The use of smart technologies, from the smallest devices to the largest ones, is done with the help of only one important and practical component, which is the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things (IoT) refers to a network of physical objects (devices, vehicles, equipment, buildings and houses, and other objects) that are connected to the Internet and can collect and exchange data using sensors and other technologies. have data The Internet of Things allows these objects to be monitored and controlled remotely, enabling a wide range of new applications and services. In this article from Avir’s artificial intelligence website, we decide to do a complete review of the Internet of Things and learn more about this term and its application. Stay with us.
?What is the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things or IoT (Internet of Things) is a network of interconnected devices that connect to other devices with the Internet of Things and the cloud and exchange data. IoT devices are typically embedded with technologies such as sensors and software and can include mechanical and digital machines and consumer objects.
Currently, many organizations in various industries are using the Internet of Things to operate more efficiently, improve customer service, make decision making easier, and increase business value.
With the Internet of Things, data can be transferred over a network without the need for human-to-human or human-to-computer interaction.
An “object” or “thing” in the Internet of Things can be a person with an implanted heart monitor, a farm animal with a biochip transponder, a car with built-in sensors to alert the driver when the tire pressure is low, or anything natural or be another human being.
In other words, the term Internet of Things is mainly used for devices that used to be “dumb and simple” and did not connect to the Internet, but now communicate with the network independently of human action. For this reason, a smartphone is not explicitly defined as an IoT device – although it is packed with sensors. But a connected refrigerator, microwave or street light today are connected to the Internet and have the Internet of Things.
Today, these smart tech devices include billions of objects of all shapes and sizes—coffee machines, light bulbs, driverless trucks, wearable fitness devices, jet engines, and smart children’s toys—all equipped with sensors and communicating data over the Internet.
History of the Internet of Things
From the first “thing” connected to the Internet to 75 billion Internet of Things devices in 2025.
The first “thing” on the Internet was created in 1982: a soda machine at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that reported the number and temperature of drinks available.
In 1999, British technologist Kevin Ashton coined the term Internet of Things to describe a network that connects not only people, but also the things around them — like the soda vending machine at CMU. According to Ashton, “The Internet of Things integrates the nexus of human culture—our ‘things’—with our digital information system—the Internet.”
At the time, most people thought it was the stuff of science fiction movies. Today, the Internet of Things technology has become a reality thanks to the development of communication technologies, data analysis and more sophisticated algorithms.
Number of installed IoT devices from 2015-2025 Source: statista.com
At some point in 2008 or 2009, IoT-connected devices outnumbered the world’s human population. Since then, the Internet of Things has evolved into a vast network of connected objects that collect and analyze vast amounts of data and perform tasks autonomously.
Examples of IoT include a variety of sensors, home appliances, cars, wind turbines, medical devices, televisions, watches, cars, traffic lights, industrial machinery, auto parts, and more.
According to predictions, the number of devices connected to the Internet of Things will dramatically reach 75 billion in 2025 and 125 billion by 2030. At that time, approximately 15 objects will be connected to the Internet for every human on Earth.
But the main factor of this growth is not the population of the world but the explosion of connected devices.
Successful IoT devices are seamlessly integrated into our lives and homes, and their pervasiveness is such that we sometimes forget they are in our lives and once performed these tasks manually.
?Why is the Internet of Things important
The Internet of Things will affect everything from how we travel and shop to how we stay fit. But how exactly does IoT work?
As billions of “dumb and unintelligent” objects have become “smart” today, and billions of objects are added to the intelligent world every year, the Internet of Things is now all around us. GPS systems guide cars, ships, and planes to their destinations. For example, when there is no car on the street, the street lights dim to save energy. Smart controls turn off heat, ventilation and lights when rooms are empty.
Various industries and governments are now using IoT to understand consumer needs at the moment. Becoming more responsive, improving production processes and the efficiency of the entire factory, and turning communities into smart cities are some of the most important reasons that have made the Internet of Things so important.
Basic elements of the Internet of Things
There are several key components that are necessary for the Internet of Things to function, including:
Sensors and devices: Objects are equipped with sensors that can collect data about their surroundings, such as temperature, humidity, and movement.
