The IoT Technologies: Everything You Need to Know About

Currently we are hearing the term IoT a lot and many people do not know what it means exactly. The abbreviation stands for Internet of Things, but what does that really mean? It is acceptable that this term is confusing for many, even after reading up on it. In a nutshell, it is simply means devices that communicate with others. Let’s say you are a patient with a heart condition and you have a microchip implanted into your body. That chip then communicates with another device and sends an alert when there is a concern.

We can also link this to tracking devices or an alarm system. There needs to be two devices that are able to communicate and send signals to one another. We do not always know how this works, but we understand that it is happening. Many students are doing an It Capstone Project based on this fact. Even though these types of devices have been around for a long time, we are only now stating to understand the value and mechanics of it. Let’s take a closer look at IoT Technologies.

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Coining the name

When we think back, it comes to our attention that these devices have been around for a long time. It seems to be dated back to the 80s, but why is the term only relevant now? Well, it was only around 1999 that the term Internet of Things was coined by Kevin Ashton. He basically just put a name to it and we all became curious. It is said that the majority of our society has never even heard of the term Internet of Things, which is surprising as most of us own one. This allowed people to dig a little deeper into what exactly it is and how we can improve it.

ATM

Back in the 70s ATM machines were perhaps a few steps ahead of technology. This is why it is controversial as to how far back we can date this. Banks claim that the ATM was the first machine using IoT because it had to connect with banks, accounts and individuals to process a transaction.

Health

Society is becoming more aware of the state of health and are trying to make better choices. Between working on that capstone proposal you might also be tracking your steps. These fitness trackers are very popular and it is bringing in a lot of money for the creators. As we increase our fitness levels, IoT devices like these will raise sales and it is doing great for our economy.

IP Addresses

Some people worry that with more IoT devices coming out, we are going to run out of IP addresses. Every device does have to be allocated with an IP address, but that does not mean we are going to run out. The way an IP address is allocated and created, the chances of us running out of options does not seem possible. Of course, nothing is ever impossible, but it does seem slim.

Security

One of the best ways we are using IoT at the moment is in the security field. The world we live in right now is not as safe as it was some decades ago. Security companies are making a fortune as people grow more and more afraid of crime. Alarms are a popular device, but many companies are trying to come up with more solid ways of providing protection. Luckily, we are living in times where we have access to a lot of information and creating something that seems impossible can always be done.

Going forward

It has been predicted that by the year 2020 there will be over 50 billion IoT devices in the world. That is a huge number, but it seems possible. Every year we are excited about a new invention and with what we already have, it can add up. We would probably have capstone technology that is going to blow our minds by that time. Nothing seems impossible anymore.

Conclusion

The world is moving fast and it becomes more challenging to keep up. No matter at what pace we are moving, it is important to know what is going on around you. A lot of the time, these devices can enhance our quality of life. Do your research on these devices annually, just to understand what is available to whom. The medical field is using these devices to track patient’s illnesses and conditions. It can only get better from here on out.

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