Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you must have heard about IoT. But, do you know what exactly IoT is? In the simplest terms, IoT or Internet of Things refers to the network of connected devices capable of collecting and sharing data across the network.
Over the past few years, IoT has grown in popularity, and it’s believed that about 33 billion devices will be connected to IoT by 2020. But, we will not talk about why IoT is important or why it has grown in popularity. Rather, the focus of this article is IoT applications. So, let’s dive into a few applications of IoT by industry.
Internet of Things Home Innovation
Imagine a world where people’s homes could listen to them, talk to them and make decisions. In fact, this is already happening. Connected devices inside homes allow you to control your appliances like lights and HVAC with smartphones. There are more advanced options, too, such as smart refrigerators. Have you heard of Amazon Alexa? It’s an IoT device capable of performing various tasks such as calling an Uber, ordering items for you from Amazon.com, and playing music.
Increasing the security of homes and businesses, IoT doorbells can not only alert people inside but even those who are not there. It broadcasts a video of the person at the door to the homeowner’s smartphone when they come close to it. Innovation in home security doesn’t stop there. IoT smart locks can be programmed to allow access only during certain times of the day.
Internet of Things Healthcare
IoT can revolutionize the healthcare industry. Hospitals have already started monitoring their patients’ health and collecting data through IoT connected devices like heart monitors and insulin pumps. This enables doctors to catch problematic signs early and take action to prevent the problem from escalating. Connected devices in hospitals allow staff to manage their space and resources more efficiently. Sensors on beds can tell when beds are open, which reduces wait times. Monitoring critical equipment helps ensure that vital hardware doesn’t break down when it’s needed the most.
Internet of Things Energy
Smart thermostats and smart lights allow you to control your cooling, heating, and lighting remotely. These may seem like just cool gadgets, but they can have a major impact on homes and businesses. IoT connected bulbs can help you save on energy costs. If you’ve left your home without switching off the lights, you could do that through your smartphone.
In multi-story commercial buildings, IoT connected lights can automatically switch on and off based on occupants’ presence in the room. Smart office buildings use lights whose brightness adjusts automatically depending on the time of the day to maximize energy savings.
In a nutshell, IoT can revolutionize several industries, and we already see this happen. If you wish to make your home or office buildings more efficient or are interested in saving on energy costs, IoT could be just what you need.