Internet Of Things: A Concept

It is human nature to marvel at technology, to flock to the new and wonderful, the mysterious, the magical, the amazing products and achievements. We all wish to be enchanted, be inspired with awe. People are excited about technology. Even people in the remotest areas of the world spend more money on technology than on the basics. According to the United Nations study, out of the earth’s 7 billion inhabitants, 6 billion have access to mobile phones. Only 4.5 billion have access to working toilets. Of the 2.5 billion who don’t have proper sanitation, 1.1 billion still defecate in the open. Oh, my gosh!

You see what I mean——we have got SO MUCH yet to do for our home, health and our planet earth——but one thing for sure, we have never been more connected!
As you’re aware, modern day internet is now available worldwide. The cost of connecting has plummeted. More devices with sensors and effectors built into them are being created with Wi-Fi capabilities. Smartphones penetration is skyrocketing, they are appearing in every corner of the world.

The Internet of Things, or IoT, simply put, is the concept of connecting any device with an on/off switch to the internet, and/or to each other. Popular examples are everyday items such as cellphones, lamps, coffee makers, headphones, dishwasher, security cameras, wearables such as Apple watches, FitBit, or medical devices such as insulin pumps, pacemakers and nerve stimulators, practically anything you can think of. It also applies to machines such as jet engines, or the control of a self-driving car.

According to the current big data, it is estimated that by year 2020, there will be over 100 billion devices connected. IoT is essentially a giant network of connected things and people. The connections or relationships will be people to people, people to things, things to people, things to things, and machines to machines.
In case you haven’t noticed, nearly everything is connected now. Almost every item in the store boasts some technological feature, interactive robots and Amazon Alexa capable of continuous learning, for example. We can talk to these devices, track them and teach them to expect our needs. Already, virtual shopping with augmented reality is here, offered by Amazon AR app, through which you can actually visualize how the product would look like in your home, eliminating the need of physically going to the store.

The economic forecasts show that IoT will continue to be a driving force in the coming years. Stellar growth is expected, with IoT making companies run more efficiently. Costs will fall and production will rise over the long term.
IoT in the automotive, life sciences, and health care sectors are projected to grow tremendously. IoT sensors, software and big data analysis will bring companies to the next level. Combining machine learning analytics and big data technology, digital sensors will transmit critical data that leads to safer working conditions, cost savings and improved efficiency.

On the home front, imagine waking up to a totally responsive home, with automation of your lighting, climate, audio, video, energy, safety, security, cleaning, air quality control, and even your daily routine all done for you. IoT and smart home technology give you the ability to control every aspect of your home from almost anywhere, at anytime. Life will change for the better. No more tedious mundane chores. There will be more time for meaningful work and creative pursuits, more time to explore the world, more time to just be with your loved ones.
On the health front, medical IoT will make medicine more preventive (instead of reactive), personalized, predictive and participatory. Wearables and home health monitoring devices will assist patients and doctors in keeping track of vital health metrics such as blood sugar, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen level in real time. Interactive and talking medical devices are very appealing to patients of all ages. They will motivate patients, improve compliance and adherence to treatments. These advances will facilitate better self-care for everyone, especially those with chronic disease, thus significantly decrease caregivers’ burden. Emergency and critical care response will be faster and more efficient. More lives will be saved and sufferings reduced.

A brighter future is definitely in store for us!