The Impact of the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is currently in a transition phase. While some applications are embedded with IoT, many others have yet to reach there. Regardless, it is safe to say that IoT will change our lives irrevocably.

The term IoT refers to physical objects equipped with sensors and processing capabilities that connect and exchange data with other electronic systems or devices with the help of the internet. There has been a massive proliferation of smartphones across the globe in the past decade or so. This has coincided with advancements in both home internet as well as mobile internet. Before smartphones, no devices other than computers were connected to the internet. These days, many appliances and devices can be controlled with a smartphone. These include AC thermostats, lighting fixtures, and smart home security systems.

The IoT has already had some impact on some aspects of our daily lives. Here are some of the areas where we believe IoT will have the greatest influence.

Health Care

Health care is a vital part of any society. Technology has played a huge role in improving healthcare for everyone involved. Unsurprisingly, the IoT is expected to play a leading part in enhancing healthcare even further.

Cost is one of the biggest factors that hamper the delivery of healthcare services. Wearable devices, which can be controlled with an internet connection, will play their part in keeping these costs down. These devices will be equipped with RFID chips and data-collecting sensors. IoT solutions will allow hospitals to keep a better check on their resources and will optimize patient care. So it is a win-win situation for everyone involved.

IoT in healthcare will not just be limited to hospitals. It will come into play even when people are far away from health centers. For example, if a patient is running low on some medication, IoT technology can be used to notify physicians. Patients can then schedule appointments with their doctors. This will have multiple benefits for both patients and doctors. It will reduce the chance of patients running out of medicine. Whereas, doctors will know if their patients are being regular in taking the medication prescribed to them. Doctors can also remotely monitor things like the blood pressure and sugar levels of their patients, thus saving time and money for everyone involved.

Driving and Traffic

Driving is one of those activities that we do every day but do not particularly enjoy. Fortunately, the IoT is likely to make this daily experience bearable in the not too distant future. Currently, traffic lights have a timed routine as they switch from red to green for a pre-determined amount of time. With IoT technologies, traffic lights will become more dynamic by adjusting to real-time traffic conditions, such as when police vehicles or ambulances need to be given a clear route to reach emergency sites.

Roads will be equipped with weather detecting sensors. These sensors will adjust the speed limit based on changes in weather conditions or prior history of accidents on a particular road. All these variables will be communicated to drivers in their smart cars. They will see these updates on the dashboard of their cars while they are driving.

Smart cars will have sensors for other purposes as well. They will be able to gauge the engine performance of cars, find parking spots, detect any problem with your car and automatically call for assistance if required. With this increased connectivity, we will soon have driverless cars. So driving experience will change considerably.

Groceries

Refrigerators even today are a lot more advanced than say 10 years back. You can buy smart refrigerators that come equipped with interior cameras. The devices will be connected to your home internet service. The cameras will communicate if you are running out of common grocery items, like eggs, butter, or milk. You will receive a grocery list on your phone so you can replenish these items.

Grocery stores will also get in on the act. Their application will be synced with smart refrigerators. They will also send messages to their customers reminding them to add groceries and other products to their purchase lists. They will do this based on predictions on when you will run out of grocery items and also your prior purchasing patterns.

When customers are shopping in grocery stores, they will get messages on their phones, prompting them if they forget to buy something on their grocery list. This means there will be no annoying second trip back to the grocery store.

Energy Consumption

Although great progress has been made in exploiting renewable energy resources, we are still heavily reliant on non-renewable energy resources. Not only are non-renewable energy resources finite, but they also cause damage to the environment. So it only makes sense to limit our energy consumption whenever possible.

The IoT will also play its part in making the world go green. Energy-heavy appliances will automatically adjust to power-saving mode during peak electricity consumption hours. Smart lights and AC thermostats will be equipped with machine-learning mechanisms, which will familiarize itself with your habits. These smart devices will be able to create the most optimal energy-saving setting to match your lifestyle.

If you’re away from home, your AC thermostat will adjust your home temperature to save energy, and then switch to an optimum temperature right before your arrival back home. These appliances will also be able to detect when your house is empty. So they will automatically turn off. This is a win-win situation for people as well as the environment. We will get reduced electricity bills. The environment will also benefit from unnecessary power consumption.

Into the Future, We Go!

IoT is becoming more popular with each passing day. Innovative advancements are occurring so rapidly that IoT is becoming more ubiquitous and accessible to the general population just like affordable internet with hyper-fast speeds. The influence of IoT is on the rise, and the smart thing to do is invest in smart devices and fiber-optic internet to keep up with the future and normalize the hyper-convenience that we’ve been dreaming of for decades.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you define IoT?

IoT is a system that tracks real-world interactions. It provides data that enriches aspects of our personal and professional lives. IoT creates business opportunities as well. IoT uses data from our physical world to create insights that lead to practical applications.

What is an example of an IoT application?

Smart home security systems are an example of IoT. Security cameras and motion sensors are connected to the internet for them to function. Security systems are getting increasingly automated. Going forward, more security technologies will be connected to the internet.

What are some examples of smart devices?

Smartphones are the first thing that comes to mind when talking about smart devices. They have a user interface and sensor chips that collect real-world data to assist in building IoT networks. There are other examples of smart devices as well, such as cars, watches, and refrigerators.