As day passes by more innovative means of making life easier for man is introduced, technology has become the leading buzz in finance and a mainstream of income, we have gradually shift from industrial era to tech dispensation that requires more technicalities than excessive use of required man power output task that demands (physical work) effort. Internet of Things (IoT) emergence is one of the most transformative and promising innovations that is simplying human activities, IoT refers to the network of interconnected devices that can communicate, collect, and exchange data without human intervention, just like blockchain smart contract or block ledger that works as intermediary between financial bodies IoT communicates with Interconnected devices. These smart devices range from everyday objects like refrigerators and thermostats to complex industrial machinery and vehicles. This interconnected ecosystem is revolutionizing the way we live, work, and interact, bringing numerous benefits to various industries while also presenting unique challenges.
IoT have help limit use of junk or unnecessary wiring connection in any device. Years ago before we had IoT a car would be Interconnected with lots of positive and negative wiring this multiple wiring connection could in most cases lead to fire outbreak with little spark in any car system with IoT coming into the picture the use of sensors have improved safety and enhanced efficiency and performance of any IoT required gadgets. The working principle of the IoT lies in the seamless connection between physical objects and the digital world. Through embedded sensors, actuators, and connectivity capabilities, these devices can gather data, process it, and respond to stimuli autonomously.
Just like any other introduced technology IoT has it limitations and applications security and data breach have been a major concern associated with this new innovation although it has find broader usecase in our industry and homes improving the way we carry out our daily activities here are some applications of IoT and challenges facing this emerging technology.
Applications of IoT devices
Smart Homes: IoT devices in out homes can interact with the living space to offer great convenience, security and energy efficiency a good example is smart thermostat that learn user preferences to home connected appliances.
Healthcare: IoT devices in healthcare can be use to enable remote patient monitoring, wearable health devices, and real time health tracking. These applications can improve patient outcomes, provide personalized care, and reduce healthcare costs.
Industrial IoT (IIoT): In industries IoT devices are use to monitor and increase manufacturing processes, predict maintenance needs, and enhance operational efficiency.
Transportation: the use of smart vehicles and intelligent traffic control have been integrated into transportation system using IoT knowledge. Connected cars can provide data on road conditions, traffic patterns, and vehicle diagnostics, leading to safer and more efficient transportation.
Agriculture: IoT enabled agricultural solutions empower farmers with data driven insights into soil health, weather conditions, and crop monitoring. This data driven approach improves agricultural productivity while conserving resources.
Challenges in the IoT landscape
Like any other technology IoT devices are easily exploited and exposed to security breaches ensuring robust security measures and protecting sensitive information remains a challenge for this technology as there are reports of data breach case, IoT devices lack proper security firewalls unlike blockchain systems with blockchain integration with IoT this problem will be mitigated. Another challenge in IoT is interoperability of diverse array of IoT devices from various manufacturers which may not always communicate seamlessly with each other. Developing standardized protocols and ensuring interoperability is essential for a smooth IoT ecosystem. Data Overloading which requires massive volume of data generated by IoT devices can overwhelm systems which sometimes lead to system crashing implementing efficient data storage, processing, and analysis methods is crucial for any IoT enabled device to avoid device crashing while operating.
In conclusion IoT has been around for quite awhile and no doubt this technology has help make life easy ranging from workplace to our home used appliances although there is need for robust security measures to be put in place for this technology to thrive in this competitive economy with AI and blockchain technology there can be far more improvement on IoT usecase some organisations are already looking into integrating both technologies for better and efficient performance.
Reading References
What is IoT: The Internet of Things explained
What is the Internet of Things?