IoT refers to a network of physical devices (aka. things) that interact with the environment, to collect and exchange data over a network, usually, the internet.
Examples:
- Smart home appliances (smart thermostats, refrigerators)
- Wearable health monitors
- Smart traffic systems
- Smart agriculture (soil moisture sensors, automated irrigation)
- Industrial sensors in factories
Impact of IoT on Society
- Automation
Devices automatically perform tasks based on sensor data. - Remote monitoring
Systems can be controlled and monitored over the internet. - Data-driven decisions
Continuous data collection enables analysis and optimization. - Improved efficiency
Resources such as energy and time can be managed more effectively.
History
- 1970s: Early concepts of intelligent devices emerged with microprocessors and microcontrollers.
- 1989: A modified Coca-Cola vending machine at Carnegie Mellon University became the first Internet-connected embedded device.
- 1999: Kevin Ashton coined the term Internet of Things.
- Early 2000s: Technologies such as RFID and cellular communication enabled large-scale IoT deployment.
- 2010s onward:
- Availability of low-cost embedded processors
- Expansion of mobile communication networks
- Growth of consumer IoT devices.
Originally the Internet supported people-to-people communication. As embedded devices became smarter, communication expanded to machine-to-machine (M2M) interactions.
Related Concepts to IoT
Several related terms describe technologies or frameworks closely associated with IoT.
- Internet of Everything (IoE)
connects people, data, processes, and things. - Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication
direct communication between devices. - Web of Things (WoT)
integrates IoT devices with web technologies. - Industry 4.0
smart manufacturing and industrial automation. - Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
IoT applied in industrial systems. - Pervasive computing
computing embedded in everyday environments. - Intelligent systems
systems capable of automated decision making.