In simple terms, the Internet or Things or IoT is the
basic concept of connecting any device with an on and off switch to the Internet
or to each other. This includes everything from cellphones, coffee makers,
washing machines, cars, lamps, house lights, gadgets, and almost anything else
you can think of. This also applies to components of machines, for
example the drill of an oil rig or the trip switch of an electrical grid. In short,
if it has an on and off switch, then chances are it can be a part of the IoT.
Some IT analysts predict that by 2020 there will be over 26 to 100 billion
connected devices.
How Does This Impact All Human Beings?
IT analysts today see the future as, “Anything that can be connected,
will be connected.” Imagine that, for example, you are on your way to a meeting
so your car can access your smartphone calendar and already know the best route
to take. If the traffic is heavy, your car can send a text to your office
notifying them that you will be late. Or perhaps your alarm clock wakes you at
6 in the morning and then notifies your coffee maker to start brewing coffee.
Or your office equipment knows it is running low on supplies and automatically
re-orders from the supplier. Or your gadget or smartphone tells you when and
where you were most active and productive in the workplace and shares this
information with other devices that you used while working.
Lack of Universal Value
Unfortunately, most of the human race still cannot fully embrace the
concept. This comes down to the current lack of any universal value
proposition, and is not the fault of the technology. Remember that consumer
education is an important part of the mix. Rather than expecting people to understand
the need for IoT devices, companies need to get easy-to-use IoT devices into
the hands of people to demonstrate their potential. However, browse through the
IoT section in any technology store and you will be presented with an
overwhelming array of strange devices with even stranger instruction manuals.
No Centralized Platform
Developers have been the driving force behind the Internet and the
mobile revolution. However, the current lack of a centralized platform for the
IoT is the main reason for the slow growth and creativity for IoT, but is
common on mobile devices. For example, in Android and Apple app stores, there
is a constant hub for experimentation and development. Currently 93% of
developers focus on producing apps for smartphones because they make more money
while there is almost zero development into even a centralized platform for IoT
because it has yet to prove being a moneymaker.
No Interconnectability and Universal IoT Protocol
Another major issue for IoT developers relates to inter-device
compatibility. Until connectivity is standardized, consumers will continue to
face technical difficulties when trying to get their devices to interact,
especially in the home environment where smart objects are very likely to come
from a range of different suppliers and have different communication protocols.
Security
Not only do people need to
understand about IoT, but they also need to be sure that the devices they are
using are secure. This has been probably the biggest concern over IoT for many,
especially in the light of recent news on high-profile hacking on Internet-enabled
cars. Thus, IoT developers must recognize that every device is a potential
target, which is what makes IoT
security such a critical issue, before it is publicly adopted.
