What is IoT (Internet of Things)?

Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects or people called “things” that are
embedded with software, electronics, network, and sensors that allows these objects to
collect and exchange data. The goal of IoT is to extend to internet connectivity from
standard devices like computer, mobile, tablet to relatively dumb devices like a toaster.
IoT makes virtually everything “smart,” by improving aspects of our life with the power of
data collection, AI algorithm, and networks. The thing in IoT can also be a person with a
diabetes monitor implant, an animal with tracking devices, etc.

What is IoT?
In this IoT tutorial, we will learn various IoT concepts like IoT basics, IoT introduction,
fundamentals of IoT, etc.
● What is IoT
● History of IoT
● How IoT works?
● IoT Applications
● Challenges of IoT
● Advantages of IoT
● Disadvantages IoT
● IoT Best Practices
● Top IoT Interview Questions and Answers

History of IoT

● 1970- The actual idea of connected devices was proposed

● 1990- John Romkey created a toaster which could be turned on/off over the Internet
● 1995- Siemens introduced the first cellular module built for M2M
● 1999- The term “Internet of Things” was used by Kevin Ashton during his work at
P&G which became widely accepted
● 2004 – The term was mentioned in famous publications like the Guardian, Boston
Globe, and Scientific American
 ● 2005-UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU) published its first report on
this topic.
● 2008- The Internet of Things was born
● 2011- Gartner, the market research company, include “The Internet of Things”
technology in their research

How IoT works?

How IoT Works

The entire IoT process starts with the devices themselves like smartphones, smartwatches,
electronic appliances like TV, Washing Machine which helps you to communicate with the
IoT platform.
1) Sensors/Devices: Sensors or devices are a key component that helps you to collect live
data from the surrounding environment. All this data may have various levels of
complexities. It could be a simple temperature monitoring sensor, or it may be in the form of
the video feed.
A device may have various types of sensors which performs multiple tasks apart from
sensing. Example, A mobile phone is a device which has multiple sensors like GPS, camera
but your smartphone is not able to sense these things.
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2) Connectivity: All the collected data is sent to a cloud infrastructure. The sensors should
be connected to the cloud using various mediums of communications. These
communication mediums include mobile or satellite networks, Bluetooth, WI-FI, WAN, etc.
3) Data Processing: Once that data is collected, and it gets to the cloud, the software
performs processing on the gathered data. This process can be just checking the
temperature, reading on devices like AC or heaters. However, it can sometimes also be
very complex like identifying objects, using computer vision on video.
4)User Interface: The information needs to be available to the end-user in some way which
can be achieved by triggering alarms on their phones or sending them notification through
email or text message. The user sometimes might need an interface which actively checks
their IoT system. For example, the user has a camera installed in his home. He wants to
access video recording and all the feeds with the help of a web server.
However, it’s not always one-way communication. Depending on the IoT application and
complexity of the system, the user may also be able to perform an action which may create
cascading effects.
For example, if a user detects any changes in the temperature of the refrigerator, with the
help of IoT technology the user should able to adjust the temperature with the help of their
mobile phone.
Also Check: Best Internet Of Things (IoT) Companies

IoT Applications
Now in this IoT tutorial, we will see various IoT applications:

IoT Applications
IoT solutions are widely used in numerous companies across industries. Some most
common IoT applications are given below:
Application Description
type

Smart Helps you to save resource on heating bills by knowing your usage
Thermostats patterns.

Connected IoT helps automobile companies handle billing, parking, insurance, and
Cars other related stuff automatically.

Activity Helps you to capture heart rate pattern, calorie expenditure, activity
Trackers levels, and skin temperature on your wrist.

Smart Outlets Remotely turn any device on or off. It also allows you to track a device’s
energy level and get custom notifications directly into your smartphone.
Parking IoT technology helps users to identify the real-time availability of parking
Sensors spaces on their phone.

