Evolution to Revolution – The Internet of Things is here to stay

17 Feb Evolution to Revolution – The Internet of Things is here to stay

List of x35 uses for IoT, IIOT & Industry 4.0

Let’s firstly define evolution vs revolution. Evolution refers to gradual changes over a period of time, this rings true considering the ‘The Internet of Things’ (IoT) was first coined in 1999 but really took flight around 2008 when there were more connected devices than people living on the earth. Arguably this is when the revolution of The Internet of Things started as revolution refers to a sudden or radical change. There has been a huge surge in smart connected devices that is changing the face of our technological landscape leading to massive data exchanges between internet or cloud related products. Whether this be wearables, self-driving cars, sensors, smart homes or industry 4.0 (Smart Factories) we’re all now using or in the midst of smart connected devices.

IoT devices collect data and exchange this information over web enabled networks to essentially enhance a users experience.

Some examples of IoT in the home all of which can be controlled via a phone, tablet, PC or other smart device

• Smart Heating or Thermostats
• Smart CCTV
• Smart Lights
• Home Hubs
• Coffee Maker
• Refrigerator

Examples of IoT in the workplace

• Lights, automated turning off and on lights with motion detection using sensors
• Smart Access control systems, allowing access to different areas of the company, remote locking, eye/fingerprint identification
• Smart Trackers for work related vehicles
• Automated teleconferencing and virtual meetings
• Smart watch helping control meetings, alerting you to emails, prompting you to call a customer

Examples of IoT in industry – Sometimes referred to as Industrial Internet of Things IIOT.

Using the overall essence of the Internet of Things, the Industrial IoT (IIOT) covers a multitude of areas, industries and applications. Some may also know this as Industry 4.0 which is mainly focused on the optimisation of operational efficiency and rationalisation, automation & maintenance allowing for smart manufacturing, intelligent automation, asset management, industrial control which are all essentially improving operational efficiency.

• Smart Transportation i.e. freight monitoring, vehicle tracking, security & sensors
• Smart Meters Energy & Utilities – Oil & Gas, Smart grids, data analytics
• Smart Sensors, liquid level sensors, oil level sensors, motion sensors
• Smart Agriculture
• Smart GPS devices
• Smart Healthcare monitoring
• Smart automated manufacturing machinery
• Cyber-physical production systems (CPPS)
• Smart factory applications and smart warehousing
• Predictive and remote maintenance
• Freight, goods and transportation monitoring
• Connected logistics
• Smart environment solutions
• Smart City applications
• Smart farming and livestock monitoring
• Industrial security systems
• Energy consumption optimisation
• Industrial heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
• Manufacturing equipment monitoring
• Asset tracking and smart logistics
• Ozone, gas and temperature monitoring in industrial environments
• Safety and health (conditions) monitoring of workers
• Asset performance management
• Remote service, field service, remote maintenance and control use cases

This list goes on, hopefully this will give you a taster of what it’s all about.