Internet Of Things

The term "IoT" refers to the wireless connection  which would enable the internet to reach out in the real world of physical objects. In IoT the objects,animals or people are provided with unique identifiers i.e merely an IP address and they are provided with the ability to transfer data without a human to human or human to machine interaction. The facility of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) makes it possible.

Today                                                             Tomorrow

Anytime                                                          Anytime

Anyplace                                                         Anyplace

Anybody                                                          Anybody

                                                                         Anything

While speaking to the P&G Corporation Kevin Ashton of MIT Introduced the term 'IoT' and advised them to use RFID(Radio Frequency Identification Device). Currently the computer & Internet are completely dependent on the humans for new information. The concept says that humans have limited time, attention and accuracy. It also says that we never may be 100% correct in capturing data from the real world. It suggests that if computers can track and count everything,, thereby reducing cost, loss and waste.

The three basic reasons why people could resist IoT  are: -

(1) Privacy concerns

(2) Data ownership causes

(3) Spectrum Issues

Applications

(1)Smart City

The Iot can used to monitor and control operations of rural and urban infrastructure, wind farms, railway tracks etc...

(2)Big Data

Another application of IoT is Big Data. With the help of IoT huge and complex data processing methods could be simplified.

(3)Smart Thermostats

These are the automatically controlled thermostats in which heating and air conditioning is connected to the internet and is being operated by mobile phones. The Nest Thermostats was being purchased by Google for $3.2 bn. The interest of Google was not in thermostats rather it had its own advantage i.e through that it would receive a lot of information that would help it to expand its business. That was a smart move.

Stage Wise Evolution

(1) Supply chain Helpers- RFID toys

(2) Vertical Market Application

(3) Ubiquitous Positioning

(4) Physical World

Challenges 

(1) Technical Challenges - Technical standardization in most areas is still fragmented. IPv4 is outdated and IPv6 still needs full scale implementation. Heavy traffic can affect performance of devices. Maintaining billions of  devices.

(2) Governmental Challenges - Security of data will require legislation and best practices. Entirely new governance structure  need to evolve.

Criticisms 

(1) Privacy of individuals are at stake.

(2) A person loses his identity and merely becomes an IP address.

(3) Machines end up guiding every aspect of our lives which means "Dumbing Down of Humans" 

(4) Huge growth of electronic waste has severe environmental implications.