12 Major Applications of IoT You Should Know
Introduction of IoT
This article lets us understand the applications of IoT. The Internet of Things is not a mysterious hype anymore. It’s a technology that has slowly gained momentum and is now silently shaping our future. IoT is the result of humankind’s curiosity and intention to lead a convenient and connected lifestyle, reducing labour and eliminating the chances of human errors. That’s why we decided to make devices smart and take care of things that will draw out efficiency. We’ve figured out that data is the new currency, and tons of crucial concerns can be addressed and resolved through data, and this is what drives the concept of the Internet of Things.
By making the devices connected to each other and the internet, we’ve let them collect and communicate data and make precise and informed decisions through Machine Learning and Neural Networks (complex mechanisms). This step has achieved outstanding outcomes.
Right now, as you read, there are billions of connected devices across the globe, collecting billions of petabytes of data every single day. These massive chunks of data are home to crucial pieces of information that can take care of home security, and entertainment needs and goes on to the extent of saving water and controlling fuel emissions. We have all had our experiences with IoT through smartphones, direct-to-home television services, smart televisions, and more. In case you haven’t paid attention, here are some of the top ten uses of IoT that you could’ve missed. Check them out.
Contents at a Glance
- Smart Homes
- Smart City
- Self-driven Cars
- IoT Retail Shops
- Farming
- Wearables
- Smart Grids
- Industrial Internet
- Telehealth
- Smart Supply-chain Management
- Traffic management
- Water and Waste management
List of Top 10 Applications of IoT
1. Smart Homes
One of the best and the most practical applications of IoT, smart homes really take both, convenience and home security, to the next level. Though there are different levels at which IoT is applied for smart homes, the best is the one that blends intelligent utility systems and entertainment together. For instance, your electricity meter with an IoT device giving you insights into your everyday water usage, your set-top box that allows you to record shows from remote, Automatic Illumination Systems, Advanced Locking Systems, and Connected Surveillance Systems all fit into this concept of smart homes. As IoT evolves, we can be sure that most devices will become smarter, enabling enhanced home security.
2. Smart City
Not just internet access to people in a city but to the devices in it as well – that’s what smart cities are supposed to be made of. And we can proudly say that we’re going towards realizing this dream. Efforts are being made to incorporate connected technology into infrastructural requirements and some vital concerns like Traffic Management, Waste Management, Water Distribution, Electricity Management, and more. All these work towards eliminating some day-to-day challenges faced by people and bring in added convenience.
3. Self-driven Cars
We’ve seen a lot about self-driven cars. Google tried it out, Tesla tested it, and even Uber came up with a version of self-driven cars that it later shelved. Since it’s human lives on the roads that we’re dealing with, we need to ensure the technology has all that it takes to ensure better safety for the passenger and those on the roads.
The cars use several sensors and embedded systems connected to the Cloud and the internet to keep generating data and sending them to the Cloud for informed decision-making through Machine Learning. Though it will take a few more years for the technology to evolve completely and for countries to amend laws and policies, what we’re witnessing right now is one of the best applications of IoT.
4. IoT Retail Shops
If you haven’t already seen the video of Amazon Go – the concept store from the eCommerce giant, you should check it out right away. Perhaps this is the best use of technology in bridging the gap between an online store and a retail store. The retail store allows you to go cashless by deducting money from your Amazon wallet. It also adds items to your cart in real time when you pick products from the shelves.
If you change your mind and pick up another article, the previous one gets deleted and replaces in your cart with the new item. The best part of the concept store is that there is no cashier to bill your products. You don’t have to stand in line but just step out after you pick up your products from the shelves. If this technology is effective enough to fetch more patronage, this is sure to become a norm in the coming years.
5. Farming
Farming is one sector that will benefit the most from the Internet of Things. With so many developments happening on tools farmers can use for agriculture, the future is sure promising. Tools are being developed for Drip Irrigation, understanding crop patterns, Water Distribution, drones for Farm Surveillance, and more. These will allow farmers to come up with a more productive yield and take care of the concerns better.
6. Wearables
Wearables remain a hot topic in the market, even today. These devices serve a wide range of purposes ranging from medical, and wellness to fitness. Of all the IoT startups, Jawbone, a wearables maker, is second to none in terms of funding.
7. Smart Grids
One of the many useful IoT examples, a smart grid, is a holistic solution that applies an extensive range of Information Technology resources that enable existing and new gridlines to reduce electricity waste and cost. A future smart grid improves the efficiency, reliability, and economics of electricity.
8. Industrial Internet
The Industrial Internet of Things consists of interconnected sensors, instruments, and other devices connected with computers’ industrial applications like manufacturing, energy management, etc. While still being unpopular in comparison to IoT wearables and other uses, market researchers like Gartner, Cisco, etc., believe the industrial internet to have the highest overall potential.
9. Telehealth
Telehealth, or Telemedicine, hasn’t completely flourished yet. Nonetheless, it has great future potential. IoT Examples of Telemedicine include the digital communication of Medical Imaging, Remote Medical Diagnosis & Evaluations, Video Consultations with Specialists, etc.
10. Smart Supply-chain Management
Supply chains have stuck around in the market for a while now. A common example can be Solutions for tracking goods while they are on the road. Backed with IoT technology, they are sure to stay in the market for the long run.
11. Traffic Management
Car traffic management in large cities can be greatly improved with the help of the Internet of Things (IoT). The Internet of Things helps us stay informed and improves traffic monitoring by allowing us to use our mobile phones as sensors to collect and share data from our vehicles through apps like Waze or Google Maps. This feeds and improves the data on the various routes to the same destination, distance, and estimated arrival time.
Analysis of traffic patterns over a long period is another IoT application. It provides an idea of what might happen during peak hours. Commuters will be better prepared to avoid traffic and delays by being made aware of possible alternatives
12. Water/ Waste Management
Many cities are adopting water recycling using water treatment units. Using an IoT application, you can see how much wastewater is being produced, how much is being consumed in a specific area, and how waste production is changing over time.
We can effectively deal with this problem using Internet of Things applications and smart sensor technology. With a smart waste management system, authorities will be able to predict how much waste will be generated in a specific location, how to properly process it, when to clear it, and how to analyze data for future planning, among other things.
An overview of waste generated in every neighborhood and how much waste is generated over time can be easily assessed using analytics solutions. This data will be used to plan the city’s expansion and upgrade projects. Smart analytics solutions can be used to manage waste collection and treatment fleets, as well as to predict future trends.
As you know, IoT is evolving and is being experimented with and used in tons of different ways than you can ever imagine. Some IoT examples can be Smart Breweries, Smart Coffee Machines, Smart Parking Facilities, Smart Supply-chain Mechanisms, and more.
Lastly, let us have a quick glance at what the statistics say about the scope of the Internet of Things. As per Fortune Business Insights, the global Internet of Things market was valued at US$250.72 billion in 2019 and is anticipated to reach US$1,463.19 billion by 2027, expanding at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 24.9 per cent in the forecast period. Well, that pretty much speaks for itself. Beginners who have IoT as a career choice in mind might just be in luck. They can invest in a training program from UNext that offers in-person mentorship, hands-on project experience, personalized career support, and more!
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