What Is IoT?

Date First Published: 21st March 2022

Topic: Computer Networking

Subtopic: Network Services

Difficulty: Medium

Difficulty Level: 4/10

CONTENTS

Functionality
History

Learn more about what IoT is in this article.

Short for Internet of Things, IoT as a larger term, refers to anything that is connected to the internet, which could include a desktop computer, laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. The word 'thing' in Internet of Things refers to the connected device that can transmit data over a network. However, it now refers to the interconnection of other everyday devices that have recently been developed to have network capabilities, such as watches, appliances, cameras, sensors, etc. For example, some watches connect to smartphones using Bluetooth in order to measure heart rate and steps walked. They then record that information on the device.

All IoT devices need to be able to communicate with other devices. This could be using a wired or wireless connection. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and Ethernet are the most commonly used network technologies used to communicate between different devices. IoT can even identify people using a device or computer chip. This can make it easier to locate devices or people that are needed, but also creates a fear that people always think they are being watched.

Functionality

Over time, IoT has provided more advanced technology. For example, IoT can provide functionality for connecting medical devices to the internet, making it easier for doctors to keep track of the health of patients. Organisations are also using IoT for becoming more efficient. For example, a device with network capabilities could automatically send data to the cloud using a Bluetooth connection. Most of the work that is done by IoT devices is performed without human intervention, but it is still possible for people to manually interact with the devices. Examples of manual interaction are when setting the device up, accessing the data, or giving them instructions.

History

The term 'IoT' was invented in 1991. RFID was the first technology of IoT. This is because devices with RFID had a unique identifier that could be identified by computers. It was possible for computers to identify RFID devices within a specified range of distance. RFID devices are now commonly used by security systems to keep track of employees within a building. This means that they can give a virtual map of everything inside a building.