IoT is an exciting innovation in the world of technology. You must’ve come across this term and wondered what it means.
Our smartphones, Fitbits, and sensors are all examples of IoT devices. The interrelation among these devices creates a self-sustaining network requiring no human intervention. And that is how the IoT works. Read on to learn more about IoT and some top examples of IoT that are all around us.
What Is The Internet Of Things?
Various devices, machines, and objects come together to form the internet of things. These elements of the IoT can exchange and process information between themselves. Almost always, this interaction occurs via the internet.
IoT is much different from typical machine-to-machine communication. Let’s consider regular M2M communication. Here, data is sent from point A to point B. And that’s it. The devices can’t do anything else with it.
In contrast, IoT devices can do so much more with the data. They can communicate the data in versatile ways. The system can also analyze and act upon the data they generate.
IoT systems differ significantly depending on the sector they serve. However, a shared internet network is standard in all scenarios. Modern IoT also involves artificial intelligence. And that is making the IoT devices smarter and more independent.
Most Important Examples Of Internet Of Things
Our lives are submerged in various internet of things examples. Examples of IoT are so abundant that most of us take them for granted. Take your smart home system, for example. You may also think about the sensors at the grocery store. The Fitbit measuring your pulse is also an IoT example. Let’s sort them out in the following discussion.
Smart homes are one of the most exciting examples of IoT. Plus, these are also the ones you directly interact with. Amazon Echo and Google Nest Hub are top examples of smart home systems. These IoT devices and systems make home management easier and more enjoyable.
In addition, such IoT devices help you to conduct online shopping via voice command. These smart systems can also protect your house from fire incidents or burglary. The cameras and sensors help with that. Smart home systems help with water and electricity management too.
IoT is becoming increasingly important in the healthcare system. Wearable IoT devices like Fitbit can monitor your vital signs 24/7. Therefore, it can quickly identify an emergency like an asthma attack or heart failure. After that, it will immediately notify local authorities via the internet.
So, IoT devices can save your life during emergencies. They can also help you maintain health. For instance, wearable devices can keep track of how many steps you walked today. It can then calculate the number of calories you burned and give you a goal.
Plus, consistent monitoring of your vitals has many benefits. For instance, it helps to detect any significant disease at the earliest stage.
A business owner must ensure that customers receive their orders on time. To do that, you must monitor and track any ongoing delivery process in real-time. Well, IoT has made this possible for business managers. The interrelation between computers and IoT devices on the road can help you track your customer order effortlessly.
Analysis of business data is another major contributor to its success. However, manually collecting, storing, and analyzing such massive data sets was impossible. But IoT changed that.
Business owners can now analyze their business data better than ever before. Consequently, they can gain valuable insights into their operation. Later, they can apply this knowledge to improve productivity.
IoT has revolutionized how our cars navigate through the roads. And with further advancements in IoT technologies, traffic jams can become a thing of the past. Moreover, IoT can also reduce the number of road accidents. Plus, effective management can help save fuel, decrease carbon footprint and save time.
Google Maps and similar applications are the best examples of IoT in traffic management. Here, your smartphones work like sensors. They will be exchanging information about the roads between them. As a result, all the vehicles can sync with each other and reduce traffic jams.
IoT has significantly improved the retail experience. For instance, proper inventory management is crucial for retailers. Here IoT systems can help you with logistics and warehouse management. Because these activities mostly require the effective collection, storage, and presentation of data.
IoT devices like barcode readers and sensors are most remarkable in smart retail. They are helpful for both customers and salespersons. These devices can instantly send and store sales information on the cloud. And this happens automatically as you put things in or out of the shopping cart. As a result, you can save time and have a better retail experience.
The Internet of things can significantly increase farming success. Farmers can get a lot of helpful information through IoT devices. For instance, IoT sensors can tell them about the moisture and acidity level in the soil. It can precisely explain agricultural lands’ chemical characteristics and nutrient levels.
As a result, farmers can now make better-informed decisions than in the past. Plus, data-driven insights from the IoT systems can further help with farming commitments. These systems can also tell you the best time for sowing the crops. Advanced devices can alarm the farmer about plant diseases beforehand.
Smart power grids are one of the most critical “examples of Internet of Things.” IoT device examples in the energy sector include meters equipped with AI and sensors. Authorities can practice more control over the network by strategically placing these devices. And that can contribute to energy conservation.
Insights from IoT can help to identify various faults in the electric network. As a result, repairs and improvements are possible at the earliest hour. IoT systems can also identify patterns in consumer behavior. And based on those findings, you can adjust your usage to save electricity.
IoT devices can be of tremendous help in water management. Here, the basic technology is sensors. You can incorporate an IoT sensor into a water meter. Here, the sensor shall also have associated software. Together the system collects and stores data via the internet. Later you can analyze them to visualize the water consumption pattern in a locality.
You can use these data to find more effective solutions for water problems in that area. Also, you will be monitoring the water system in real-time through a web page. This helps you to detect leaks and faults in the system. As a result, you can prevent wastage and shortages.
IoT is helping various industries to increase their productivity. For instance, IoT helps factory owners to control industrial devices from remote locations. In addition, you can get crucial data-driven insights about your factory.
These systems make factory management more effortless than ever before. Because monitoring factories in different locations from one single interface become possible, you can also track expenses, profits, transportation, and workers in more detail.
With the advancement of IoT, smart cities are becoming commoner. IoT devices and systems manage all the essential human needs in these urban areas. In a Smart City- Smart grids, water supply, IoT-based traffic management, and similar elements- all come together.
Smart cities aim to provide a better urban experience at a reduced cost. And IoT is playing a significant role in making it possible.
Conclusion
Internet of things examples are abundant around us. And these are making our lives easier and safer. IoT devices also help us make the best use of our resources.
However, this article’s “Examples of Internet of things” are inconclusive because the future of technology holds many other promises.
Tags: internet of things, IoT, IoTexamples