IoT refers to the connection of everyday objects to the Internet and to one another, with the goal being to provide users with smarter, more efficient experiences.

1. Sysfore Technologies
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UNDERSTANDING THE
INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

2. Understanding the Internet of Things (IoT):
Smart locks, smart thermostats, smart cars — you’ve probably heard some of
these terms lately, and you’re going to hear of them even more. But what are
these things exactly — and what makes them so smart?
These devices are all part of an emerging category called the Internet of Things,
or IoT for short. The Internet of Things is emerging as the next technology mega-
trend, with repercussions across the business spectrum.
So what exactly is the Internet of Things?
At its very basic level, IoT refers to the connection of everyday objects to the
Internet and to one another, with the goal being to provide users with smarter,
more efficient experiences. It is a scenario in which objects, animals or people
are provided with unique identifiers and the ability to transfer data over a
network without requiring human-to-human or human-to-computer
interaction. A thing, in the Internet of Things, can be a person with a heart
monitor implant, an automobile that has built-in sensors to alert the driver when
tire pressure is low — or any other natural or man-made object that can be
assigned an IP address and provided with the ability to transfer data over a
network.
How does this impact you?
The Internet of things is on track to be a $71 billion industry by 2018. A future
where your refrigerator knows when you’re out of milk and your thermostat can
adapt to your personal preferences and behaviours is no longer far-fetched.
The analyst firm Gartner says that by 2020 there will be over 26 billion connected
devices.
But why on earth would you want so many connected devices talking to each
other? There are many examples for what this might look like or what the
potential value might be. Say for example, you are on your way to a meeting,
your car could have access to your calendar and already know the best route to
take, and if the traffic is heavy your car might send a text to the other party

3. notifying them that you will be late. What if your alarm clock wakes up you at 6
am and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee for you? What if
your office equipment knew when it was running low on supplies and
automatically re-ordered more?
All of these connected devices are being handled by automatic systems over a
wireless network. The result? You have a smart home, thanks to smart
appliances, as well as a smart car and a smart office. In a nutshell: you have a
smart life. Say hello to the Internet of Things.
On a broader scale, IoT is being used by cities to monitor things like the number
of available parking spaces, air and water quality, and traffic.
What is an existing IoT device?
There are many IoT devices in existence, but the Nest thermostat is probably the
most popular at the moment. This Wi-Fi-connected thermostat allows you to
remotely adjust the temperature via your mobile device and also learns your
behavioural patterns to create a temperature-setting schedule.
The potential value is that you can save money on your utility bill by being able
to remotely turn off your air conditioner, which you forgot to do before leaving
the house. There’s also a convenience factor. Nest can remember that you like
to turn down the temperature before going to bed, and can automatically do
that for you at a set time.
Who coined the Internet of Things?
Kevin Ashton, co-founder and executive director of the Auto-ID Center at MIT,
first mentioned the Internet of Things in a presentation he made to Procter &
Gamble. Here’s how Ashton explains the potential of the Internet of Things:
“Today computers — and, therefore, the Internet — are almost wholly
dependent on human beings for information. Nearly all of the roughly 50
petabytes of data available on the Internet were first captured and created by
human beings by typing, pressing a record button, taking a digital picture or
scanning a bar code.
The problem is, people have limited time, attention and accuracy — all of which
means they are not very good at capturing data about things in the real world.

4. If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things —
using data they gathered without any help from us — we would be able to track
and count everything and greatly reduce waste, loss and cost. We would know
when things needed replacing, repairing or recalling and whether they were
fresh or past their best.”