The Internet of Things in simple words

Introduction
The world is changing drastically, the technology industry is growing fast, and the COVID-19 pandemic came and accelerated the process. The governments, the CEOs of big companies, the service providers (the problem-solvers and the solution sellers), and data analysts need data to build smart reports to help them in decision making. Two things come quickly satisfy that need today, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). For this article, we will consider the second one. While it represents a risk of violation of people’s privacy, everyone should learn about the Internet of Things because we’re members of a connected generation, and it is almost impossible to avoid the use of new technology in this era of digitalization. For this, we would like to help people to understand why they need to learn about IoT. To achieve this, we will consider three points about IoT and people who live in the current world. First, we will try to understand how IoT can affect people’s privacy, after that, we will see how IoT is used in the digital world, and finally, we will see how IoT goes with new technology and challenges.

The Internet of Things and people’s privacy

Nowadays the risk of people’s privacy violations is high and IoT makes it much higher. We use smart devices to access social networks for professional activities or for fun, and that makes us like an open book to the world. We’re talking about digital identity for everyone now. In addition to that, they’ll keep introducing IoT in our everyday life. Smart Home, IoT in our kitchen (oven, refrigerator), in our living and bedroom (smart TV, game console, Amazon Alexa, smart bulb light). What is IoT? Do not confuse it with AI, that is the use of machine learning to mimic human intelligence, indeed:

“IoT is the network of all these connected devices with embedded technology and communication protocol that allow them to communicate with each other over the Internet” (Krogh, 2020, p. 59).

These smart devices are also, able to communicate with us, to help us and make our life easier, but at the same time, they are able to send data to tiers like service providers, governments, and in some special cases to hackers. When the data are collected and treated, it will become useful information about our lovely ones and us, at this stage, we will be at risk depending on the hands of whom the Information is. Dear readers, like it or not we’re moving to the connected and digital generation. That’s why Hada said:

“Smart Home Technology, or Home Automation, is without a doubt going to expand in a huge way. This allows energy savings, convenience, security, and improved aesthetics of the living space. When all devices are connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), they can be accessed, monitored, and controlled remotely”. (“All you need to know about home automation and IoT solutions,” 2020, para. 1).

The Internet of Things and the digital generation

Agreed or not, we’re part of a connected and digital generation. Now, the question is only up what level you’re digital? Most of us prefer what is electronic, digital; we promote Apps for everything now. We use e-learning platforms, email, online newspapers, online banking, online meeting, cloud computing, etc. We like their speed and flexibility. This is war, the war of speed, and storage capability. To better analyze and serving their market, the solutions sellers need more data and this is where IoT comes. In Gaur’s compilation we can read this:

“There has been a significant increase in the maturity of solutions being built for IoT, especially in healthcare, retail, energy and utilities, and the automotive sector.” (Impact of Internet of Things, 2015, para. 1).

That’s why sensors and actuators are everywhere now, in cars, boats, planes, trains, on the roads, at the office, at home… to monitor, to process, to collect data and to send to whom needs for exploitation.

The Internet of Things and the use of new technology

New technology comes with imagination when new challenges come, and technology keeps challenging us every single day. All over the world, we have new challenges every second. Expert, specialists in health, in ITCs, in engineering… etc. everyone needs to provide solutions to these challenges. And at this level also IoT comes to help in decision making, it is part of the solutions for the future of the economic’s world, that’s why Narasimhan said:

“In this forward thinking era, having connected machines that communicate with each other is key without the need for human involvement. This will be a combination of physical systems, IoT and AI to create a data driven smart factory that is more efficient, productive and cost effective than we have ever seen before.” (Narasimhan, 2020, para. 4)

 

Conclusion
The Internet of Things is like most of the tools, it is neutral, only the users can be bad or good. If we want and decide to save lives, IoT will help to prevent some illnesses, some disasters, and more… all this is to say clearly we can use technology to help and save people, we’re not obligated to hurt them. IoT is a good technology for our world but in bad hands, it will become a redoubtable and powerful weapon. Now it’s too late to go back we need to adapt or die, die in the sense that the world will move forward without us, and we’ll stay behind and out of everything. For example, we cannot decide to use fax only at this time where email is already surpassed.
Indeed, we think it is wise to learn how new technology like IoT works and gets prepared to stay on the path to progress otherwise we will be surpassed, disconnected to the rest of the world, and out of business.

“Don’t get scared, get prepared”

Said the author Ryan Foland during The launch of the Caribean Future Summit (Virtual Edition 2020).

 

References
All you need to know about home automation and IoT solutions. (2020, July 9). Express Computers, NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A629037684/CDB?u=lirn17237&sid=CDB&xid=89814c68

Data Strategy for IoT and Industry 4.0. (2020, June 30). Express Computers, NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A628088285/CDB?u=lirn17237&sid=CDB&xid=ef03e119

Impact of the Internet of Things. (2015, July 2). PC Quest. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A420256548/CDB?u=lirn17237&sid=CDB&xid=849df9f9

Krogh, E. (2020). An introduction to the Internet of Things. https://bookboon.com/en/an-introduction-to-the-internet-of-things-ebook

The launch of the Caribbean Future Summit (Virtual Edition). (2020) http://caribbeanfuturesummit.com/