Internet of Things (IoT)
Are we ready for the world that new technologies will bring?
More than 8 billion devices are connected to the Internet of Things — IoT — and this figure is set to triple in just three years. Objects will become smart and the world will undergo a fourth industrial revolution.
A leading car maker collects real-time operating data for its 13,000 engines installed in commercial aircraft, allowing it to reduce maintenance times and anticipate failures. The device used by diabetics to measure their blood sugar levels sends the results to their mobile phones and their doctors for close monitoring. Meters and smart grids allow for sustainable and personalised energy management. And thanks to sensors, the devices recognise their environment and collect massive amounts of data.
The world has experimented a lot of changes during the last decade as consequence of technology advances. Artificial Intelligence is already here: it is present in the facial detection function of mobile phones, in virtual voice assistants such as Siri from Apple, Alexa from Amazon or Cortana from Microsoft, and it is integrated into our everyday devices through bots (short for robots) and mobile apps.
Also, there are vehicles that are able to drive by themselfs. Google developed its self-driving car — called Waymo — in 2017. Although it is a test vehicle, it can drive for long periods without any connection.
Self-driving cars will improve when the new 5G mobile communication network will be introduced — in 2020 —. It consists in a system that supports the connection and the vast amounts of data traffic from millions of self-driving vehicles. For their part, the others technology objects will be able to communicate with each other and with us.
Applications of Internet of Things
Everything will become smart: cars, homes, cities, industry... Let's look how Internet of Things will affect each one:
Mobility: new technologies will make possible traffic flow analysis, programmable signalling, car park sensors, etc.
Home: connected appliances, voice assistants, remote surveillance via mobile or remote HVAC management will be some of the advances that IoT promotes.
Intelligent city or Smart city: IoT will create more sustainable cities, capable of guaranteeing clean water, supplying realiable electricity, safe gas systems and a efficient public streetlight.
Industry: cyber-physical systems, which combine physical infrastructure with software sensors, communications and process control, etc. will be developed.
SEE INFOGRAPHIC: The Internet of Things [PDF] External link, opens in new window.
We present you some examples of this applications
Do you know than in 2020 will be 25 billion of connected devices — 28 connected objects per population — In addition, Europe will be 144 million of smart meters in the same period. By sectors, industry has the higher percent (40%); it follows health (30%); retail (8%); and security (7%).
Within a decade our way of thinking will have changed completely and our future will be hyper-connected, and most of our everyday items will be smart, making our lives easier. Welcome to the Internet of Things!