What is driving Internet of Things (IoT)?
Introduction: IoT is the new buzzword in IT industry. It will be huge in volume in different ways. So the motivating factors and driving forces are numerous. Organizations are also trying to catch the IoT benefits in different ways. In this article I will talk about the driving forces for IoT.
Overview: The Internet of Things (IoT), driven by certain important technological developments, is on its way to become the next technological wave. According to Gartner, revenue from IoT products and services will exceed $300 billion in the year 2020 and that is just the tip of the iceberg. The IoT has the potential to change our lives fundamentally. For example, if you are a cardiac patient and need to provide your heart rate information to your doctor every hour without visiting the clinic, IoT can make it possible. The doctor just needs to review your heart rate information every hour and suggest treatment. Again, with IoT, you can have intelligent lighting on the streets that adapts its heat levels according to the weather. However, for IoT to become a potent force, it needs to be first supported by several technological developments. The main objective of these technological developments may not be to support IoT, but while the developments continue to bloom, IoT is going to receive a massive thrust.
The sections below describe the different technological advancements that are driving IoT.
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Cloud Computing
IoT is going to generate a humongous volume of data and you need space to store and process the data. Only cloud computing has the potential to flawlessly and quickly process such enormous data volume. For example, when millions of intelligent devices send important health parameters to doctors all over the world, huge volume of data is generated and only the cloud is capable of processing such data. And a number of important developments have been taking place making cloud computing one of the most forceful drivers of IoT. First, identity management solutions are being developed to provide data security. Second, the cloud is becoming more efficient and scalable. To leverage these advantages, multiple platform-compliant cloud-based applications are coming up. Since IoT is not confined to laptops, desktops or mobile devices, data exchange between different platforms in the cloud is going to become easier.IPv6
With IoT, more than million devices are going to be interconnected. Needless to say, each of these devices is going to need an IP address. IPv4, the internet protocol that almost all devices are using currently is not equipped to handle the surge in demand for IP addresses. Also, the IPv4 has certain issues that can challenge the very core of the IoT. One, it is not known to be an extremely secure protocol. This can pose real risks because a lot of confidential data sharing is going to take place. Two, it has connectivity complications and issues. Three, it does not allow devices to roam in different geographical areas and yet remain attached to the same IP address. IPv6, also known as the IPv6ng or next generation, addresses all of these issues and offers more. One, it offers four times more bits on the Internet to address a device. The extra bits are capable of giving approximately 3.4×1038 address combinations. This enables it to accommodate almost every requirement for space allotment. Second, IPv6 allows each host to connect directly with other hosts over the Internet, subject to organization security and firewall policies. Third, IPv6 allows devices to remain connected with the same IP address even when it is roaming on a different geography. Fourth, though optional, IPv6 offers the IPSec feature that makes the connectivity between devices more secure.
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Sensors
Inter-device interaction is one of the salient features of IoT. It does not matter that the devices are built on different technologies. Sensors fitted in the devices enable them to interact with different devices without any issues. Sensors are at the core of IoT. For example, if you want to unlock the main door of your house, the sensor fitted in the key may unlock the door, immediately; the door sends a message to the wireless that turns the light on and the thermostat sets the room temperature to normal. These activities happen in a concert. IoT sensors are manufactured much in the same way as that of microprocessors. IoT sensors are manufactured based on the Lithography process so that several copies of a sensor can be rolled out. IoT sensors are programmed to perform only a specific task and no more. You can pair an IoT sensor with a microprocessor and attach it with a wireless radio for communication purpose.
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Marketing Automation
Much of the activities that are contributing to the becoming of IoT a potent force are sponsored by multinational giants, obviously for commercial gains. IoT can potentially provide a goldmine of customer information such as customer preferences, hobbies, electronic gadgets used, and profession. Multinational corporations can utilize the information to tailor and sell their offerings. IoT can help these corporations produce robust, customer-focused products and services. A lot of marketing automation software are coming up that are capable of automating marketing processes such as customer data integration, customer segmentation, and campaign management. Evidently, a lot of investment is being made into building intelligent marketing automation systems that can capitalize on the key information IoT devices provide. Highly intelligent marketing automation applications need key and actionable customer data and IoT is capable of providing that. Marketing automation and IoT are mutually dependent.
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Connected Device Development
We are going through a situation when a lot of investment is being poured into making devices that are capable of connecting with any device. While we know about the laptops, desktops, and smartphones, devices such as the television, lights, showers, door switches, and refrigerators are evolving into devices capable of connecting with other devices.
Analytics as Services
The emergence of Analytics as Services has given a thrust to marketing campaigns. Analytics as Services is sold on a fee or subscription basis and customers do not need to have an elaborate setup or infrastructure to use it. Analytics as Service is delivered as a web application or technology that just needs a browser to run. All that the customer needs to do is to buy a subscription and use the service. The customer may discontinue the subscription when they do not need the service. From a customer’s perspective, it is an economic and convenient arrangement. Naturally, the service has been gaining a lot of popularity. So, marketing campaigns that need more and more of the data generated by the IoT are immensely benefitting from the growth of Analytics as Service. In fact, Analytics as Service has made the marketing automation even better and more economic. So, it is like a chain — marketing automation is going to push the growth of both analytics services and IoT.
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App Explosion
Apps are at the core of IoT. Apps facilitate devices to exchange data. The explosion of apps has been taking IoT to a different level every day. Apps have been facilitating just about everything IoT stands for. The following examples of categories of Apps show just how critical they have been for IoT:
- Smart parking apps that monitor parking spaces available in a city.
- Structural health apps that monitor vibrations and the conditions of materials in bridges and buildings.
- Noise monitoring apps that monitor the sound decibels at sensitive areas such as schools, residential areas and hospitals.
- Waste management apps that can detect the levels of rubbish in containers so that the trash collection routes can be optimized.
Conclusion: In this article we have discussed about IoT and its driving forces. IoT will be coming is a big way with many more driving forces and influencers. So this article will set the back ground and conveys the message to the readers.