Connect The concept of a connected health care system facilitates real-time health
Health monitoring and patient care. It helps in improved medical decision-making
based on patient data.

Smart City Smart city offers all types of use cases which include traffic management
to water distribution, waste management, etc.

Smart home Smart home encapsulates the connectivity inside your homes. It includes
smoke detectors, home appliances, light bulbs, windows, door locks, etc.

Smart supply Helps you in real time tracking of goods while they are on the road, or
chain getting suppliers to exchange inventory information.

Advantages of IoT

Key benefits of IoT technology are as follows:

● Technical Optimization: IoT technology helps a lot in improving technologies and
making them better. Example, with IoT, a manufacturer is able to collect data from
various car sensors. The manufacturer analyzes them to improve its design and
make them more efficient.
● Improved Data Collection: Traditional data collection has its limitations and its
design for passive use. IoT facilitates immediate action on data.
● Reduced Waste: IoT offers real-time information leading to effective decision
making & management of resources. For example, if a manufacturer finds an issue
in multiple car engines, he can track the manufacturing plan of those engines and
solves this issue with the manufacturing belt.
 ● Improved Customer Engagement: IoT allows you to improve customer experience
by detecting problems and improving the process.

Disadvantages IoT
Now, let’s see some of the disadvantages of IoT in this Internet of Things tutorial:
● Security: IoT technology creates an ecosystem of connected devices. However,
during this process, the system may offer little authentication control despite
sufficient security measures.
● Privacy: The use of IoT, exposes a substantial amount of personal data, in extreme
detail, without the user’s active participation. This creates lots of privacy issues.
● Flexibility: There is a huge concern regarding the flexibility of an IoT system. It is
mainly regarding integrating with another system as there are many diverse systems
involved in the process.
● Complexity: The design of the IoT system is also quite complicated. Moreover, it’s
deployment and maintenance also not very easy.
● Compliance: IoT has its own set of rules and regulations. However, because of its
complexity, the task of compliance is quite challenging.

Advantages:
 It can assist in the smarter control of homes and cities via mobile phones. It
enhances security and offers personal protection.
 By automating activities, it saves us a lot of time.
 Information is easily accessible, even if we are far away from our actual
location, and it is updated frequently in real time.
 Electric Devices are directly connected and communicate with a controller
computer, such as a cell phone, resulting in efficient electricity use. As a
result, there will be no unnecessary use of electricity equipment.
 Personal assistance can be provided by IoT apps, which can alert you to
your regular plans.
 It is useful for safety because it senses any potential danger and warns
users. For example, GM OnStar, is a integrated device that system which
identifies a car crash or accident on road. It immediately makes a call if an
accident or crash is found.
 It minimizes human effort because IoT devices connect and communicate
with one another and perform a variety of tasks without the need for human
intervention.
 Patient care can be performed more effectively in real time without the need
for a doctor’s visit. It gives them the ability to make choices as well as
provide evidence-based care.
 Asset tracking, traffic or transportation tracking, inventory control, delivery,
surveillance, individual order tracking, and customer management can all be
made more cost-effective with the right tracking system.
 IOT Advantages

Disadvantages:
 Hackers may gain access to the system and steal personal information.
Since we add so many devices to the internet, there is a risk that our
information as it can be misused.
 They rely heavily on the internet and are unable to function effectively
without it.
 With the complexity of systems, there are many ways for them to fail.
 We lose control of our lives—our lives will be fully controlled and reliant on
technology.
 Overuse of the Internet and technology makes people unintelligent because
they rely on smart devices instead of doing physical work, causing them to
become lazy.
 Unskilled workers are at a high risk of losing their jobs, which could lead to
unemployment. Smart surveillance cameras, robots, smart ironing systems,
smart washing machines, and other facilities are replacing security guards,
maids, ironmen, and dry-cleaning services etc.
 It is very difficult to plan, build, manage, and enable a broad technology to
IoT framework.
 Deploying IoT devices is very costly and time-consuming.