List of the Top and Coolest Real-World IoT Examples:
Internet of Things (IoT) represents the next phase of the internet revolution. The technology makes it possible to bring physical devices to the digital realm.
Despite the increasing prevalence of IoT, a lot of people are in the darkness about technology.
Here, we will explain the concept of IoT and also give real-life examples of networked and connected solutions that exist today.
What You Will Learn:
A Brief Background of IoT
IoT is a relatively recent innovation, but the concept can be traced back to the early 80s.
In 1982, computer science grad students at the Carnegie Melon University had connected a Coca Cola vending machine to the internet. The programmers coded an application that would check the availability and temperature of the drink.
IoT was officially recognized as a distinct technology in 1999.
Over the next few years, the application of the technology increased and IoT was being used in wireless communication, embedded systems, and micro-electromechanical systems.
IoT can be considered as a giant network of connected devices. The internet-connected devices collect data and share them with each other.
A lot of corporations are spending on IoT technologies.
According to the latest IDC report, corporate spending on IoT is expected to reach $745 billion by 2022. The above chart depicts the percentage of IoT spending by corporations, according to the IDC report.
Spending on technology is expected to reach $1 trillion by 2022. Both individuals and organizations benefit from the technology.
IoT-based solutions allow the automation of daily tasks and enable effective monitoring and control of the connected devices. This results in improved efficiency and convenience in performing tasks.
IoT Applications in the Real World
The concept of IoT technology may be simple, but the implications are huge enough.
The technology is leading a revolutionary change in health care, manufacturing, retail, energy, and agriculture industries.
A lot of corporations are adopting IoT to gain a competitive edge. They are focusing on increasing operational efficiency through real-time data management and automation of tasks. This empowers them to take a more innovative approach to grow and develop their business.
New applications of IoT technologies allow organizations to design and implement more robust risk management strategies.
Companies are leveraging from technology in the form of improved operational performance. IoT devices support advanced functions like task automation and remote control of devices. As a result, firms can maintain an optimized balance between energy usage and conservation.
By becoming more energy-efficient, companies will be able to reduce the carbon footprint on the environment.
Take a look at the video below to find out some of the promising applications of IoT technologies.
Watch Quick Video: Application of IoT Technologies
Commonly Asked Questions About IoT Application
IoT is a confusing concept for many people. In order to remove the confusion, we have compiled a list of the commonly asked questions related to the technology.
Q #1) What is a simple definition of IoT?
Answer: IoT or Internet of Things is a network of connected devices that interact and exchange information with each other. The technology allows connection of two or more devices that connect with each other and sending and receiving information through the internet.
Q #2) What are some of the applications of IoT technology?
Answer: IoT based technologies have a lot of different applications. The technologies are used in process automation, home automation, smart cars, decision analytics, and smart grids. The list of IoT applications will grow as the technology evolves in the years ahead.
Q #3) How do IoT devices communicate with each other?
Answer: An IoT device is connected through an IP network to the internet. The devices connect to the net either through Ethernet — wired or wireless — or Bluetooth.
Q #4) Is there any difference between IoT and machine to machine (M2M)?
Answer: M2M entails the transfer of information from one device to another. The term basically refers to point-to-point communication between the two devices.
In contrast, IoT is a broader term that refers to a network of connected devices supporting data integration with a specific application. It involves multi-level communication and flexible responses.
Q #5) What is the Future of IoT Technology?
Answer: The applications of IoT looks promising in the years ahead. IoT technologies will likely be used with other technological trends like artificial intelligence (AI) and automated things to deliver integrated smart solutions. The integration of technologies will create disruptions in different industries driving new opportunities.
10 Best Real-World IoT Examples
In our opinion, here are the 10 best examples of IoT based applications in today’s world.
#1) IoT Sensors
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IoT sensors consist of manual or digital sensors connected to circuit boards such as Arduino Uno or Raspberry Pi 2. The circuit boards can be programmed to measure a range of data collected from a sensor device such as carbon monoxide, temperature, humidity, pressure, vibration, and motion.
What differentiates IoT sensors from simple sensors is that they can not only gather data at different physical environments but also send data to the connected devices.
The IoT sensors allow seamless control of data through automation delivering actionable insights. They can be used by businesses for predictive maintenance, enhanced efficiency, and reduced costs.
Quick VIDEO:
Here is a quick overview VIDEO for the Basics of IoT Sensors Using Arduino
#2) IoT Data Analytics
Businesses are increasingly using IoT data analytics to determine trends and patterns by analyzing big and small data. IoT data analytics apps can analyze structured, unstructured, and semi-structured data to extract meaningful insights.
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IoT can be applied to data analytics to investigate different types of data including motion data sets, geographical data, and health care data. It can be used by businesses for predictive and descriptive analysis to improve customer knowledge, enhance operational efficiency, and create business value.
