What is the Internet of Things?

The Internet of Things, or IoT, describes what the Internet is when it's used to connect to anything besides a computer. The Internet has traditionally been used to connect computers and computing devices to each other so they can do things like sending emails, display web pages, or transfer files. Things are objects which are not computers themselves, but can be connected to the Internet if they are made "smart."

What's a Thing?

A "thing" is just something that hasn't been traditionally thought of as a computer, like a refrigerator, door lock, light switch, or thermostat. These kinds of "things" have been pretty dumb, but are getting smarter all the time. When they become smarter, it's usually because a computer has been added to them, but it's a specialized computer made just for the device's function.

For example, a thermostat could use mercury to tell the temperature, then when the mercury rises to reach a certain temperature, a switch is flipped that turns on a furnace. As digital sensors were made that could sense temperature, it became possible to build thermostats that didn't need mercury. Digital thermostats could communicate with digital computers, and as computers became inexpensive to build into a thermostat, the old mercury thermostat became a new digital programmable model.

Many "things" have become programmable, and usually they all work in different ways. Video cassette recorders are well known for cumbersome, challenging, and frustrating programming options, and programming a TV show recording still isn't as easy as many people think it should be.

Why would I want a "thing?"

The ability to build some intelligence into a thing that didn't have it, if it's done right, offers useful capabilities, so let's consider what's happened with our old mercury home thermostat. A recent product, the Nest thermostat has become a fairly popular "thing" and is a good example of what can be done if a product is designed the right way for the Internet of Things. The Nest is a programmable thermostat that can learn how you want the temperature in your home, and create a program based on what it learns.

While that in itself doesn't need an Internet connection, adding the Internet connection to the Nest allows you to control the temperature in your home using Internet connected devices, such as a computer or smartphone. This means that you can adjust your thermostat using your smartphone from anywhere in the house, or even better, while you're away from your home. In case you forgot to turn the heating or air conditioning off when you left the house, you can do it remotely from the Internet. You can even start to warm up your home before you return from work, making it cozy when you walk in the door.

As your settings and temperature changes are being recorded, the Nest thermostat can work with a software program to learn your preferences, adjusting the temperature up when you're in the house, or down when you leave for work, and create a customized program, so you don't have to learn how to program the device in the first place. In addition to creating the program, it can monitor energy use, and advise you about your usage, offering suggestions and changes for saving money.

Now imagine that in addition to your thermostat, your light switches, water heater, car, and even refrigerator become "smart" and are able connect. An electric car connected to the Internet allows my son to warm up the interior temperature with a smartphone app before he gets ready to walk out the door.

While the average person might not need to upgrade their thermostat or change their light switches, larger users of resources that spend more money on energy or other resources are connecting things to the Internet and at a faster pace than ever before.

Connecting objects to the Internet

The first use of the Internet of Things is attributed to Kevin Ashton. He explained his purpose for it in a 1999 article:

“If we had computers that knew everything there was to know about things - using data they gathered without any help from us - we would be able to track and count everything, and greatly reduce waste, loss and cost. We would know when things needed replacing, repairing or recalling, and whether they were fresh or past their best”.

Things and objects that are independently connected to the internet can digitally represent themselves, which then changes the existence of the object itself. The physical world will take on what is known as “ambient intelligence” since physical objects will no longer only relate to the user, but will be connected to other objects and databases.

Change is coming with more Things on the way

The Internet of Things is changing the way much of the world does business. When objects can be connected to the Internet and are digitally represented, they can be controlled from anywhere, with increased efficiency and safety in industries like manufacturing and healthcare. With the ability to collect information from things, companies are looking at how the Internet of Things will improve operating processes, client and customer interaction, and products or services.

While many products, homes and cars equipped with this technology will not appear any different, their functions will be dramatically changed as these objects will be able to access data provided by other objects and databases of relevant information. Roadway sensors could alert cars to road hazards, and home appliances could alter their power usage based on pricing information received from a ‘smart' power grid. This type of information sharing will change the way people interact with objects and their usage.

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