The Internet of Things (IoT) has opened a number of doors for many different Industries. There are things being done, both large and small, that are directly due to the connected devices and sensors we now have available to us. What is most amazing is that the Internet of Things is not just for industry or small changes. It is about big things as well.
Those big things are ones we that will have an impact not only on large industries, but on our everyday lives as well. Here are six huge changes related to the Internet of Things.
Smart Home Building
Smart homes are becoming more and more prevalent, and homeowners are changing things as they remodel and upgrade their current homes. But there is an even larger trend here, and one that is directly related to the Internet of Things.
That is smart home building. Homes are now built to be connected from the very start, with smart security and switches installed as part of the initial design. These can then either be controlled with several apps related to each device, Alexa skills, or the newest entry into the field, the Apple Home Pod and the Apple Home App. Google Home and other “voice first” devices can also help homeowners control nearly everything in their home.
The advantage of building with a smart home in mind from the beginning is that the technology is integrated from the very start, a turnkey solution that doesn’t require any additions to the home. In addition, a strong Wi-Fi signal is designed to reach everywhere in the home.
Connected Cars
Automobiles that are connected constantly are also a huge benefit from the internet of things and are already impacting lives every single day. The addition of autonomous vehicles to the mix means a huge disruption in the automotive industry. These vehicles not only keep people in touch and provide Wi-Fi on the go, but actually make them safer. It is estimated that there will be a significant shift in the adoption of self-driving cars by 2020.
Of course, two of the biggest obstacles here are adoption and security. Many people do not want to give up driving their cars, and so are reluctant to adopt autonomous technology. Anomalous events like the autonomous Uber vehicle accident in Arizona that resulted in a pedestrian death have a huge impact on customer trust, and rightfully so, although manufacturers are working hard to increase safety even while testing continues.
The other issue is safety, and that too is being developed at a rapid pace. Cars that were once quite hackable are now safer with additional modifications, and the devices on the Internet of Things are becoming more sophisticated and encrypted.
Internet of Industry
Modern factories are already filled with robots doing mundane tasks that were once assigned to humans. These robots are only a part of the Internet of Things, with IIoT software for big things being adopted all the time. New and more powerful SCADA systems with remote interfaces and even more secure devices that can do more things help factories in several ways.
Not only are things more efficient, but production outcomes are more predictable with fewer errors and less material waste. Safety is increased as well, and costs are much lower. Industry today looks much different than it did a decade ago, and as sensors and other devices become more sophisticated and even smaller, the impacts will continue to transform the way we produce things.
Beyond factories, other industries such as aerospace, vehicle maintenance and repair, energy distribution and traffic infrastructure are all being dramatically transformed by simply being connected.
Smart Cities
This translates of course to smart cities. These cities have smart traffic cameras, more intuitive power and energy grids, smart power grids that divert power as needed, much of which can be created using green energy sources.
Everything from traffic planning to law enforcement and emergency services can be directed and directed through the Internet of Things using large and powerful networks of sensors and connected devices that help cities run more efficiently. Of course, true “smart cities” are still in development, but very soon the technology will be advanced enough to make this possible for nearly all municipalities.
Smart Farms
Still one of the greatest issues of our time is food and food distribution. One solution to this is smart farms. For larger farms, manual surveying and monitoring of all crops is a nearly impossible feat, but with the internet of things, an array of sensors can monitor everything from soil moisture to sun exposure, allowing for precise farming techniques that directly impact production and distribution of food.
This technology is already in place on larger farms, but soon it will be inexpensive enough to be deployed in even smaller applications. This technology and others in the area of farming will go a long way toward solving the world hunger crisis.
Smart Stores
People already do a lot of shopping online, but the way we shop in physical stores will also be greatly affected by the internet of things. Sensors will be able to auto-order product when inventory is low, and in some cases between cameras and sensors, you won’t even have to check out at a store. You will be able to simply pick up your items and leave.
Amazon is already experimenting with this technology and has deployed a few test stores to prove the concept. Other retailers will soon follow, making the kinds of stores we have now and the shopping experiences we endure nearly obsolete. If nothing else, retail will be radically transformed.
Conclusion
The IoT has a huge impact on our world, from industry to farming, from the cars we drive to the stores where we shop, and it will continue to do so as new industries are created and old ones are transformed.
What are some of the potential applications for IoT that could make daily life much simpler in the future? Leave us a comment with your thoughts in the section below.