It is still early days in the Internet of Things (IoT) revolution. But technology has already caused big disruptions in our day-to-day lives. It is only a matter of time before such disruptions become the accepted norm. Within the next five years, sensors will be everywhere, affecting all aspects of daily living. The world’s IT infrastructure will be supporting more than a trillion connected devices.
The Connected Home
Sensors make homes smart and connected. Alarm clocks synced to traffic apps ensure the person does not wake up only to end up in a traffic jam. Heating systems synced to external temperature sensors maintain optimal temperatures. Light and air-conditioning synced to human movement and heat save energy. Smart meters detect leaks and reduce water bills. Such innovations boost efficiency, offer big savings, and unlock a world of convenience not possible before.
A big focus of IoT sensors is on the fridge. Sensors in the fridge trace dietary intake and make recommendations. Smart fridges may order replenishment from the nearest supermarket by itself.
The Nest thermostat from Google offers a portent of things to come. Nest adapts to the living habits of the people and determines the optimal settings for comfort and savings. It would also cool only the places required, without wasting cooling or heating unoccupied rooms. The smart home runs appliances such as washers and dryers during non-peak electricity usage times.
IoT makes lives seamless and incident-free. For instance, the connected house raises an alert if the owner leaves without the house key. The August smart lock allows the user to manage a lock from miles away, connecting his mobile phone or any electronic device to the smart lock.
Smart Automobiles
IoT powered assisted vehicles to transform automobiles in a big way, even without taking driverless cars into account.
Sensor equipped cars sync with the owner’s smartphone to open itself when the owner approaches. The smartphone, connected to sensors across the city, directs the car through the shortest and easiest route to the destination. It also warns of potential dangers such as accidents and bad weather.
Sensors on parking spots guide drivers to an available spot, without going through a painstaking search to find a parking spot. Still better, self-parking, where the car will park, shut off and lock by itself after the driver has got down, will become commonplace.
Systems such as lane detection and collision avoidance systems improve safety. Forward collision avoidance systems use radar, camera or laser to detect imminent collisions and apply or increase braking force.
Sensors inside the vehicles offer valuable diagnostic information and pre-empt breakdowns. Sensors capture overheating or unusual noise, diagnose the fault, and prompt preemptive repairs. A low tire pressure warning improves mileage. Driving data facilitates better car maintenance. Connected cars communicate such data with the manufacturers or dealers, and ensure optimal service and maintenance. Telematics enables automated emergency calling, and real-time notification to family and friends in the event of a collision. Personalized infotainment options are the icing on the cake.
Connected cars record driver habits and behavior, and transfer data to insurance companies, contributing to insurance policies based on accurate price estimates. Such data also serve as valuable feedback to the driver, improving road safety.
Improved Quality of Sports and Entertainment
IoT improves a person’s quality of life. The technology allows people to leverage data, to make improvements in their activities. Wearables track statistics and body signals when the person indulges in sports or other physical activity, offering valuable feedback for improvement. Likewise, a combination of artificial intelligence and sensors offer alerts relevant entertainment options and restaurant recommendations, based on the person’s history, opinions expressed, and much more.
Better Quality and Potent Healthcare
The Internet of Things has revolutionized healthcare in a big way. Healthcare wearables have become more and more affordable and accurate with every year. Such wearables track a patient’s vital statistics, such as heart rate, pulse, and blood pressure. The wearable connects to the healthcare provider and provides real-time data, facilitating proactive interventions. Sensors and robotic assistants alert caretakers if patients forget their medicine. Even for normal healthy humans, wearables track sleeping patterns, nutritional balance, check-up schedules, exercise programs, and a whole host of other health information, improving the quality of life in a big way.
One example of the internet of things companies in action is the iTBra, developed by Cyrcadia Health. The wearable bra consists of two breast patches with embedded sensors, and tracks changes in temperature of breast tissue. The data is transmitted to the user’s mobile phone and shared with the health care provider. Abnormal patterns in the data indicate early-stage breast cancer. Traditional mammography rarely detects a tumor at an early stage.
Smart Cities Improve Quality of Life
Smart cities, with convenient transportation systems, energy-efficient buildings, clean air and water, and more, improve the quality of living.
Sensors spread across the city transmits real-time data on air pollution levels, down to block-by-block levels. Such information helps policymakers pinpoint and reduce pockets of pollution. It also helps people avoid stepping into polluted or danger zones. The implications of such initiatives are huge. Dirty air and water caused a staggering nine million deaths across the world, in 2015 alone.
Several cities are implementing various IoT based innovations to improve the quality of life of citizens.
Barcelona’s citywide WiFi and information network integrates sensors, software and a data analytics platform. The system automates street lighting, manages water smartly, remote-controls irrigation for parks and fountains, offers on-demand waste pickups, enables digital bus routes, syncs smart parking meters, and does much more.
Scientists use sensor systems with advanced cameras and artificial intelligence to check plant health and optimize irrigation, boosting crop productivity. IoT based supply chain efficiency reduces the annual estimated wastage of 1.4 billion tons of food. As high as one-third of all food produced is lost every year owing to supply chain inefficiencies.
IoT is everywhere, and it is still spreading. By 2020, 50 billion devices will connect to each other and to the cloud, changing our lives at home, work, school and play, and everywhere else.
