The IoT (Internet of Things) is a network of physical devices that can transfer data to one another without any human intervention. These aren’t limited to computers or machinery. Anything with a sensor assigned a unique identifier (UID) can come under IoT. The ultimate purpose of the IoT is to create self-reporting devices that can communicate with each other and users in real time. The term IoT was coined by Kevin Ashton in 1999. Billions of devices are connected to the internet, collecting and sharing information with one another. They range from smart home setups like cooking appliances and smoke detectors to military-grade surveillance equipment.
The Functional Blocks of IoT are the foundation or the building blocks of the IoT ecosystem. Some of them are sensors/actuators, connectivity, security, services, etc. These are responsible for the sensing, verification, actuation, management, and communication of IoT systems.
The devices of functional blocks of IoT handle interactions between a web server and the client, enable controls and monitoring functions, manage data transfer, and secure the IoT system through authentication and various purposes. They offer an interface for monitoring and managing various tasks of IoT.
Types of IoT applications
- Consumer IoT
These are personal and wearable devices that connect to the internet. These devices are also called smart devices.
- Industrial Internet of Things (IoT)
This refers to the system of interconnected devices in the industrial sector. Examples include manufacturing machinery, devices used for energy management, etc.
- Commercial IoT
These include the tools and systems used outside of the home. Examples include commercial IoT for auditable data trails and consumer management used by businesses and healthcare organizations.
Some examples of the Internet of Things
- Smart home devices- these are interactive electronics that use wireless connections to understand human instructions. These systems can work autonomously to assist you with daily tasks. Examples include thermostats and home security systems.
- Wearable technologies- these connect to other devices to share data and also connect to the internet to track GPS locations. Examples include smart watches, Fitbit, and Apple Watches.
- Personal medical devices- These help to monitor and share a patient’s vital signs or detect early signs of health issues for fast intervention from remote locations. Example pacemaker.
- Autonomous vehicles- an example is self-driving cars and other connected vehicles. It relies on the internet to share real-time information. It has sensors throughout the vehicle that help to map the surroundings, transmit camera footage, and respond to traffic signals.