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 (IoT). These elements can exchange and process information between themselves, almost always 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 it generates.
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, which makes IoT devices smarter and more independent.
Most Important Examples Of the 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 among the most exciting examples of IoT. Plus, they are the ones you interact with directly. 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 commands. 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, they can quickly identify an emergency like an asthma attack or heart failure and 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 calories you burn and give you a goal.
Consistent monitoring of your vitals has many benefits. For instance, it helps 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.
Business data analysis 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 and apply this knowledge to improve productivity later.
IoT has revolutionized how our cars navigate the roads. 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 exchange information about the roads between themselves. 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. IoT systems can help with logistics and warehouse management, as these activities mostly require the effective collection, storage, and presentation of data.
IoT devices like barcode readers and sensors are remarkable in smart retail. They are helpful for both customers and salespersons. These devices can instantly send and store sales information on the cloud. 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 levels 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 among the most critical “examples of the Internet of Things.” IoT device examples in the energy sector include meters equipped with AI and sensors. Authorities can exercise more control over the network by strategically placing these devices, which can contribute to energy conservation.
IoT insights can help identify various faults in the electric network. As a result, repairs and improvements are possible as soon as possible. IoT systems can also identify patterns in consumer behavior. Based on those findings, you can adjust your usage to save electricity.
IoT devices can be tremendously helpful in water management. The basic technology is sensors. You can incorporate an IoT sensor into a water meter. The sensor shall also have associated software. Together, the system collects and stores data via the Internet. Later, you can analyze it to visualize the local water consumption pattern.
You can use these data to find more effective solutions for water problems in that area. Also, you will monitor the water system in real-time through a web page. This helps you detect leaks and faults in the system, preventing 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 effortless. Because monitoring factories in different locations from one interface becomes possible, you can also track expenses, profits, transportation, and workers in more detail.
With the advancement of IoT, smart cities are becoming common. 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 this possible.
Conclusion
Internet of Things examples are abundant around us. These devices are making our lives easier and safer, and they 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