What is the Internet of Things?

Today, we live in a hyper-connected world where technology penetrates every aspect of our daily life: from simple home routines to work, study, and leisure, we're fully immersed in a digital realm that rules our days. It's not just about the classic smartphone – a lifeline for most of us – or computers and tablets. Even seemingly ordinary objects, like household appliances, and our leisure and sports gear, have joined the digital party. Take wristwatches, for example, now equipped to track our body metrics.

All these innovative tech products easily fall into the category of "smart devices" that are part of the Internet of Things (IoT).

But what's the Internet of Things all about?

In simple terms, the Internet of Things (IoT), also known as the Internet of Everything, is the network of physical objects, the "things" integrated with sensors, software, and other technologies in order to connect and exchange data with other devices and systems over the internet. Specifically, these objects earn the "smart" tag because they boast a digital identity linked to their physical one through wireless communication systems like WiFi or Bluetooth. And, you guessed it, they're interconnected with each other, sharing the info they've got, gathered, or processed.

So, the concept behind IoT is essentially about ushering our everyday objects into the digital realm. It's not just about high-tech industrial tools; it extends to include the very ordinary items we use in our homes. Smart devices aren't limited to sophisticated industrial devices but also encompass the familiar things we interact with in our day-to-day routines. There's a wide array of applications for Internet of Things (IoT) technologies. Today, we delve into the realms of smart homes, intelligent buildings, futuristic factories, connected cars, savvy cities, and even eco-conscious environments, precision agriculture, efficient logistics, holistic lifecycle management, innovative retail, healthcare solutions etc.

Furthermore, the buzz around smart homes is growing. These are houses where you can remotely oversee and manage connected systems and appliances via your smartphone. The goal is to cut down on energy consumption while boosting overall comfort and safety for the people living there. Take, for example, the ability to check and adjust your lighting, heating or air conditioning, and security system, whether you’re at home or miles away. It's not just about keeping tabs on them from a distance, but also the power to activate or deactivate them even when you're miles away. And don't overlook the convenience of smart appliances: imagine coming home after a long day of work and wanting to get your oven heated up before you walk in the door. Thanks to the Internet of Things, a quick tap on your smartphone is all it takes. When you arrive, your appliance is already warmed up and good to go.

Cars can also join the connectivity party, becoming what we call smart cars. The Internet of Things enables them to link up with the digital world, delivering real-time information to the driver. Particularly, advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) leveraging IoT technology help drivers avoid accidents, plan routes, navigate tight parking spots, and much more. This connectivity extends beyond vehicles, linking up with surrounding devices such as traffic lights or news and weather centers, keeping drivers informed about potential risks they might encounter.

Outside the home context, the Internet of Things is reshaping the world of work as well. From agriculture, where new applications of smart agriculture allow monitoring microclimatic parameters to improve product quality, reduce resource usage, and minimize environmental impact, to industries at large, IoT is driving technological advancements in production sectors.

New devices embedded with sophisticated sensors, connected to the Internet, can detect and predict malfunction issues, as well as control and optimize consumption. In fact, by gathering operational data, the process of refining and improving the efficiency of production is becoming increasingly easier. Specifically, if we take a closer look at supply chains, it’s evident how IoT solutions aid in streamlining operations from start to finish. Raw materials and supplies can be tracked to ensure safety and verify their origin. The logistics of loading and shipping can be monitored in real-time, just as customers receive updates on the status of their orders or the origin of purchased products.

In conclusion, the Internet of Things is having a significant impact on business sectors, bringing about new challenges that will likely involve substantial internal changes in the future. This calls for a revolution in corporate business models, steering them towards the digital realm: all of this represents a fundamental opportunity to improve national economies and society on a broader scale.

In 2020, the number of connected IoT devices surpassed 7 billion, with experts predicting it to reach 10 billion within the same year and a staggering 22 billion by 2025. This implies that this cutting-edge network could become an integral element in people's everyday lives, contributing to an improvement in their overall quality of life.

Translated by Iuliana Cindrea

Mondo Internazionale APS – All rights reserved ® 2023

List of sources consulted for this article:

https://www.oracle.com/it/internet-of-things/what-is-iot/

https://blog.osservatori.net/it_it/cos-e-internet-of-things

https://www.sap.com/italy/products/artificial-intelligence/what-is-iot.html

https://hbr.org/2015/10/how-smart-connected-products-are-transforming-companies

https://unsplash.com/it/foto/m... (image link)