What does IoT stand for?
IoT stands for the Internet of Things.
What is the Internet of Things?
The Internet of Things is a concept. It is more like a vision where all devices in the world are connected to each other. These connected devices then use industry standard protocols to communicate with each other and with us. In other words, IoT aims to increase the M2M interaction.
How is it possible to connect billions of devices?
Cloud. All devices will be connected with each other over the cloud. Experts estimate that there will be around 25+ billion connected devices by 2050. IPv6 has the capability of providing 340 undecillion (i.e. 340,282,366,920,938,463,463,374,607,431,768,211,456) IP addresses for connected devices.
Isn’t IoT a thing of the future?
Yes and No. The concept of machines interacting over the internet has been around for quite some time. The very first practical example was a Coke vending machine in 1999. But, the concept is now on its way to becoming a reality by the availability of IPv6 and fast wireless network protocols.
Is Home Automation the only benefit of IoT? In that case, do I really need it?
No. Home automation is one of the benefits of IoT. Apart from it, it is possible to connect almost every device in the world. The applications ranging from personal healthcare to environmental safety are limitless.
Who invented the IoT?
Contrary to popular belief, IoT is not a technology. It was not invented by one individual. IoT is a vision which has been around since the times of Nikola Tesla. The term, ‘Internet of Things’ was coined by Kevin Ashton, the director of Auto-ID sensors.
What is M2M? Why is it so important?
M2M represents any technology that enables Machine to Machine communication. A simple example is when a vending machine informs the distributor machine about low units of a product.
M2M is at the core of the Internet of Things. It is estimated that the current M2M market will expand from $121 billion to a $948 billion business by 2020. (Source: Cisco, http://teqy.co/facts-internet-things-infographic-exigent/)
What enables an ordinary device to become connected?
Connected devices have sensors attached to them. These sensors along with a network are what make a device connected. The sensor records and collects data only to send it over the network a Cloud application to make a decision.
What are the major components of connected devices?
The major components of connected devices are: sensors; network; cloud and the things!
In a simplistic scenario, a sensor is attached to a thing. The thing might be any machine or an object of interest. The sensors collect data by monitoring the activities of the device. The collected data is sent over to the cloud platform via the network. The cloud platform makes decision on receipt of the data.
When can we expect to see connected devices out there?
Connected devices have already started making an appearance in the market. Wearables like the Apple Watch, Moto 360 that connect to your smart phone and track your activities are examples of connected devices. Apart from that, several concepts are in the making. For example: driverless cars, smart homes, etc.