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Published: February 19, 2019
The Internet of Things, or IoT, promises a revolution in how we gather and apply data. Billions of objects are already part of the IoT, and every one of those objects is constantly sending, receiving, collating and analyzing data. The result is a world that’s more connected, better informed, and better organized than ever before.
The IoT exists at the system level, with several integrated components working together to make use of available data. There is almost no limit to the forms the IoT can take, but it usually consists of a few layers of operation, including:
What makes the IoT work is communication. Every part of the system communicates with each other and does so constantly, without the need for human intervention. The result is a system that adapts rapidly to changing conditions, which is something that has enormous potential in the commercial and private sectors.
The IoT has emerged from a conglomeration of various technologies, and the term was first coined in 1999 by Kevin Ashton, a technology expert with Proctor & Gamble. However, though the IoT was first named by Ashton, the concept had been noted years before. The first smart device was probably a modified Coke machine at Carnegie Mellon University that could tell remote users whether or not cold drinks were present. In the early 90s, computing experts on the leading edge were already seeing the beginnings of the IoT, and Microsoft was putting its research teams to work on leveraging its potential.
Many consider late generation supervisory control and data acquisition systems, or SCADA, to be the first true examples of the IoT. Because SCADA leverages both hardware and software components to gather, deliver and analyze data, the comparison makes sense.
However, the IoT has emerged out of many other technologies, so it’s difficult to track its exact progress. Cisco estimates that between 2008 and 2009, more “things” were connected to the internet than people, and this the true birth of the IoT for many. No matter when it was born, though, it’s only gaining in importance.
By 2025, Hewlett Packard predicts there will be more than 1 trillion devices connected to the IoT, up from about 9 billion in 2013. The IoT is growing exponentially.
The short answer is – no one really knows the extent of the IoT. It’s still a novel concept, but it appears to have nearly limitless potential. Already, it is utilized in a diverse range of applications, from home automation to enterprise-level, big data initiatives. For instance, some heavy machinery manufacturers are embedding sensors in their engines to track performance and fuel usage. Some of these manufacturers are already reducing fuel use and emissions dramatically, improving the efficiency of construction, oil & gas and shipping fleets the world over.
This is just one example, though a major one, of how the IoT can change industries and the world for the better. There are many other applications that reinforce this point, including:
Smart cities can keep track of which areas have issues with water, energy or trash services. They can organize maintenance efforts more efficiently, provide more responsive customer service and target areas of waste, all of which will improve city services. IoT can also enable stronger surveillance, with monitoring systems collecting data on crime and helping focus crime-prevention efforts.
Not too long ago, the IoT would have read like something out of a movie, but it’s far-reaching effects are very real. As the IoT network expands, so does its potential, and it’s already bringing paradigm-shifting developments to several industries and sectors. In all, although the exact future of IoT remains undecided, it’s power to affect positive change is already proven.