Interesting Developments in IoT Technology

The world we live in is highly connected beyond imagination enabling us to know what happened in the furthest corner of the world with just a few clicks. All thanks to the Internet, the information exchange is extraordinarily fast like that of a neural network.

But this requires human intervention to request and send information over the internet. With Inter of Things, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Here is a Brief on IoT before We Dig Deep into Its Development

IoT is a system of machines or computing devices connected over the internet to exchange information without any human involvement.Simply put, IoT is about connecting all the things in the world to the internet and allowing them to exchange information.

Developments in IoT that Will Make You Think Twice

  • IoT: The Fuel Of Big Data Analytics and AI

    Big Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence thrive on data. Larget the data, better the analytics and learning that leads to a better understanding of the underlying logic.

    With IoT, every device: from a surveillance camera to the moving car it shoots sends data continuously to the server. The change in data or time can be programmed to trigger a specific action. Like turning on and off the irrigation system in agriculture, dial emergency during accidents, automatically apply brakes after closing a certain distance calculated by sensors, and so.

    The constant feed of data requires big data management to keep them sorted and checked. And when fed to the AI, it can map the seemingly irrelevant data to valuable information: could change businesses and lead to better understanding.

  • IoT Goes Hand in Hand With Healthcare

    A lot of diseases go unnoticed at their nascent stages and become evident only when they become a threat to life. IoT can potentially shield the diseases from becoming potent.

    Wearable devices can actively keep track of the functions of the body and transmit the information to the server which can check if everything is normal. Even the slightest of the change in the body can be identified immediately and help can be sent if required.

    Healthy habits can also be suggested to keep the body balanced and to prevent it from falling behind in the wellness scale.

    Further, this could potentially lead to ground-breaking discoveries, for new symptoms and anomalies can also be detected at the early stage.

  • IoT and its Cloud Counterpart

    IoT-enabled devices constantly and continuously send data over the internet making it susceptible and an easy target for hackers to dwell. Or worse would be to alter the data bringing down efficiency and analytics of the entire system.

    Being a part of the information age where data is the new oil, it is imperative to secure every byte of data.Not to mention, the data stolen is rotated between the organizations and are always sold for a hefty price.

    This calls for cloud computing with which the data can be stored securely away from the reach of the online decoits. Cloud Computing also ensures that the data is sent and received on time, and thus amplifies the efficiency of IoT devices.

  • The Meteoric Rise of Edge Computing

    One of the aspects where IoT becomes cringe-worthy is that it transmits the data raw and unprocessed. This calls for the cloud to do the processing and that requires more time.

    This delay might not sound too critical as IoT is yet to be adopted by all the industries. But in the future, this could hinder the efficiency of the system. After all, it takes less than a second of data inconsistency to cause the self-driving cars to go bust.

    Edge Computing sends data to the storage points in the vicinity that takes care of processing, sorting, and filtering of raw data into meaningful information before they are sent to the cloud.

    Known for its cost efficiency and speed, edge computing serves the IoT in the best way possible to keep the latency low. The tech is also going through regular upgrades that it could potentially take the place of the cloud for IoT.

  • IoT and Blockchain for Amplified Security

    The security concerns of IoT is much imperative than what is known and emphasized at the ground level. The stakeholders’ and the public’s skeptical reviews should be relieved before IOT can cover more solid ground.

    And Blockchain does just that. The decentralized, immutable, and self-governing technology can effectively provide the security layer much needed for IoT.

    Any data once approved by the system can never be changed unless more than 50 percent of the machines in the network verify and nod to the change. But that can’t be happening as it would render the previous proof-of-work false.

    Also, unlike the centralized and authoritative data storage, Blockchain doesn’t fall apart once a link or node is broken. The information can always be fetched from other machines.

  • Smart Homes and Smart Cities

    People voice their input and the technology merged with the house responds to the command. That’s how it has been functioning until recently.

    Improvements in IOT can automatically jot the route map for the day, take precautions in the home for child safety, deploy power-saving modules, auto-adjust according to the mood and even make coffee when the inmates come home.

    Cities will also receive a mammoth’s upgrade from redirecting the traffic for a quicker commute to preventing accidents.

