Internet of Things (IoT) has been in the news for quite a time now. Industries have been buzzing around it as it is the “Next Big Thing.” But what exactly is Internet of Things? Let’s take a look.
Internet of Things is a growing topic for some time now. It is a much talked about topic not only at the workplace but also outside the office; it is not confined to how we live but also how we work. IoT revolves around machine to machine communication, completely based on cloud computing technology and of course, Broadband “Internet” to connect “Things”. It can be described as a connecting platform for devices with an on and off button. Devices include all kind of devices; from mobile to cars to washing machine to jet planes, any and everything. With the digitization of machines, life seems to be simpler.
It is estimated that by the year 2020, there will be 26 billion connected devices. 26 billion seems to be a gigantic number! And by the year 2025, the potential economic impact of IOT will be $4 trillion to $11 trillion.
So, the hype around Internet of Things seems legit as it has the potential to deliver more than what is expected. It is a giant network of “things” which also includes humans, connecting humans to humans, things to things and humans to things.
You must be thinking why is it important to know about Internet of Things or how does it impact my life? As stated above that IoT is connecting any and everything, it has a significant impact on your life too. Let’s understand this with an example. You have a smartwatch that wakes you up at 6 am in the morning. You wake up and get ready to go to the office all by yourself. Here is the twist, Internet of Things being “smart” can ease your work. When your smartwatch wakes you up, it can simultaneously command your coffee machine to brew coffee for you and toaster to toast bread for you. When you are about to reach the office, it can command the computer to switch on. At the end of the day, you can even view your daily activities tracked by your smartwatch. This is the simplest example of what Internet of Things can do for you, it has much more in store for humankind, beyond our imagination. Smart and self-driven cars are no more a secret. What a brilliant invention it is. Imagine, you can connect your car to your smartphone and direct it to take you to your destination, inform your family or office about your arrival, take alternative routes to avoid traffic or tell your colleagues that you’re stuck in traffic and will be late by half an hour.
Internet of things has been in existence for decades. It has a lot to offer to us, a lot of opportunities, a lot of advancements and much more. IoT is a hot topic today which will bring a storm of disruption as well as a wave of opportunities. Our thinking of staying connected is limited to smartphones and tablets. But Internet of Things is beyond smartphones and tablets. It can connect the simplest device like washing machine to your smartphone.
