What is "Internet of Things?"

IS “INTERNET OF THINGS” THE NEXT BIG THING?

The internet has been around for some time, almost 40 years, but more useful by public in the last 10-15 years. The term internet has not been new to us, but people often get confused when they hear a relatively new term/technology called “Internet Of Things.”

While internet is generally understood as electronic network of computers that links the computers (desktop, laptop, tablets, or phones etc)  worldwide sharing information very fast.

The terms internet of things or IoT as it is commonly written, is a vast network of physical devices that have an IP address (i.e. it can be connected to internet), and has an on/off switch.  These devices can be any small or large devices like cellphones, airplanes, coffee machines, ATMs, cars, audio system, video camera or almost anything.

In the next 4-5 years, the internet of things is expected to connect 26 billion devices worldwide, that is around 4 times the world’s human population. That means for every living individual on earth, there will be 4 devices connected via IoT.

How does it help you, and why it may become necessary.?

The IoT applications can help us in most complex to most simplest situation. For example,

• While you are stuck in a traffic jam, your car sends a message to the person you are meeting about your expected arrival time or even switches on AC in your office.
• Your wrist watch measures your pulse, BP etc and automatically sends abnormal recordings to your doctor.
• You set up an alarm for 6 am, and as the alarm rings, the water heater in your bathroom automatically starts.
• You left your office light on and office device sensing that nobody is in there, can send you message and you can switch off office lights from your mobile.

Internet of things and its applications is in its early stages, and a lot would be developed and reveled over time. How practical, reliable, and safe many of these solutions can be, will also be tested by the test of time. However, one thing can be said for now is that after ecommerce, and social media power in recent years, it is the power of Internet of things which is the next thing to be unfolded.