    Further, the government can also reach people better and ensure that their services reach and benefit people.

  • IOT Unleashes the True Potential of Marketing

    Today, marketing is already highly personalized powered by data analytics. Companies are already reaching the prospects better and have multiplied their conversion. But still, the room for improvement is towering beyond imagination.

    IoT will assist enterprises and their respective industries to leap steps in marketing and sales. With the constant stream of data pouring into the system, the companies will know exactly what is expected of them.

    They will know when their products and services are most wanted and who uses them. This, along with the insights on the customers, will also shed light on how they can improve their services.

    Or more, the IoT will also provide data on the people’s sentiment and how to capitalize on the sentiments based on the regions. Better offers and discounts can be crafted, and best of the prospects can be identified without hassles

  • A Safer Internet Ecosystem

    IoT can better identify the scammers, fraudsters, and hackers preying on the innocent and ignorant. It can also automatically block unauthorized and unverified users from accessing protected websites.

    Can warn people of the people they are talking to. If children, it can e programmed to send a caution message to the parents.Further, hackers accessing even from remote locations can be pinpointed to make the internet safe and sound.

    Wrapping Up

    Internet of Things, as a technology, empowers better businesses to thrive in the competitive world. It could also be said that IoT is a boon to business personnel and the public alike.

    The ecosystem will be easily cleansed of dirt and blemishes for honest and genuine people to live in harmony.

    The blog is but a speckle of game-changing advancements happening in the IoT.

Best Platforms for IoT development

What is Internet of Things?

The IoT is a giant network of a cluster of numerous data collected from around the environment. That includes different objects of all shapes and sizes with in-built sensors that transmit data – from microwaves to self-driving cars and fitness devices to alarm clocks.

How does IoT work?

The IoT collects data from various sources and uses that to provide a proper solution based on the user’s requirements.

For instance, you set your alarm at a specific time every day to wake up for work. However, when something goes wrong – a cancelled train or an alternate route due to bad weather, you’ll have to wake up early in order to reach your office on time. An IoT-enabled alarm collects data with the factors like driving distance, travel time for the alternate route and the current weather conditions. Based on the data, it calculates when to wake you up so you are not late for work.

Furthermore, to develop, manage and host all these applications you need a fully-functional and flexible technology infrastructure platform. The IoT development platform is a multi-layered technology that helps in management, provisioning and automation of the hardware devices connected to the IoT. The development platform helps a user to develop, deploy and manage various IoT applications. It acts as a powerful toolkit to connect numerous sensors and devices from across the world to the cloud wherein the entire data is stored for further usage.

The platforms are evaluated based on the following fundamental components –

  • Device management
  • Integration
  • Security
  • Data collection
  • Analytics
  • Support for visualizations

Best platforms for IoT development

Amazon Web Services (AWS) IoT

Owned by Amazon, the AWS IoT development platform enables the user to connect different hardware devices or the mobile application to not only AWS services but also other devices. It also helps the user to secure the data interactions, act upon the data available and even the authority to allow applications to interact with the devices even when they are offline.

The AWS IoT Software Development Kit (SDK) helps the user to enable the hardware devices to connect, authenticate and exchange data using HyperText Transfer Protocol (HTTP), Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) or WebSockets protocols. The AWS enables the user to use a source alternative and even write their own SDK.

A few of the benefits provided by the AWS IoT SDK are –

  • Device Gateway
  • Message Broker
  • Mutual authentication and authorization
  • Registry
  • Device shadow
  • Rules Engine
Microsoft Azure IoT

Developed by Microsoft, Azure is one of the topmost IoT platforms. The Azure IoT platform has been designed and developed in order to deliver the data collection and analysis in the most efficient way possible. This helps the organizations to make not only quick but also accurate decisions which in turn enables them to build more products at more competitive prices.

A few of the benefits provided by the Microsoft Azure IoT are –

  • Application services
  • Messaging
  • Condition monitoring
  • Virtual mechanisms
  • Data storage services
  • Highly efficient database management structures
Google Cloud Platform

Google cloud platform is one of the most popular platforms, which is easy to use and provides different user-friendly features. With the ability to provide advanced analytics owing to Google’s Cloud Data Studio and Big Query, this platform stands out from the rest. Google cloud’s main purpose is to provide intelligence and data security.