Network connectivity: In order for sensors and devices to communicate with each other and with the wider Internet, they must be connected to a network. This connection can be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, or a combination of both.
Data storage and processing: Data collected by sensors and devices must be stored somewhere and often must be processed to be useful. This storage is usually done using servers and cloud computing resources.
User Interfaces: In order for people to interact with the IoT system, there must be some kind of user interface, such as a smartphone app or a web-based dashboard.
Security: Ensuring the security of an IoT system is critical, as IoT contains sensitive data and has the potential for malicious agents to compromise the system.
Identifying an important component of the Internet of Things is difficult because the system is made up of many interconnected parts that all play an important role. However, depending on the specific application of the IoT system, some components can be considered more essential than others.
For example, if the primary purpose of an IoT system is to collect and analyze data, sensors and devices, data storage and processing, and possibly user interfaces may be considered the most important components. On the other hand, if the main focus of the IoT system is on automation and control, network connectivity and user interfaces may be considered the most important components.
Ultimately, the importance of each component depends on the specific needs and goals of the IoT system and the ways in which the various components work together to achieve those goals.
?Who and how use the Internet of Things
But in what areas is the Internet of Things used? Who can use the Internet of Things? The Internet of Things is used in various industries and fields, which we will discuss further.
1. Consumer applications
The most common areas where a person comes into contact with smart technology are at home or through gadgets (wearables).
2. Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT)
The Internet of Things connects all stages of the IoT industrial process, from the supply chain, factory machinery, and warehouse shelves to delivery to customers, providing companies with a unified view of production, operations processes, and product data. Combined with big data analytics and predictive modeling, IIoT can prevent defects and breakdowns, maximize equipment performance, optimize on-time delivery, reduce warranty costs, increase production efficiency, and improve customer experience.
3. Internet of things in retail stores
IoT integrates data, analytics and marketing processes. Retailers take data from product-embedded RFID chips, smart shelves, in-store and digital channels and apply analytics to understand customer behavior patterns and preferences—often in real time.
4. Internet of things in the logistics sector
Logistics companies can achieve greater efficiency and reliability throughout their operations using the Internet of Things with location-based services provided by radio frequency identification (RFID), Wi-Fi, GPS or cellular data, combined with artificial intelligence algorithms.
This technology can improve service quality, increase safety and reduce downtime and costs by tracking and monitoring fleet vehicles, cargo and other mobile assets in real time.
5. Internet of things in the energy sector
Electric infrastructure (the “power grid”) is more than just power plants and transmission lines, it is an ecosystem of asset owners, manufacturers, service providers, and government officials.
The connectivity of IoT devices, vehicles, and buildings promises advanced services arising from new connections between digital and physical network systems based on improved communication and control technologies.
These technologies include distributed control, learning, and optimization algorithms that enable energy companies to improve critical grid services such as load flexibility, voltage/frequency regulation, and condition awareness. IoT will integrate distributed grid resources such as solar and wind.
Companies’ internal data, combined with user behavioral data collected from smart homes, improves convenience and security, and informs the development of customized services and new pricing structures.
6. Internet of Things in the medical and healthcare industry
Medical Internet of Things (IoMT) is an Internet of Things-based network of medical monitoring and devices (mainly gadgets), software applications, and health-related services. The Internet of Things connects individuals and institutions related to healthcare (doctor’s offices, hospitals, insurance companies, government agencies) to promote interaction between all parties and ensure that participants receive the services they need based on They make informed decisions and this facilitates the rational allocation of resources.
7. Internet of things and governments
“Smart city” has become a buzzword in recent years, and many cities around the world are experimenting with smart infrastructure and services.
?What is driving the explosive growth of the Internet of Things
The explosive growth of the Internet of Things has been fueled by several advances: cost, network protocols, cloud computing platforms, machine learning-based analytics, and artificial intelligence.
The average cost of IoT sensor technology has fallen by 75% over the past 15 years, making their widespread use more attractive to manufacturers and service providers.
