The Internet of Things : Future tech for all

The Internet of Things

What is the one thing that is common between a smart TV, Fitbit and a Thermostat? Although one is not like the other, they have all got one thing in common. They are all connected by this VAST network consisting of numerous devices and objects called The Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things is a system of interrelated computing devices, both mechanical and digital, that have the ability to transfer specific data over a network with little to no Human Intervention. In a nutshell, the Internet of Things is a concept of interconnecting many devices through the internet. The IoT is a GIANT network of connected things and even people, all of which share data about their environmental and internal changes. It includes objects all the way from a smart coffee pot which automatically prepares your coffee at your call to the wearable fitness device that can measure your heart rate and the number of calories you’ve burnt in a day.

The IoT is becoming an increasingly growing topic of interest all over the world among the major players of the technological world. It is a concept that not only has the potential to affect how we work but also how we live and go on about our daily lives. IoT is still a relatively alien topic in the world at the moment as not many people are fully aware of it. But in reality, IoT has been implemented as early as the 1970’s with the first ATM’s.

-Cause and Growth of IoT

Computers and the Internet were almost completely dependent on Human intervention for the collection and transfer of data. But the problem was that humans have got limited time and small attention span to things. Human are known for going about various activities in a day, hence they don’t concentrate on one particular function and hence there is loss in quality and accuracy of the data collected and transferred. Now, if we could completely automate a particular function by building or creating objects or machines that are designed for one sole purpose through the entirety of their lifetime, the machines would devote 100% of their attention and time to that one sole purpose. This would create a drastic rise in the quality of the data collected on that particular function. This is how the IoT came to be. Kevin Ashton, a digital innovation expert first quoted in 1999 that “If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things, using data they gathered without our help, we would be able to track and count everything and greatly reduce waste, loss and cost. We would know when things needed replacing or repairing and whether they were still fresh or past their prime.

There are so many “Things” in the IoT at the moment that back in 2008 there were already more objects connected to the internet than people and by 2020 the number of Things would increase more than 50 billion. The perfect example of a thing in IoT would be a smartphone. It constantly relays the inputs you enter into it through the internet to various servers around the world and fetches you your required information. Major Players in the tech world like Google and Samsung have foreseen the enormous potential in IoT and have already made their move. Samsung have bought SmartThings, a home company that builds smart sensors like smart garage doors for the house for $200 million. Google have bought Nest Labs, a thermostat making company for $3.2 million realizing that in the future, this could be a well-made investment.

-Applications of IoT

• Smart Homes

       

One of the main applications of IoT would be the adoption of smart homes. The interconnection every other object in the house from the Refrigerator in the kitchen to a night lamp in a bedroom, from the Automatic sprinklers in the garden to the Main Door, everything is being connected in these homes to the internet to make things more efficient and effortless. When the owner wakes up, a smart watch on his wrist sends a single to various devices across the house, scrambling them to work. His smart coffee pot has the coffee made before he could reach the kitchen so he could enjoy his fresh morning brew without any effort. As he moves from one room to another, sensors in the room detect the human activity switching of all the unnecessary devices ( i.e. lights, fans etc.) in the room he left and switching it on in the room or hallway he has entered. It has also been used on pets as smart collars are used to track a dog’s activity and send feedback to the owner on the well-being of the dog. All of this makes the daily life of the human effortless helping him to devote more time to the more important aspects in life and it also helps save power by turning off devices automatically when not in use.

• Smart Cars

IoT has been implemented in cars by connecting them via the internet to the owner and the manufacturer. The computer within the car acts as the IoT device that connects the car. It relays information on the petrol level, battery indicator, condition of the car and if any maintenance or servicing is required. It also relays information on the car to the manufacturer on the maintenance or service required and if any parts are required. This helps the owner book an appointment with the manufacturer for the servicing efficiently at the earliest and also helps make sure the manufacturer has the car parts ready and available for replacement. This makes things more time efficient and easier for everyone.

• Smart Healthcare

IoT greatly helps in the development of healthcare facilities. Patient monitoring can be done on a real time basis, thus cutting down on unnecessary visits to the hospital. It also helps in the treatment of diseases. When patients are monitored on a continuous basis, the IoT devices send real time data to the health care providers, helping them detect an onset of a disease and treat it before it gets out of hand. IoT devices can also monitor the physical condition of a patient sending immediate distress signals in case of a sudden emergency like an heart attack, helping the patient get treatment sooner, greatly increasing the chances of the patients survival.

-Disadvantages of IoT

Just like how there are two sides to every coin, The Internet of Things isn’t flawless. Along with its numerous advantages and efficient processes comes a load of risks and downfalls. Some of them being:

• Privacy and Security: Security is the biggest concern in IoT. While all the devices are monitoring and gathering your every movement and are keeping tabs on your health and daily activities, all this data is being stored. This makes it easier for certain people to gain access of personal information, invading the privacy of person involved. At any given moment, a person from the company that set up your smart home could be watching you without your notice. A hacker could gain important and personal information and use with them to their benefit or change them, making life miserable for you.
• Compatibility: At the moment, there is no international standard for IoT. Data could be transferred using various methods such as Bluetooth, USB, and Wi-Fi etc. If different manufacturers are going to be interconnected in a system, they will have to use a common method of data transfer.
• Increase in Unemployment: The unskilled workers and helpers may end up losing their jobs due to automation. This will create a massive decrease in jobs.
• Over Reliance in Technology: As generations go by, we have become more and more dependent on technology. Twenty years ago to write a paper, I would have to go down to the library and search through dozens of books for information. But now, we get everything we need in an instant by just doing a quick search over the internet. This leads us to over rely on technology. This could lead to devastation if the machinery were to fail. This is even more of a concern considering that the internet is full of glitches and is most prone to this. The addiction of technology is already at a dangerous level and we have to limit and decide how much of our daily lives are we willing to mechanize and be controlled by technology.

-Conclusion

With that being said, IoT has got great potential to completely change our future. We have to be well equipped to control it and not let it control us. Although it has got quite a few disadvantages, its advantage of making things more efficient and saving consumer time and money cannot be ignored. Time isn’t far off when we’ll be seeing IoT in every other house and office. Efforts will have to be made to combat its disadvantages and it’s up to the user to choose the kind of systems he/she wants and lifestyle he/she wants to lead. If the person cannot resist being bound by technology, it’s better for them to stay away from it. If they’ve got a health problem like diabetes or cholesterol, then IoT will help monitor them and keep them reasonably safe. Everything will have its pros and cons, we have just got to learn to live with them. As much as the machines are going to make things easier for us, we have still go to play our role to make sure things stay healthy and nothing goes out of control. As much as we try to automate and mechanize, ultimately we have still got to put in some effort. No matter how much we try, nothing is complete without a Human Touch.