Overview

We used to connect people to the internet (Email). Then we connected pages (Web). Now we are connecting things. Toasters, cars, streetlights, cows. The Internet of Things (IoT) is the concept of giving everything a digital nervous system.

Core Idea

The core idea is Ubiquitous Sensing. Making the physical world readable by computers. If your fridge knows you are out of milk, it can order more. If the bridge knows it has a crack, it can call the engineer.

Formal Definition

A network of physical objects—“things”—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the internet.

Intuition

  • Dumb Object: A chair. It sits there.
  • Smart Object: A chair with a pressure sensor. It knows when you sit down. It tells the lights to turn on. It tracks your posture. It talks to your doctor.

Examples

  • Smart Home: Nest Thermostat. It learns your schedule and turns down the heat when you leave to save energy. Philips Hue bulbs that change color with your music.
  • Industrial IoT (IIoT): A jet engine with 5,000 sensors. It sends terabytes of data during a flight. GE knows a part is going to break before the plane even lands.
  • Agriculture: Sensors in the soil that tell the farmer exactly which plant needs water. “Precision Farming.”

Common Misconceptions

  • It’s just gadgets: It’s mostly industrial. Smart grids, smart cities, supply chain tracking. The consumer stuff (smart toasters) is just the tip of the iceberg.
  • Big Data: IoT generates the massive data that AI needs to learn.
  • 5G: The network built for IoT. It allows millions of devices to connect in a small area without jamming.

Applications

  • Healthcare: Wearables (Apple Watch) that monitor your heart 24/7 and call 911 if you fall.

Criticism / Limitations

  • Security: The “S” in IoT stands for Security (joke). Most devices are cheap and have hard-coded passwords. Hackers use them to create botnets (Mirai Botnet) to attack websites.
  • Privacy: Your vacuum cleaner is mapping your house. Your TV is listening to your conversation. Who owns that data?

Further Reading

  • Greengard, Samuel. The Internet of Things.
  • Rose, David. Enchanted Objects.