Whether we like it or not, the internet has become ubiquitous in both our personal and professional lives. The future looks all the more exciting in the context in which we will no longer be limited to surfing the internet in the comfort of our own homes, but will literally coexist with the internet. What do we mean by the above? Find out from the following lines.
What is the Internet of Things?
IotT or internet of things is translated into Romanian as the internet of things, meaning a network of billions of devices and IT equipment from all over the world. They are connected 24/7 to the internet and, thus, collect or process data non-stop. Thanks to chips, many devices, from toothbrushes and commercial devices to machinery, are part of this network with the aim of significantly improving the quality of people's lives.
If, at a commercial level, applications help you with routine tasks, in the industrial field, IoT has revolutionized the market by interconnecting devices and machinery that collect and analyze information in real time, making decisions faster and more competent than those made by the human user, sometimes. It is estimated that, in 2020, the number of devices in this network reached almost 20.4 billion.
The term IoT was first used by Kevin Ashton in 1999 to describe the use of the internet by computers to observe the world. Nowadays, smart devices are controlled by chips that users control.
How does the Internet of Things work?
Depending on how they operate, devices in the IoT network are divided into three different types:
- devices that collect information and transmit it to other devices or the user;
- devices that receive information from other devices or from the user and act accordingly;
- devices that perform both functions described above.
The benefits of IoT for companies
If you haven't already invested in sIT solutions for your company, now is the time to do it. Here are the benefits that the Internet of Things can bring in IT infrastructure of companies:
- access to more data related to production processes and internal systems, thus having a greater ability to make changes;
- in the manufacturing industry, using sensors to detect performance drops caused by a component that is no longer functioning properly and is prone to failure. This way, these components can be replaced before they pose a real danger to the production activity or users;
- using data to streamline supply chains and systems;
- generating new sources of income by adding a predictive maintenance service to a product package;
- streamlining transport and logistics by offering alternative routes in case of weather problems or traffic jams or by including sensors to regulate temperature, in the case of products sensitive to temperature changes;
- Closely tracking all devices and objects within the company to ensure they are used properly, by the right person, and at the right time;
- improving working conditions by alerting workers to imminent risks in a work area. Certain sensors attached to clothing can monitor the health of workers and transmit information in real time.
Benefits of IoT for consumers
Not only companies can benefit from these solutions, IT services finding their place not only in the office, but also in everyday life. Consumers will benefit from smarter and easier-to-use homes, cars, and even household appliances thanks to these solutions. Here's how:
- Smart home security systems, systems that allow monitoring of the property in real time. There are security systems, but also fire or flood alarm systems. The security systems will work based on light and motion sensors, and you will receive an alert on your phone/tablet or laptop;
- Making the lighting system more efficient through calculated energy consumption. Smart bulbs will automatically turn on or off depending on the amount of natural light. They can also be programmed according to needs;
- Automation of the heating system and water consumption control. For example, you can set the heating system to operate only during certain time intervals;
- Automation of the air conditioning system by monitoring humidity, indoor air quality and temperature in the home. Both the ventilation system and the air conditioning can be programmed, depending on needs;
- Automate the irrigation system using sensors that can determine the soil moisture level. In this way, you will always be aware of the soil moisture requirements and set the system to operate according to the data received from the sensors;
- Automate your home appliances to find out what food you have available, when it expires, when you need to go shopping. You will also be able to use a single remote control to adjust the brightness of the TV, the decibel level of the stereo and any other devices in the house;
- Monitoring the degree of environmental pollution;
- Improving the way we drive through the introduction of autonomous cars.
At the moment, IoT is still in its infancy, but it will most likely be adopted on a larger scale by consumers and businesses as soon as possible. The only problem is that IT security, a risk that will always be present when we talk about networks of devices interconnected via the internet.
