Well, you've likely heard the phrase “Internet of Things” — or IoT — at some point, but you might also be scratching your head figuring out what it is or what it means. The IoT refers to the connection of devices (other than typical fares such as computers and smartphones) to the Internet. Cars, kitchen appliances, and even heart monitors can all be connected through the IoT. And as the Internet of Things grows in the next few years, more devices will join that list.
Business Insider, a leading trade publication, focuses on the growing and evolving trends in digital, offers this compelling and insightful overview of what the Internet of Things will do for us in the near future. Below is an overview of understanding key positioning points for IoT. Business Insider has compiled a guide to the IoT to help you navigate the increasingly connected world.
Terms and Basic Definitions
Below, we've provided a glossary defining the Internet of Things:
- Internet of Things: A network of Internet-connected objects able to collect and exchange data using embedded sensors.
- Internet of Things Device: Any stand-alone internet-connected device that can be monitored and/or controlled from a remote location.
- Internet of Things Ecosystem: All the components that enable businesses, governments, and consumers to connect to their IoT devices, including remotes, dashboards, networks, gateways, analytics, data storage, and security.
- Entity: Includes businesses, governments, and consumers.
- Physical Layer: The hardware that makes an IoT device, including sensors and networking gear.
- Network Layer: Responsible for transmitting the data collected by the physical layer to different devices.
- Application Layer: This includes the protocols and interfaces that devices use to identify and communicate with each other.
- Remotes: Enable entities that utilize IoT devices to connect with and control them using a dashboard, such as a mobile application. They include smartphones, tablets, PCs, smartwatches, connected TVs, and nontraditional remotes.
- Dashboard: Displays information about the IoT ecosystem to users and enables them to control their IoT ecosystem. It is generally housed on a remote.
- Analytics: Software systems that analyze the data generated by IoT devices. The analysis can be used for a variety of scenarios, such as predictive maintenance.
- Data storage: Where data from IoT devices is stored.
- Networks: The internet communication layer that enables the entity to communicate with their device, and sometimes enables devices to communicate with each other.
IoT Predictions, Trends, and Market
There will be more than 24B IoT devices on Earth by 2020. That's approximately four devices for every human being on the planet.
And as we approach that point, $6B will flow into IoT solutions, including application development, device hardware, system integration, data storage, security, and connectivity. But that will be money well spent, as those investments will generate $13 trillion by 2025.
Who will reap these benefits? There are three major entities that will use IoT ecosystems: consumers, governments, and businesses. For more detail, see the Industries section below.
IoT Industries
Several environments within the three groups of consumers, governments, and ecosystems will benefit from the IoT. These include:
| Manufacturing | Transportation | Defense | Agriculture |
| Infrastructure | Retail | Logistics | Banks |
| Oil, gas, and mining | Insurance | Connected Home | Food Services |
| Utilities | Hospitality | Healthcare | Smart Buildings |
IoT Platforms
One IoT device connects to another to transmit information using Internet transfer protocols. These platforms serve as the bridge between the devices' sensors and the data networks.
The following are some of the top IoT platforms on the market today:
- Amazon Web Services
- Microsoft Azure
- ThingWorx IoT Platform
- IBM's Watson
- Cisco IoT Cloud Connect
- Salesforce IoT Cloud
- Oracle Integrated Cloud
- GE Predix
IoT Security & Privacy
As devices become more connected thanks to the IoT, security, and privacy have become the primary concern among consumers and businesses. In fact, the protection of sensitive data ranked as the top concern (at 36% of those polled) among enterprises, according to the 2016 Vormetric Data Threat Report.
Cyber attacks are also a growing threat as more connected devices pop up around the globe. Hackers could penetrate connected cars, critical infrastructure, and even people's homes. As a result, several tech companies are focusing on cybersecurity in order to secure the privacy and safety of all this data.
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