What is IoT? A simple explanation for the Internet of Things

Imagine as soon as you wake up, your alarm clock tells your coffee maker to make coffee and turn on the geyser.

Do you know what makes this dreamy morning possible? 

Yes, the Internet of Things! 

What is the Internet of Things? 

The Internet of Things, or IoT, refers to the billions of physical devices around the world that are now connected to the internet, all collecting in addition to sharing data.

In simple terms, IoT is the concept of connecting devices with the internet. Moreover, to each other! 

Sounds amazing, right? 

This includes everything:

• Cellphones 
• Coffee makers 
• Washing machines 
• Headphones 
• Lamps, 
• Wearable devices 
• And almost anything else you can think of.  

In addition to the above, IoT also applies to components of machines. For example, the drill of an oil rig or a jet engine of an airplane.

Thanks to the arrival of super-cheap computer chips and the ubiquity of wireless networks, it's possible to turn anything into a part of the IoT.

Everything from something as small as a pill to something as big as an airplane can be turned into a part of IoT. 

Moreover, it Increases efficiency by saving money and resources.

How does it work?

With built-in sensors, devices and objects are capable of connecting to an IoT platform. The platform combines data from different devices and applies its analytics to share important information with applications that address specific needs.

The platforms can also pinpoint what information is useful and what is safe to be ignored. Furthermore, this information can also be used to detect patterns, make recommendations, and detect possible problems even before they occur.

For instance, a car manufacturer might want to know which optional components are the most popular (alloy wheels or leather seats).

Using the Internet of Things technology, you can:

• Detect areas in a showroom where customers linger longest using sensors.
• Dive deep into the sales data to understand which components sell fastest.
• Stop popular items from getting out of stock by automatically aligning sales data with supply data.
• The information picked up by connected devices enables you to make smart decisions.

You will know which components to stock up on, based on real-time information. As a result, this helps you save both time and money.

You can make the processes more efficient using advanced analytics and can even automate repetitive tasks. 

Why is the IoT so important?

Connecting all the devices brings a new level of convenience and digital intelligence. Therefore, enabling them to communicate real-time data without involving a human being. 

By merging the digital and physical universes, IoT is making the world around us smarter and more responsive.

It not only connects a simple device with the internet but also provides features like:

• real-time analytics 
• platform to analyze the collected data 
• cloud data storage 
• trigger an action from a remote location 
• remote notifications, etc. 

How Does IoT Impact You?

One might question the reason behind connecting all the devices.

There are many real-life scenarios that will help you understand what the future could look like and the value IoT could bring.

Say for instance you are making your way to attend a meeting. Using IoT technology, your car could have access to your calendar and already know the best route to take.

Moreover, if the traffic is heavy, your car might send a text to the other party notifying them that you will be late. 

What if your alarm clock not only wakes you up but also turns on the coffee maker?

It will be nice to have your morning coffee as soon as you are done brushing your teeth, wouldn’t it?

First, smart connected appliances are what people think of when they hear IoT. They imagine a smart home that is programmed to make life convenient and more energy efficient.

Next, IoT will have a positive effect on waste management. With the seamless integration of light, heat, and air conditioning that reacts to you, a lot of money could be saved on those heavy bills.

The possibilities and advantages are truly endless.

The truth is that IoT is vast and bring virtually endless opportunities and connections. Many of which we don’t yet have the knowledge to understand their complete impact on the world.

Only when the entire world becomes connected!

The top must-have skills for an IoT developer

As consumers become hasty to get their hands on the next smart technology, companies are looking for talented individuals with the right skill sets.

Knowing just coding won’t be enough for the next wave of software developers.

They will have to develop the ability to see the bigger picture and be intuitive problem solvers. Who recognize that the landscape is constantly changing, and who realize it is their responsibility to keep up.

These are a few skills you will require -

Machine Learning and Artificial intelligence

If we are able to decipher the patterns and eventually predict the outcome, only then will gathering and analyzing large sums of data be justified. 

AI will be called upon to handle more tasks and make autonomous decisions as IoT moves forward in the direction of becoming complex.

Design for Data

Big data drives IoT, and the job of software engineers, network engineers, as well as UX engineers will be to make the data work seamlessly for users.

So many cities are starting to take the help of developers in order to solve infrastructure problems and come up with innovative solutions. The ability to read and interpret data in a meaningful way will be one of the most sought after.

Automation

To get their products to market, developers will need to learn how to connect manual API testing with automatic API testing. This is due to a large number of interfaces and data. 

Hardware Interfacing

Hardware programming is a major step to take if you wish to become an embedded engineer. Learning how to program interfaces such as GPIO, I2C is essential for success. 

Knowing the ins and outs of one embedded system like Contiki and one operating system like Linux will greatly be valued.

UI/UX Design

Nothing sells if consumers can't use it. The interfaces need to user-friendly and effective at performing various tasks.

Responsive Web Design and Service Design are the most valued skills in this aspect.

Moreover, UI/UX designers will be needed to develop and design Augmented Reality interfaces and products.