Over the past few years, the Internet of Things, or what I like to call the Internet of Things, has become more and more popular. Of course, most people may not be aware of such technology and know that they use the Internet of Things.
You can see some of the most well-known examples of using the Internet of Things in this list:
- Smart homes (homes where most IoT management is done by IoT tools, such as turning lights on and off or pulling back curtains!)
- Wearable accessories (watches, smart t-shirts, etc.)
- Autonomous cars
- Smart cities
Definition of IoT
The Internet of Things is an add-on layer that enables us to form the connection between the Internet and devices and physical objects. Of course, these devices also require communication channels, and this does not mean that anything can be connected to the Internet in the same way as before. (For example, you can not connect your home lamp to the Internet without considering the ways of communication.) Finally, by considering these ways, which are often done through special sensors, you will be able to control and monitor the objects around you. get. The great part is that the different devices around you can also share information and talk to each other.
Since devices connected to the Internet can program and design things with many variables, a lot of data can be received from them. And what could be better than implementing an artificial intelligence system or machine learning with such a huge amount of data!
For example, you can control and program the automatic on and off of the lamp based on the time of day by taking into account the variable “clock” and using its data. This is where the two giants “Internet of Things” and “Artificial Intelligence” merge.
How do Internet-based devices work?
An Internet of Things device generally consists of four main parts:
1- Sensors: The most important part for collecting information required by sensors. GPS, thermometers, etc. are examples of sensors that help us collect environmental information.
2- Communications: After collecting the information, you need to send them. At this point you need a communication solution that can be done via Bluetooth, WiFi or the like. Remember that most implementations send this data to cloud space.
3- Data processing: After the data is sent to cloud space, based on the implementation we have done, we need to do some processing and analysis on this data. For example, whether it is 8 pm or 8 am, and after reviewing this condition, actions should be taken.
4- User interface: When all your processing steps are completed, you need to present the results to the customer in the form of a simple and understandable program or interface.
To understand all of this in a simple and understandable way, let me use an example:
Imagine for a second you were transposed into the karmic-driven world of Earl. First, you need to find out if there is a stranger or thief using a CCTV camera and computer vision system. In this case, the CCTV camera will find the role of the same sensor for you. You then need to transfer the information received from the camera to a server or cloud that is related to the second part, or communication. In the third part, it is necessary to check the information collected from the CCTV camera in the cloud system in question, whether this person is a member of the house or not, he is an alien! This step is the data processing you need. In the end, the result should be presented to the user through an interface such as an alarm. For example, if a thief comes into your home, you need to sound an alarm. You can even receive this alert using a specialized application on your mobile phone.
IoT-based platforms
In terms of service platforms, the three giants Google, Microsoft, and Amazon have provided the most services:
Google currently offers IoT-based services in three areas:
Cloud IoT Core: The first option gives you the features to implement the desired devices and create a secure solution for connecting them.
Cloud Machine Learning Engine: The second option gives you the ability to create machine learning algorithms that are capable of solving many problems using the data collected.
Cloud Pub / Sub: And finally, the third option is a good solution for timely and real-time analysis for devices that use the Internet of Things.
Microsoft is another good option for IoT services. Azure service gives you the ability to use the pre-prepared solutions to provide the facilities you want. Of course, along with these ready-made solutions, you will be able to create completely personalized methods. Also, managing the scaling of your projects in Azure is very easy.
The final choice on this list is Amazon, which has really put a lot of effort into this area. Amazon, like Google, will provide you with a wide range of settings and options so that you can protect your communications and security, as well as create related devices and analytics. Also with the IoT Device Manager tool, you will be able to easily add new devices to the desired network.
To sum up
IoT-based devices will definitely play a pivotal role in the near future. Of course, it must be acknowledged that there are problems in this regard, for example, security is one of the biggest concerns of the developers of this technology.