“Hey, Alexa! Turn off the light”
Hold on! Did we just tell Alexa to switch off the light? Can we really control our home appliances through voice assistants? How can a device control another device just by listening to a human’s vocal commands? How does all of this work?
The answer to all these questions is really simple. Yes! By using IOT (Internet Of Things) technology we can remotely control devices and do so much more! Let’s have a deeper look into the world of IOT technology and discuss the fascinating facilities IOT has to offer us!
Let’s begin with the basics! What is Internet Of Things?
IOT is a network of connected objects that are able to collect and exchange data over the internet in real time using embedded sensors.
This is making the fabric of the world around us smarter and more responsive by merging the digital and physical universes. This new wave of connectivity is going beyond laptops and smartphones. It’s moving towards connected cars, smart homes, connected wearables, smart cities and connected healthcare.
A lightbulb that can be switched on using a smartphone app is an IoT device, as is a motion sensor or a smart thermostat in your office or a connected streetlight.
An IoT device could be as fluffy as a child’s toy or as serious as a driverless truck.
IoT applications are ruling the digital world all around and revolutionizing the computing capabilities, data collection and analytical technology.
Below are some of the most fascinating applications of IoT:
SMART TOOTHBRUSH
A smart toothbrush is embedded with high-quality sensors that capture data on brushing frequency, missed spots, the pressure applied, and so on. It helps to track all of this crucial information on the smartphone and gain insights on how to improve oral health.
FITNESS TRACKERS
Are you a fitness freak? Now, IoT-connected devices are here to help you stay fit.
Fitness trackers help to track the daily activities such as sleeping patterns, heart rate, activity patterns, workout statistics, calories burned, and so on. Armed with this information, you can monitor and plan fitness goals easily.
SMART SHOES
Smart shoes allow users to change the color of the shoe with one tap on their smartphone! With the tap of your heels, you can also send a text message to your friends, call a cab, monitor your steps, calories burned, and so on.
CHILD AND PET FINDER
The feeling of losing your loved ones, be it your kid or a four-legged member of your family, is terrifying. But, with an IoT-connected device that is connected to the smartphone, you can track their location in real-time. Thus, IoT enables you to stay in peace even when you are away from your loved ones.
SMART SHELVES
With sensors, cameras, and actuators embedded on shelves, retailers can get real-time updates on products, enabling them to replenish when needed. IoT also helps retailers get real-time alerts of misplaced products on their smart devices.
SMART GARDENING
No free time to water your plants? You can try smart gardening, instead.
With sensors embedded in the garden, we can get information on the condition of the soil, temperature, humidity level, and suggestions for the right time to water the plants. All of these data points can be easily controlled and managed on the smartphone.
INFANT MONITOR
Infant monitors give information on baby’s respiration statistics, sleeping positions, sleeping duration, body temperature, and so on.
HEALTH MONITORING
Getting periodic information about the status of your kids’ or old parents’ health has become an essential requirement these days. Now, health-tracking devices help to monitor their health in real-time. Sudden changes in temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, breathing, etc. are notified to you, thereby allowing you to take necessary actions on time.
POLLUTION WARNINGS
Smart air monitors detect pollutants emitted from vehicles in a particular region, affecting the environment. Such real-time updates to government agencies help them take required steps quickly.
SMART REFRIGERATOR
How cool it is to peek into your fridge without opening its door! This thought is no more a fantasy now! The sensors and cameras attached to new-age smart refrigerators allow monitoring spoiled food items. Additionally, it can track leftover food without opening its door.
In simple words, connecting up all the different objects, adding sensors and a level of digital intelligence to these devices, that would otherwise be separate entities thus enabling them to communicate real-time data without involving a human being is what IOT is all about.
“If you think that the internet has changed your life, think again. The Internet of Things is about to change it all over again!” — Brendan O’Brien
The future of IoT has the potential to be limitless. There are many untold possibilities of the IoT technology which can substantially revolutionize the whole world.
All this points to the fact that it’s time to deep-dive into the world of IOT!
Written by :- Swetha Ramachandran
