Internet is about connecting people and allowing them to send and receive data.
Internet of Things (IoT) is about connecting things so they can send and receive data, without requiring human-human or human-machine interaction.
Sophisticated sensors and chips are embedded in things that surround us, each transmitting data that helps them interact.
A simple example: Imagine a car park has 100 parking bays, each with a sensor that senses (using weight of the car) whether it is vacant or occupied; these bays give their real-time status to a digital screen at the entrance, which displays how many slots are vacant.
Your smart watch or smart shoes sending data to your phone is another example.
Most of us are already seeing IoT at work today, but very advanced level of sophistication is possible and being explored by companies.
Example of high level of sophistication: Imagine you sleeping with your smart watch on.
Sensing the best moment to wake you (based on the phase of your sleep), the watch gently wakes you up by vibrating and sends a notification to the lamp (to switch on), coffee-maker (to make coffee), geyser (to start heating the water) and toilet seat (to get warm).
As you sit on the pot, the iPad facing you starts playing out news to you.
After shower etc., when you are ready and move towards the door to leave for office, the door opens automatically, sends a signal to car garage gate to open and closes behind you; your self-driving car receives you at the porch.
The above example catered to the consumer ecosystem, which could then be linked to the manufacturers’.
For example, when a warning light goes on in your car, the manufacturer’s platform can send a message to you for an appointment at a car dealership near you and at the same time, check inventory and order spare parts so you don’t have to wait.
Leading worldwide brands already offer accessories that are compatible with iPhone and android devices; these include ACs, cameras, faucets, lights, TVs, speakers etc.
While it is exciting, IoT also has various risks attached to it, especially in the areas of security and privacy.