The development of Internet Protocols (IP) has made it easy to connect sensors to the cloud and other IoT devices for efficient data transfer. IP is a set of rules that determine how data is sent over the Internet. Different IoT protocols are designed and optimized for different scenarios and uses. These protocols ensure that information from one device or sensor is read and understood by another device, a gateway or a service.
The type of connection used by an IoT protocol depends on the device, its functionality, and its users. Usually, the distance the data needs to travel (short-haul or long-haul) determines the type of IoT connection required.
Low-power and short-range networks are suitable for homes, offices and other small environments. They usually only require small batteries and are usually cheap to operate. Examples include Bluetooth, NFC, Wi-Fi/802.11, Z-Wave and Zigbee.
Low-power wide-area networks (LPWANs) enable communications over at least 500 meters, require minimal power, and are used for most IoT devices. Common examples of LPWANs include 4G LTE IoT, 5G IoT, Cat-0, Cat-1, LTE Cat-M1, LoRaWAN, NB-IoT/Cat-M2, and Sigfox.
Data collected from IoT devices moves through a gateway, is pre-processed at the edge, and then sent to cloud computing platforms. The growing number of IoT cloud platforms on the market has made more services available at lower cost, meaning businesses and consumers can access the infrastructure they need without having to manage it all. Service providers (such as Microsoft, Siemens, Oracle, IBM, Amazon, Google) typically build IoT clouds on top of public clouds. In most cases, typical features include network connectivity and management, device management, data collection, processing analysis and visualization, application activation, integration, and storage.
IoT systems collect such a huge amount of data that machine learning-based analytics becomes necessary to sort and analyze it all and identify patterns. As these systems become more sophisticated and capable, consumers will experience higher levels of benefits and convenience, while industrial and professional users will see optimization gains throughout their operations.
For example, IoT machine learning models designed and trained to identify signals in historical data can be used to identify similar trends in current data. This allows users to automate preventive service requests and order new parts early so they are always available when needed.
Digital personal assistants such as Amazon’s Alexa, Apple’s Siri, and IBM’s Watson portend a future in which advances in neural networks will bring widespread natural language processing to IoT devices. This conversational artificial intelligence (AI) uses large amounts of data, machine learning, and natural language processing to help mimic human interactions, recognize speech and text inputs, and translate their meanings into different languages.
Security risks of Internet of Things applications
All of these look very promising and show that 5G technologies can bring many benefits to our daily lives. The Internet of Things will definitely make our lives easier.
But we should not ignore its negative points. Since everything is now connected, that means everything is hackable. Better and updated technologies create a great opportunity for hackers and a great future for cybercriminals.
Any internet-enabled device is vulnerable to hacking and exploitation, and it appears that this vulnerability is widespread.
Separation of the most important risks of the Internet of Things
These existing vulnerabilities highlight the importance of developing strong IoT cybersecurity for all IoT devices and service providers.
Frequently asked questions about the Internet of Things
- How will the Internet of Things affect our daily lives?
The Internet of Things has the potential to improve various aspects of daily life, such as improving home automation, optimizing energy consumption, allowing remote monitoring of medical and health conditions, increasing transportation efficiency, and empowering smart cities with better infrastructure management.
- What are the security and privacy concerns associated with the Internet of Things?
Security concerns include unauthorized access to IoT devices, data breaches, and potential vulnerabilities in software or firmware. Privacy concerns arise from the collection and use of personal data generated by IoT devices.
- How does the Internet of Things relate to big data and analytics?
The Internet of Things generates huge amounts of data that can be analyzed using big data and analytics techniques. This data analysis can provide valuable insights, patterns and trends for businesses and organizations.
- What are the advantages of using Internet of Things technology?
Some of the benefits of using IoT technology include improving efficiency, saving costs, automating processes, increasing decision-making power based on real-time data, increasing productivity, and improving quality of life.
- What is the future of the Internet of Things?
The future of the Internet of Things is promising with the potential for further integration into our daily lives. It is likely to lead to more connected devices, increased automation, improved efficiency and innovative applications across industries.