The Internet of Things (IoT) is defined as a network of devices that feed data into a platform to enable communication and automated control. It connects physical devices to digital interfaces. This article lists the top 10 applications of IoT. Show
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The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of devices that feeds data into a platform to enable communication and automated control. IoT connects machines to other machines as well as people. It primarily connects the physical to the digital. Application of IoT This seamless connection between machines, humans, and data means that IoT simplifies, improves, and automates processes. Sensors, coupled with connectivity and artificial intelligence, have the potential to make several systems more efficient. It cuts costs in areas that were historically not possible. According to the March 2022 update of IoT Analytics’ Global IoT Enterprise Spending Dashboard, the IoT market size is projected to expand at a CAGR of 22% to reach a valuation of $525 billion by 2027. The reason for such proliferation of IoT solutions is mainly the advancement of technology. Low-cost, low-energy hardware such as sensors and RFID tags are abundant now. Wireless networks and newer cellular networks ensure the high bandwidth required to run an IoT system. Machine learning algorithms have become complex and advanced, rendering quick data analysis. Also, cloud computing allows systems to store, transfer, and analyze data with ease. Besides technological advancements, current global problems require that all industries look to the Internet of Things for solutions. For example, ‘The Climate Pledge’ is an initiative that international organizations such as Mercedes Benz, Amazon, Microsoft, and Unilever have aligned with. It states an ambitious goal of zero net carbon emissions by 2040. Rising extreme weather events such as wildfires and floods have played a part in leading to this initiative. Companies are investing in IoT-based energy and resource management to make this a reality. On a bigger scale, governments are waking up to the need to reduce fossil fuel consumption. Leading automotive companies such as Ford are working on doubling their electric fleets. This increase in electric vehicles has also triggered smart grids and smart city planning investments. The pandemic accelerated the adoption of remote work, telemedicine, remote education, and the automation of several primarily manual processes. Cloud vendors such as AWS are increasingly focused on the IoT cloud to keep up with these changes. These clouds enable communication services and industry-specific solutions for organizations building or consuming IoT systems. As a result of these factors, boundless applications are popping up in the IoT space. Some are still experimental, while others are well-established. All of them are poised to disrupt whichever industry they aim to serve. The following section reveals the top ten Internet of Things applications worldwide today. See More: What Is Machine Learning? Definition, Types, Applications, and Trends for 2022 Top 10 Applications of IoT in 2022Some of the most explored applications of the Internet of Things are: 1. Creating better enterprise solutionsLarge enterprises have dedicated IT staff to create, maintain, and monitor their technology infrastructure.
2. Integrating smarter homesThe most visible application of the Internet of Things is a smart home. A smart home uses sensors to control and maintain lighting, resource management, and security systems. A smart home is a smaller, independent version of a smart city. An example of an IoT-based smart home system is Mark Zuckerberg’s Jarvis. Zuckerberg’s smart home system uses natural language processing for the contextual processing of voice commands. He has internet switches to operate the appliances plugged into them. The system takes care of lighting rooms based on occupancy and even playing personalized music based on who is in the room. His security system uses facial recognition to alert the family of the identity of their visitors. 3. Innovating agricultureAgriculture, as an industry, could massively benefit from the Internet of Things. The world’s human population is estimated to grow to around 10 billion by 2050. As such, governments are prioritizing the scaling up of agricultural systems. This, combined with climate change, has farmers marrying technology to cultivation.
Cainthus, a Dublin-based vision company, uses predictive imaging to monitor livestock. It tracks key data such as food and water intake, behavior patterns, and heat detection. Farmers can use this information to decide milk output, reproduction management, and overall animal health. It even boasts proprietary software to recognize animals based on hide patterns and facial recognition. 4. Building smarter citiesA smart city is an urban city that uses sensors and cellular or wireless technology placed in ubiquitous places such as lamp posts and antennae. There are multiple facets in which one can incorporate IoT into the functioning of a city:
In 2017, Spain announced that it was turning its Balearic islands into an IoT lab. Sensors have been deployed on existing TV and radio masts to track air and noise pollution levels. Officials also plan to use IoT for tourism and crowd management. In Palo Alto, California, a smart parking system has been implemented across parking spots in the city. It guides drivers to the nearest parking spot and has proven to reduce traffic congestion. 5. Upgrading supply chain managementSupply chain management (SCM) is a process that streamlines the flow of goods and services from raw material procurement to the customers. It involved inventory management, fleet management, vendor relationships, and scheduled maintenance. During the pandemic, many businesses were affected by supply chain issues, especially when it caused a global shutdown in early 2020. As operations switched to being remote, it made sense for organizations to consider integrating IoT into their SCM processes.
