A Simple Guide to the Internet of Things
By: Jalisha Yap
Tags: Smart Cities, Smart Home, Internet of Things, Technology, IoT

Photo by Nastya Dulhiier on Unsplash

You’re late. You’ve overslept, and now you’re rushing to get to work on time. As you frantically pull out of the driveway and hit the road, you realize you forgot to lock the front door. Not to worry. Your home is monitoring your phone’s GPS location and knows that you’ve left. Immediately, the doors lock, and the security system activates. All the lights turn off. The thermostat even decreases the temperature to conserve energy.

But wait… this sounds too good to be true, right? Well, thanks to the Internet of Things (a.k.a. IoT), remotely controlling your home is now possible.

Per its namesake, IoT is a network of devices connected to the internet and each other. It makes “dumb” objects become “smart” by enabling them to collect, share, and receive data through the internet.

Let’s dive into how IoT works and how it’s used in the real world.

Components of an IoT System

Sensors and Devices

An IoT device uses sensors to monitor and collect information on their surroundings. Sometimes sensors are part of a device that has functions aside from sensing. Your phone, for example, has several sensors like a camera and GPS. But your phone itself doesn’t just operate as a sensor.

Connectivity

Once the device gathers information, the data is sent to a cloud platform. They’re connected to the cloud through different communication methods such as satellite networks, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi.

Gateways

Devices can connect to the cloud through gateways. While not necessary, they are helpful. Sensors and devices can sometimes generate so much data that it’s too expensive and overwhelming to transmit. Often, only a small percentage of the data is actually useful, like how a security camera doesn’t need to send footage of a hallway when it’s empty. Gateways act as a bridge between devices and the cloud. They can filter and process the collected data before sending it to the cloud, minimizing the required transmission, processing time, and storage capacity.

Data Processing

When the cloud receives the data, it can process the information but also analyze it in detail. The processing can be simple, like reading the temperature, or complex, like analyzing a video feed.

User Interface

After the data is processed, it’s sent to the user. Most of the time, the individual can use an interface such as an app or web browser to act on the system. For instance, they could turn on and off the lights in their home remotely through an app. In some cases, the system could also automatically perform an action based on the information it received without waiting for directions. Such as if it senses an intruder in the house, it may immediately alert the police.

Real-World Applications of IoT

The Internet of Things is changing many different aspects of our lives. Here are some ways IoT is shaping our future:

Smart Homes

A smart home enables you to remotely control and even automate the appliances in your house. Turn on the lights, change the temperature on the thermostat, and view the home surveillance all with your phone. Smart homes can help people reduce energy usage, ultimately saving them money as well.

Smart home company Nest has a thermostat that learns your preferred temperatures.

Smart Cities

Cities can use IoT to improve security, waste management, and pollution. Some cities have already implemented IoT systems to better the lives of their citizens. In Palo Alto, California, parking areas have sensors that alert drivers when a spot is available. This saves people time looking for free parking spaces and reduces traffic congestion.

Palo Alto, California

Recap

IoT is a network of connected devices that collect, share, and receive data via the internet.

Sensors and devices collect data then transmit it to the cloud where it is processed, then sent to the user. The user can control an IoT system with an interface such as an app.

IoT can be applied to almost every aspect of our lives and will greatly impact our future.

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