Do you spend a significant amount of time on the internet? If asked what medium do you use, most of the answers will include smartphones, tabs, laptops, and computers. A decade ago, we all used computers to surf information, send emails, and chat online. Gradually the scenario changed and we now access the internet even on smartwatches. There are millions of applications, websites, and online portals with huge daily traffic. Now, the internet can be integrated with any possible device.
“If you think that the internet has changed your life, think again. The Internet of Things is about to change it all over again!”
-Brendan O’Brien
What is IoT?
The system where computing devices, machines, and objects can communicate with each other and transfer data without any form of human interference is termed as ‘Internet Of Things’. The Internet of Things, commonly known as IoT allows different objects to get connected via the internet and exchange information. IoT platform consists of smart sensors and IoT devices that communicate to the cloud through internet connectivity.
The data sent to the cloud is later processed to perform certain actions of either notifying the user, updating the data, etc. without human interference. Machine learning plays a vital role in the data processing. These connected objects are usually linked to IoT applications. Users can access smart devices through these apps.
Let us boil it down for you. Imagine you handover your car to your young kid and get a message from your car that your kid has exceeded the speed limit. Yes, you heard it right! Cars messaging humans!
IoT allows users to mute their TV sets with mobiles in case they lose their remote control devices.
There are IoT systems where users can feed contacts of friends and family in their cars. If crashed, the cars automatically send emergency messages to the selected contacts with the live location. Such advanced IoT Mobile application development is proving to be revolutionary as it can save the lives of thousands every day.
IoT has gone to levels no one imagined! You can use IoT devices such as sensors that measure and monitor soil levels to gain insight into the irrigation system’s efficiency of land.
Right from your refrigerator messaging you that it is out of ice, to your IoT-enabled security devices notifying you about unusual activities when you are away; IoT has been optimized immensely in the past few years.
Since IoT brings more convenience and ease in complex tasks, more and more professionals are working on it. As per a report, the number of IoT devices will reach 125 billion by 2030.
Hence, many industry giants are investing in IoT. As per McKinsey Global Institute, the total economic impact of IoT could range up to 11 trillion US dollars by the year 2015.
Advantages of IoT
Let us see some mind-blowing advantages of IoT technology.
Speed
Time is money! In today’s world, everybody is rushing so fast to reach somewhere. While we are cooped up in our daily chores, anything that saves time is precious. The Internet of things serves its primary objective of offering convenience and ease in every task. IoT devices and IoT applications are designed to work faster with great efficiency.
Easy Monitoring
For any organization especially manufacturing enterprises, an optimized monitoring system is bliss. IoT can be used as a source of monitoring resources. IoT technology allows machines to send notifications regarding lack of resources, technical issues, the requirement of maintenance, and much more. These messages are sent in real-time saving costs associated with machine failures. Another way organization IoT for monitoring is by tracking the number of materials available to place new orders without visiting warehouses. The administration department, purchase department, maintenance department, and even human resource department can accomplish easy monitoring with IoT devices.
Supports Automation
Automation is a new era. Right from all startups to large industries, every organization is adopting automation. Since the internet of things is all about connecting various objects via the internet, it plays a vital role in converting every possible object into a smart object. Considering commercial benefits, IoT helps in achieving reduced troubleshooting, modular integration, maximized uptime, and increased output.
Promotions
Since IoT is deeply connected to automation, it can be immensely beneficial for marketing and promotional activities. IoT has seemingly endless potential as it can be used to send mobile promotions to regular shoppers, analyzing customer buying tendencies, tracking shopper’s shopping history, and much more. IoT in marketing is all about the end to end experience optimization.
Research
Have you ever heard of big data?
Big data is the collection of information about consumers’ activities. As explained initially, IoT devices requests, process and sends data in real-time. Every IoT device has smart sensors that help in identifying important data and notify the user. Therefore every IoT device stores a great amount of data that depicts user behavior and experience. This data can be used to deliver personalized experiences and perform promotional campaigns.
IoT Trends that are All Set to Make Revolutionary Changes in Technology
The following are the IoT trends of the year 2020 depicting the future of technology.
Smart City
It is estimated that 60% of the world’s population will live in major cities by 2030. Tokyo, New York City, Jakarta, Mumbai are some big urban cities with huge populations. Considering the growth in the population of these cities, it is possible that there will be water scarcity, lack of garbage dumping areas, increased traffic, increased air and noise pollution, and scarcity of resources.
IoT is deeply connected to the smart city mission.
What makes a city smarter?
Any city with disciplined traffic, more greenery, water management, reduced crimes, and a strong economic race. Did you know that British, American, and Israeli highways are already using smart road IoT platforms which use solar-powered sensors to collect data, machine learning algorithms to achieve real-time data analysis, and tracks driving patterns to deliver risk alerts with accurate navigation recommendations? IoT technology comes in many forms.
Vision Van of Mercedes-Benz is an IoT platform where drones can deliver stuff within a radius of 10 km. Delivery with drones can save fuel, less traffic, and faster services. Google’s Smart Eye delivers options and accessibility features right in front of the user’s eye without any distraction. This technology encompasses sensors, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. Various IoT devices consist of sensors, thermal imaging, cameras, and alert systems that are interconnected to other smart objects to help detect crime, and prevent fire and accidents.
