What is this IoT anyway?

It’s exciting – machines that can communicate with each other independently; information that can be collected, stored, transmitted and evaluated automatically, precisely and repeatedly. IoT –  the “Internet oft things” – is a collective term for the networking of intelligent objects with one another and with people. The technological developments enable objects within their networks to act partially or even completely autonomously. Sensors measure, collect data, convert, evaluate and communicate with other devices.

The very first device to be connected in this way was a soft-drink machine, which told the network’s programmers when a cold drink was ready for them. With the miniaturization of RFID tags and the worldwide popularity of smart home technologies, the only question left today is whether you want such a “thing” in a network or not. Will your washing machine soon be broken? She could tell you weeks in advance that she needs a repair.

IoT is getting more and more complex and basically gets along quite well without constant commands from humans. And it’s growing rapidly! Broadband Internet and ever cheaper sensors make it possible to equip devices in the lowest price segment with intelligent technology. Anything you can connect to a network, you will connect to it sooner or later. Toasters, road surfaces, signs of fatigue in the tie rod of your car, soil moisture on the farm, lime deposits in a water heater – the condition of everything you can imagine, the IoT will eventually bring to the table. This is how IoT finds its way into absolutely every area of life.

According to market researcher Gartner, there will be about 26 billion devices on the Internet by 2020. And these generate masses of data that can be evaluated, converted and used for new services.

IIoT

B2B (business-to-business) applications are also increasing. Companies can now monitor their own factories and supply chains with IoT services. Smart Manufacturing or Industry 4.0 is therefore a direct consequence of IoT. Tailor-made systems, which can monitor and control every company or project, make manufacturing and industry leaner and leaner, and the optimization capacity is constantly increasing.

And of course there is a dark side. IoT provides many users with technologies they do not fully master or understand. This can lead to acceptance problems or complete rejection or even to mistakes. And, of course, abuse and unauthorized external intervention are also possible.

But no matter how uncomfortable we may feel about IoT, the IoT is already there and will remain there for a while. Only the costs seem to set limits to the Internet of Things at the moment. The number of possible applications in all conceivable areas of manufacturing, defence, aerospace, supply chains, construction – to name but a few – is currently not limited. This applies to the industrial sector as well as to your private life.

Sinfosy helps you get started with Industry 4.0 by providing you with customized IoT components: sensors, microcontrollers and front-end control systems such as tablets and apps that take control. No physical intervention in your infrastructure is required. The data is encrypted to prevent unauthorized access and automatically stored in a database for later analysis and reference. Learn more…