Quick VIDEO:
Here is a quick overview VIDEO for Applying IoT and Data Analytics
#3) IoT Tracking and Monitoring System
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A lot of businesses are using IoT systems for asset tracking. IoT asset tracking devices use GPS or radio frequency (RF) to track and monitor properties. The smart devices can be used for long-range identification and verification of assets.
Quick VIDEO:
Here is a quick overview VIDEO for IoT Asset Tracking System.
#4) IoT Connected Factory
Businesses can also use IoT connected factory solution such as Azure IoT for management of industrial IoT devices. The connected cloud software can be populated with different resources that allow control of a range of devices.
The connected factory solution can report key metrics data including equipment efficiency and telemetry data. The data can be gathered of assets located at different geographical locations. You can use the connected factory solution for connecting, monitoring, and to control of remote industrial devices.
Quick VIDEO:
Here is a quick overview VIDEO for Building a Connected IoT Factory Solution
#5) Smart Supply Chain Management
Supply chain managers can make improved predictions through smart routing and rerouting algorithms. Smart IoT devices connected to packages can provide instant after-the-incident facts via GPS and RFID signals that can help to make informed supply chain decisions.
IoT applications can help in mitigating uncertainty risks in supply chain management. Supply chain managers can make use of smart supply chain management programs for minimizing variance, reducing costs, and improving profitability.
The programs can help in inventory management, vendor relationship, fleet management, and scheduled maintenance.
Quick VIDEO:
Click here for a quick overview VIDEO for Application of IoT in Supply Chain Management
#6) Smart Barcode Readers
IoT barcode readers can help in better inventory management for retailers. The readers support AI-based digital signal processing. These devices can optimize the operations of many sectors including retail, logistics, warehouse, and much more.
IoT based bar card readers feature cloud data connections to connect with other systems. Using the connected bar code reader will ease the process of managing inventory.
IoT barcode readers can be incorporated into shopping carts. The readers use AI-based sensor to detect products as they are dropped or removed from the cart. The reader can transfer data to the computer automatically, and that can save a lot of time in checkout resulting in an improved experience for the customers.
Click here for a quick overview VIDEO for IoT Bar Code Reader in Super Market
#7) Smart Grids
The smart grid is another industrial application of IoT. The grid allows real-time monitoring of data regarding supply and demand of electricity. It involves the application of computer intelligence for the efficient management of resources.
Utility companies can use IoT smart grid technologies for more efficient outage management. They can use the technology to identify load distribution and improve reliability. The technology can also assist in fault detection and repairs.
With the smart grid, utilities can interconnect all their assets including meters and substations. Applying IoT technologies to the grid ecosystem allows utility companies to exercise greater control over the power infrastructure and resources. Moreover, they allow consumers with better quality access to energy.
Click here for a quick overview VIDEO for An Introduction to Smart Grid: US DOE
#8) Connected HealthCare System
IoT has numerous applications in the healthcare industry. The technology can be used to provide high-quality medical services using smart medical devices.
Also called the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT), the technology can help in monitoring and supporting vital data which can help in making clinical decisions. With IoT medical devices, medical services can be made more accessible by the populace.
IoT medical devices can help in real-time monitoring of patients remotely. The devices can report an emergency like an asthma attack, heart failure, etc., immediately to a physician. This can help in potentially saving the lives of many individuals.
IoT devices can collect health care data including blood pressure, sugar levels, oxygen, and weight. Data is stored online and can be accessed anytime by a physician. IoT automates the workflow by allowing the provision of effective health care services to the patients.
Click here for a quick overview VIDEO for Shaping Connected Healthcare System
#9) Smart Farming
Farmers can use smart IoT farming applications for optimizing a lot of different activities such as determining the best time to harvest plants, creating fertilizer profiles based on the chemistry of soil, and sensing soil nutrients and moisture levels.
IoT technologies can help in precise farming which can result in optimized production. That market of agriculture IoT device installation will likely grow at the rate of 20 percent reaching 75 million by 2022, according to a BI Intelligence report.
Some examples of farming IoT devices include Smart Elements, AllMETOE, and Pynco. These devices can detect weather conditions and other environmental data. The concept of smart farming can revolutionize the agriculture industry. Applications of IoT technologies can help to boost both the quality and quantity of agriculture production.
Click here for a quick overview VIDEO for Data Enablement: The Future of Agriculture
Conclusion
Internet of Things (IoT) offers endless opportunities for businesses. The technology has already caused disruptions in a lot of different industries. The business landscape is slowly changing with the evolution of IoT technology.
This article highlights the background of IoT technology and the ever-expanding applications of the technology. Understanding the origin and the application of IoT can put your business in a better position to make the most of the technology.
The examples of IoT-based solutions presented in this article highlight how businesses can benefit from emerging technologies. You can follow the links in this article to find out how exactly these different technologies can benefit your business.
Competition in the next decade will be largely defined by how companies leverage from innovative technologies. IoT will be the foremost technology that is expected to determine the fate of many businesses.