Industrial Internet of Things IIoT
Another trend that is all set to rock upcoming years is IIoT. The industrial internet of things is a system that uses smart sensors and actuators to optimize manufacturing and industrial processes. IIoT performs predictive maintenance, better field service, energy management, and resource tracking. Any defect in machinery is conveyed to the concerned employee in real-time.
Before IIoT, machines with issues were repaired after part fails or machine breakdowns. Smart sensors and actuators integrated into machines allow them to detect unusual performance and glitches if any. IIoT is a great advantage in quality control. IIoT can also be used to enhance supply chain management. Executives can track the location, status, and condition of products throughout the supply chain.
It helps organizations to put orders in time and reduce the cost associated with a lack of raw materials. IIoT also enables businesses to enhance customer satisfaction by capturing and analyzing data about how customers use their products. Industry leaders in IIoT who are investing in IIoT are focusing on asset management; transportation and utilities.
Security
Imagine your phone getting a notification about strange activities happening around your house, or an alert message about someone breaking into your house/office. These scenarios are possible with IoT. Security is one of the most talked-about IoT trends. IoT-enabled smart surveillance is a new trending thing.
With the latest image recognition technologies, IoT-enabled cameras can identify suspicious activities and detect unknown users. Such devices not only notifies users about a person on your doorstep but can also tell you whether the person is a stranger or has visited you before. Though IoT is used to provide security, it itself has a huge risk of cyberattacks as the medium to exchange data is the ‘internet’.
The trend also brings up the context of improving security measures in IoT. Since the usage of IoT is increasing, huge data is transferred over the cloud. This data can be even related to sensitive information such as financial transactions, security, etc. Though IoT service providers deliver layered protection against possible cyber attacks, the trend depicts enhanced security measures.
IoT Enabled Manufacturing
The current pandemic scenario is forcing businesses to think of new ways of manufacturing. Digital manufacturing is getting a lot of spotlight these days. In digital manufacturing, the computer platform controls various functions at a high level of integration. It uses data fetched from sensors, artificial intelligence-driven analysis to achieve real-time results.
Digital manufacturing involves the majority of work performed by computer systems, the level of human error is drastically decreased. The Internet of things is used to connect various machines that are used in digital manufacturing with computer systems to achieve faster and high-quality production. This IoT-enabled manufacturing system allows hyper-customization, 3D scanning, and modeling.
Climate Change
“IoT is the digital skin of our planet”. -Alex Gluhak. The whole world is focusing on reducing the carbon footprint of various processes. This skin with sensors, apps, and software can be a great help in achieving these objectives. Climate change is real. The world is facing various environmental challenges that require more attention. IoT will be used to tackle these climate changes and preserve the planet.
IoT platforms designed for economic and productivity objectives involve waste reduction and enhanced resource management. IoT will also be used as disaster solutions such as avalanches and floods. IoT developers are focusing more on creating IoT devices used to monitor air or water quality, atmospheric or soil conditions, wildlife, and their habitats, etc. Such sensors can also be used as early warning systems for tsunami or earthquakes.
IoT devices can also be used to measure air pollution. Waste management, BioCarbon Engineering, plastic management, garbage management, and what not can be accomplished by IoT. Integrating IoT in the app development process can prove to be a great boon for the users.
Artificial Intelligence
A combination of AI and IoT is all set to redefine the way industries, businesses, and economies operate. Internet of things is popularly used for conveying messages and remote accessing objects. Integrating IoT with artificial intelligence enables connected objects not only to notify users but also to perform actions such as decision-making with zero human interference.
Many organizations have already adopted Artificial intelligence and IoT as an integral part of product processing. AI-driven IoT manages, analyzes, and obtains valuable insights. It is used to ensure fast and accurate analysis along with obtaining personalization with confidentiality and data privacy. AI-enabled IoT boosts operational efficiency. Google used AI-enabled IoT to reduce its data center cooling costs. This excellent combination can also be used to predict risks to tackle economic loss, employee safety, and cyber threats.
One good example of AI-enabled IoT is driverless cars. Tesla, a globally known automobile giant uses AI-enabled IoT where the sensors determine road conditions, optimal speed, weather, the behavior of pedestrians, and much more. Organizations can also deliver personalized services since IoT devices produce huge customer behavior data that may include buying history and purchase patterns. On the other hand, Artificial intelligence is widely used in marketing campaigns to offer personalized solutions.
Voice User Interface
Voice interactions and voice user interfaces can be seen almost everywhere in the form of electronic assistants. People from urban areas are familiar with Amazon Alexa, OK Google, Apple’s Siri, etc. The integration of voice assistants to connected devices is the latest trend in the industry.
Would you like to live in a house where you can speak to almost every home appliance? You can command your fridge to increase cooling, you can talk to your AC to turn on, and much more.
Sounds interesting?
This all can be achieved by integrating voice and IoT.
Conclusion
End-users, as well as enterprises, will notice great advances from IoT. It is recommended that businesses should consider IoT in their business processes to achieve faster outputs. Many IoT mobile app development agencies deliver IoT services to the manufacturing, healthcare, security industries. These IoT companies should consider the above-mentioned trends for a promising future.
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