An Introduction to the Internet of Things

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a system of connected devices with the ability to transfer data without the need for human interaction. With falling internet prices and increased smartphone usage, more and more of our activities are being controlled by tech. Mobile applications are bridging the gap between man and machine, often times replacing man via the use of powerful Artificial Intelligence (AI). But what does IoT mean for us, and to what extent does it combine with AI to determine the next big thing.

Home Devices

Beyond the concept of interconnected devices in the office, home, and even in the field of sports, IoT is changing the way we live and work. Amazon Alexa, for example, helps homeowners effect changes in room temperature, volume levels on speakers, and even curate music playlists through voice commands. Alexa enables you to control your home appliances through powerful AI and wireless connections. Then, with only a spoken command, you can turn your TV set on and even start your coffee machine.

Amazon Alexa controls other devices by using itself as a home automation system. While staying dormant throughout the day, saying the word, “Alexa,” wakes the system up, giving you nigh complete control of all your home appliances from your couch. But before Alexa can operate any of these devices, the AI has to be built into the machine that allows the home automation system to tap into the device. Amazon creates its own products with this in-built API.  Now, though, it is allowing other device manufacturers to integrate Alexa’s voice capabilities into their machines to make them compatible with the system. As of September 2018, about 20,000 devices were compatible with Alexa.

Sports

Smart technologies in IoT have improved the way we appreciate sports. These days, it is possible for trainers to monitor an athlete’s performance using sensors and close-up game videos. Heart rate sensors now make it possible to record an athlete’s heartbeat before, during, and after a training session in order to create better workout sessions. Heat maps also make it possible to show a player’s movement on the pitch, giving the management team clear, verifiable data about a person’s capabilities during a game.

There are other wearable devices like the ones created by FitBit, which track personal health data like heart rate, number of steps walked, etc. Connected to a smart device, the data collected in real time helps athletes and sports enthusiasts analyse important metrics about their health.
IoT has led to the invention of smart socks that improve blood flow to the legs during sporting activities or long travel hours. AI technology in socks helps detect foot swelling by measuring temperature changes and sending the information to a smartphone via WiFi. A rise in foot temperature could reflect an incidence of inflammation, helping people with diabetes detect foot sores early enough to receive treatment.

Smart Agriculture

On the farm, IoT is helping farmers increase productivity by cutting down waste. It is not just about weather conditions that AI allows us to monitor these days. Smart technology monitors and regulates soil health and communicate said information via wireless connections to mobile devices to guide farmers in making better decisions.  Moisture content in soil can also be measured more accurately to make sure plants get the exact water they need to grow optimally. Fertilizer and pesticides can also be applied more accurately than before, reducing waste and limiting the chances of pollution in the process. Also, large-scale self-driving tractors will make it possible to harvest crops with minimal human interaction.

Smart technology is capital intensive at the moment. But with further development in AI and 3D printing, more affordable farm equipment will be created with smarter applications to help reduce global poverty and increase revenues. IoT means even cows can wear FitBits.

Future of IoT

IoT is gradually eroding the gap between man and machine. By 2020, Gartner predicts that over 26 billion devices will be connected to the internet. So long as a device has an on/off button, chances are it could be connected to the internet.

The challenges of AI are well documented. IoT could give firms unfettered access to our lives. This could lead to them making products more suited for us, or it could lead to more exploitation. There is also the risk of hacking.

However, IoT makes us smarter and more productive. It reduces waste and cuts down on energy use by directing energy to where it’s needed most. Here’s a thought on the fly: The next time you fly over the Atlantic, your aircraft might not have a pilot.