT&T, Cisco, IBM etc. are investing heavily on IoT development and have even adapted to it on their own infrastructures. Platforms such as Amazon Web Services, IBM’s Watson, & Microsoft Azure are helping companies integrate IoT in their Infrastructures.

IoT Security

Though, Integration of IoT and connection of so many devices to the internet which can open back doors for malicious activities, cyber attacks, and potential threats to the overall system & critical databases has raised a major concern about security issues within the domain. But still, the potential can’t be ignored realizing what all can be achieved by the means of IoT. Though, there are a lot of companies which are solely focusing on cyber security in the field of Internet of Things. I am with them, Are You?

After all, when has threat ever stopped technology from evolving. 🙂