IoT in fleet management provides end-to-end connectivity between the vehicles and the managers, as well as the vehicles and the drivers. Besides asset management, IoT also takes care of vehicle health, ensuring regulations, such as those for pollution emissions, are followed. 6. Transforming healthcareThe pandemic has accelerated the use of IoT in the healthcare industry. The Internet of Things provides a much more efficient link between patients, doctors, and pharmaceuticals. The traditionally reactive medical cycles can now be proactive.
See More: Top 11 Facial Recognition Software in 2021 7. Installing smart gridsUtility companies are turning to IoT to make energy provision more efficient. Appropriate sensors are installed in energy meters, transmission lines, production plants, and distribution points. This IoT system is called a smart grid. Smart grids leverage the Internet of Things for many use cases:
Everyday users can analyze their energy usage and bring about positive changes in their carbon footprints. It also helps cut down costs when energy costs peak, as it did across Europe because of the Ukraine-Russia war. Energy can be created at traditional power plants and solar and wind power plants. Smart grids allow seamless switching between these different power sources. They ensure that the correct parameters, such as voltage, are maintained while doing so. As with every other IoT system, smart grids enable predictive maintenance. This cuts down costs considerably. 8. Revolutionizing wearablesAnother visible implementation of the Internet of Things is wearable technology. Wearable technology includes smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart eyewear, and even linked fabric.
The most prominent example of wearable IoT technology is the Fitbit. The Fitbit tracks user activity and sleep patterns to encourage a healthy lifestyle. 9. Integrating connected factoriesThe Internet of Things is all about giving physical devices more digital prominence. What better application for this than on a factory floor? Industrial IoT (IIoT) is the Internet of Things at a factory level. IIoT is often referred to as the fourth wave of the industrial revolution or Industry 4.0.
Volkswagen has decided to turn its main plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, into a smart factory. It has enlisted Nokia to create an IoT system centered on a standalone 5G network. It is currently testing smart factory use cases to fine-tune and discover new capabilities. 10. Reshaping hospitalityThe hospitality industry has had several upheavals due to the unprecedented pandemic. The cost of staff and upkeep did not keep up with the travel restrictions placed across the world.
The YOTEL hotel in Singapore boasts of all these IoT systems. They also have adjustable smart beds, adjustable lighting, and smart TVs. The hotel even has robots to perform basic housekeeping tasks. IoT trends such as self-driving cars have not been included here. While they have been in play for a while, there is a lot more work left to make it a seamless reality. Self-driving cars and countless other applications are those that the world looks forward to in the near future. See More: What Is IoT Device Management? Definition, Key Features, and Software TakeawaysThe Internet of Things has already started changing how we work and live, even if it isn’t entirely obvious. There are bigger innovations to come, and industries and governments are gearing up for this. Acts such as the European Data Act foresee issues with the continuous data flow involved in IoT systems. This particular set of laws would allow users to gain more control of their data, even letting them choose to share data with third parties. The world is playing catch up. It would be prudent for organizations to invest time and research into how the Internet of Things could serve them. Did this article help you understand the top applications of IoT? Tell us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. We’d love to hear from you! MORE ON IOT
Which of the following is not an example of the Internet of Things?1 Answer. Any device or element which requires human intervention is not considered as an IoT. So, I have listed here certain products that are not an element of IoT and they are: Desktop, Laptops, smartphones, TV, DVD player, etc.
Which of the following would be an example of an Internet of Things IoT device?Internet of Things Devices & Examples
Amazon Echo and Google Home – Smart Home: AI voice assistants like the Amazon Echo and Google Home are some of the most popular connected devices in consumer IoT.
Which of the following is not a best practice to ensure IoT devices are physically secure?Which of the following is not a best practice to ensure IoT devices are physically secure? Deploy only authenticated devices.
What devices are considered IoT?Anything that has a sensor attached to it and can transmit data from one object to another or to people with the help of internet is known as an IoT device. The IoT devices include wireless sensors, software, actuators, computer devices and more.
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