A few of the benefits provided by the Google cloud platform are –

  • Data management
  • Application development
  • Smart business analytics and AI
  • Productivity and work transformation
  • Expandable NoSQL database systems
ThingWorx IoT Platform

ThingWorx IoT Platform is owned by PTC – the creator of CAD. This IoT platform enables the users to gain new insights from the data sourced from various devices and at the same time, it maintains the transfer speed. It also allows the organization to upgrade or replace back-end systems without disrupting the user experience in any way. This IoT platform allows the users to connect to various devices across the network and also provides a quick analysis of complicated data and content.

A few of the benefits provided by the ThingWorx IoT Platform are –

  • Easy connectivity across the network
  • Ability to share the platform among developers
  • User-friendly interface for developing applications
  • Integrated machine learning
  • Ability to deploy embedded, cloud and on-premise IoT solutions on the go
Cisco IoT Cloud Connect

Created by Cisco, this IoT platform is mainly designed for mobile operators. This platform offers various services such as completely customizable billing and reporting system, effective and efficient data and voice connectivity, security and a user-friendly interface for managing the applications. While enabling mobile operators to enjoy IoT services, Cisco IoT can also be used to build multiple products and utilize the resources at the same time.

A few of the benefits provided by the Cisco IoT Cloud Connect are –

  • Voice and data connectivity
  • SIM life-cycle management
  • IP session control
  • Customizable billing and reporting

Paving Way for a Technology Revolution

The growth and development of technologies have always been exponential and led to wonderful results. But lately, one of the technologies, the Internet of Things, is gaining a lot of fame and many are expecting to grow to be transformational.

Internet of Things is the idea of connecting all the devices to the internet and enable information exchange to automate various processes and make better decisions.

Applications of Internet of Things in daily Life

  • Connected Cars

    While connected cars do not sound impressive, the implications are much more than transformational. Imagine how great it would be if all the cars traveling on the road can share information about each other and what they see.

    That is, if the car going in front of the traffic identifies a roadblock or something that requires the vehicle to take a detour, it will pass the message to all the cars about the block. This prompts the other cars to reroute effectively saving the time of everybody.

    It also tries its best to keep the traffic in motion and reduce congestion.

  • Super Smart Homes

    When all the home appliances become a part of the Internet of Things, a lot can be achieved.

    For example, if you had forgotten to turn off your AC or any other appliance, identifying the absence of members in the house, the IoT will instruct the devices to shut down immediately.

    If it is connected to your car, it calculates the distance and time taken for you to reach home and adjust the temperate accordingly to make it cozy for you.

    Connected to kitchen appliances, the IoT can even turn on your bread toaster or oven to cook and to quench your gastronomical thirsts as you enter the home.

  • Smart Wearables

    Smart wearables are highly in demand and are already saving lives. One of the smartwatches detected a heart problem in a 79-year-old man and it turned out to be true when consulted with the doctors.

    Smart wearables — watches, bands, or whatever is the name of the device — always remain by the side of humans gathering data such as heartbeat and temperature to identify anything and everything that can be termed as harmful to health.

  • Smart Cities

    Smart cities are well-connected cities where every one of its necessity is taken care of by the IoT. Let it be water management, surveillance, energy management, security, or even environmental monitoring — everything is attended with the help of sensors and the internet.

    Smart cities greatly reduce the basic administrative constraints such as the distribution of water and waste management, allowing human power to focus on better aspects such as construction and infrastructure.

  • Smart Agriculture

    With the help of drones and sensors, agriculture can be made much more productive and lucrative. The IoT-enabled devices can monitor the crops, pest growth, infections, and everything that concerns the yield to alert the farmers beforehand.

    It can also provide insights into the type of crops to plant depending on the expected climate, rainfall, and soil conditions.

This is but a speck of what IoT can do. The Internet of things can be applied to all industries and change the way things work. Retail, healthcare, fleet management, poultry, real estate, and whatnot.

But again, as IoT transforms the business, it attracts hackers and anomalies to enter through the cracks of the system. With the right security, the Internet of Things is just the tech we need to transcend.