Internet of Things (iot) as The Most Rapidly Increasing Technology in The Modern World

Introduction to Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the most rapidly increasing technology in the modern world, bringing a revolution in the field of information systems and computing technologies. IoT is a network of physical objects or "things" embedded with electronic software, sensors, and network connectivity, enabling these objects to collect and exchange data. Information is a powerful tool for reducing waste and increasing coherence, which is precisely what IoT offers. The history of the Internet of Things began in 1999 when Kevin Ashton coined the term "Internet of Things" and established MIT’s Auto-ID Center, a global research network of academic laboratories focused on RFID and IoT (Ashton, 2009).

The Rapid Growth of IoT

IoT is a technology that allows objects in the real world to communicate with each other. It promises a future where physical objects of all kinds, from household systems to healthcare monitors, can collect and exchange data. This ability could "turn the world into data," enabling macro determinations on research utilization (Evans, 2011). By 2020, it was projected that 20 billion gadgets would be connected to the internet, demonstrating the revolutionary growth in the field of IoT (Gartner, 2017).

Understanding IoT and Its Components

IoT, also sometimes referred to as the "Internet of Everything" (IoE), consists of all web-enabled devices that collect, send, and act on data obtained from their surrounding environment using embedded sensors, processors, and communication hardware. These devices, often called "connected" or "smart devices," can sometimes communicate with other related devices in a process called Machine-to-Machine (M2M) communication, acting on the information they receive from one another. Humans interact with these devices to set them up, give them instructions, or access data, but the devices perform most tasks autonomously (Rose, Eldridge, & Chapin, 2015).

The Potential and Challenges of IoT

The Internet of Things promises a world where physical objects of all kinds, from household systems to health monitors, can collect and exchange data. This connectivity offers remarkable efficiency and productivity, less data re-entry, easier control, and numerous benefits from data analytics. However, challenges exist in implementing IoT, such as ensuring network connection for objects, understanding user intentions, and addressing security concerns. For instance, NFC-enabled mobile phones contain NFC tags, useful in retrieving information, but the integrity of these tags can be compromised by attackers, leading to security breaches (Want, 2006).

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the Internet of Things has the potential to transform nearly all major segments—from homes to hospitals and cars to cities—it also faces significant challenges. As technology advances, addressing these challenges will be crucial for realizing the full potential of IoT. The integration of RFID and NFC technologies, among others, will play a vital role in overcoming these challenges, ensuring secure and efficient data exchange in the interconnected world of IoT.

References:

• Ashton, K. (2009). That 'Internet of Things' Thing. RFID Journal. Retrieved from http://www.rfidjournal.com/articles/view?4986
• Evans, D. (2011). The Internet of Things: How the Next Evolution of the Internet Is Changing Everything. Cisco Internet Business Solutions Group (IBSG). Retrieved from https://www.cisco.com/c/dam/en_us/about/ac79/docs/innov/IoT_IBSG_0411FINAL.pdf
• Gartner. (2017). Gartner Says 8.4 Billion Connected "Things" Will Be in Use in 2017, Up 31 Percent From 2016. Retrieved from https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2017-02-07-gartner-says-8-billion-connected-things-will-be-in-use-in-2017-up-31-percent-from-2016
• Rose, K., Eldridge, S., & Chapin, L. (2015). The Internet of Things: An Overview. The Internet Society. Retrieved from https://www.internetsociety.org/resources/doc/2015/iot-overview
• Want, R. (2006). An Introduction to RFID Technology. IEEE Pervasive Computing, 5(1), 25-33. doi:10.1109/MPRV.2006.2