We talk a lot about IoT, internet of things, an extremely technological concept that appears as something abstract and difficult to consider close to everyday life, but in reality it is not really so. It is not science fiction, now many of the devices that are used every day, are or can be connected to the concept of interconnection between the internet and real things.
IoT, what is it?
The acronym IoT, comes from the English "internet of things" which in Italian can be translated literally with "internet delle cose", this term was introduced by Kevin Ashton in the world of telecommunications to identify objects or real things that are characterized by an internet connection. The internet of things indicates how objects, through chips or sensors, can connect with each other and interact with the surrounding systems.
A look to the future
A Gartner research projected to 2020, shows us that the IoT will reach a value of about 2000 billion dollars and the connected objects will be more than 26 billion. Enormous growth opportunities will be created and will play a key role in the development of Industry 4.0.
Industry 4.0 refers to the fourth industrial revolution that historically began just a few years ago thanks to the introduction of technologies linked to the "Internet of Things". Obviously a company must have a totally automated renewal of production and management systems to be introduced in the definition of industry 4.0.
Although the scenarios are multiple, since there is a problem of standards, given that each manufacturer is implementing its own proprietary technologies; this will make the communication between the various interconnected systems complex and can open up to various security problems. Companies try to improve this aspect by entering into partnerships, in order to guarantee security and stability to those who will benefit from it.
Privacy and security
As pointed out above, it is true that more and more real connections and objects are being implemented, but it is also true that our "machines" connected to the network exchange data and unfortunately we are not aware of how or with whom. The work that is mostly being carried out on the improvement of this technology is precisely security, that is to give users one hundred percent security on the exchange of data which unfortunately today is still an unknown factor that does not stand out completely the flight to this beautiful technological idea.
Smart-Home
The internet of things finds its maximum expression in Smart-home, the home automation system integrated with the internet; where any object, with integrated technology, connects to the home network and communicates signals and inputs to what is of interest. From smart TVs to room lights.
On February 23, 2018, at the "smart Home: the Internet of Things" conference, the results of the Smart Home research were presented by the School of Management of the Politecnico di Milano. The data underline that the Internet of things has strongly entered Italian homes and in 2016 the Smart Home market increased by + 23% compared to 2015, with a value of over 180 million euros.
Installers and distributors of all types of electrical equipment still contribute to 82% of the market; where the majority of installations, almost 70%, is a simple procedure and suitable for the average user. Interestingly, the data points out that 70% of those who bought connected technological objects, decided to contact suitable personnel for the installation. Singular the fact that, faced with two giants like Amazon and Google that devour a large part of the world market, 52% of the solutions on the IoT market are proposed by small startups and that try to make space on the markets with their own ideas and innovations.
Who buys this technology?
In Italy, 26% of consumers have at least one technological object connected to their own home; a good part, according to the polls, is in favor of buying one. Who has not yet bought products with IoT is probably waiting for the technology to evolve further and become more and more advanced, improving the security parameters according to the guarantee certificates.
To buy? Techmakers
Once you understand the magnitude and importance of the IoT applied to everyday life, you can turn to companies that specialize in this field, such as Techmakers, who develop software and art IoT devices with competence and professionalism. This company helps in creating projects implemented with this technology, providing advice and training.
Often you are led to a packaged product and ready to use, but sometimes, thanks to the help of companies like Techmakers, you can develop something new with little.
Rotilio, what you don't expect.
Rotilio IoT Lab is a connected object that interacts with the surrounding environment, it has been studied for industrial applications 4.0 and home automation: it realizes if the lighting turns on or off based on the brightness captured in the environment. It senses the environmental vibrations and with its artificial intelligence it processes the temperature and humidity levels to then improve the quality of life. Everything controlled by a simple app.
Conclusions
IoT and consequent Smart home are the future. The connections between real life and technology are getting closer; having an internet connection and a light bulb that lights up at the command, now seems to have entered everyone's mind like normality. Should we embrace this type of technology? Thinking of 5G, which is close to landing all over the world, one would say that the answer is yes. With ever faster internet connections, cutting-edge software development and increasingly updated security protocols, the prospect towards the future seems to have the very character of the internet of things.
